Yesterday, the fashion industry lost one of its brightest stars the passing of André Leon Talley, aged 73. The noted American journalist and former long-time Vogue editor reportedly passed away from an unknown illness in a hospital in White Plains, New York, on the 18th of January 2022.
Larger than life in both stature – he stood at six feet seven inches tall – and personality, Talley enjoyed an illustrious career in the fashion industry that spanned over four decades, becoming equally known for his sartorial commentary as well as a fashion icon in his own right, frequently donning flamboyant kaftans, vibrant robes, and statement hats.
During his career, Talley wrote for fashion and lifestyle publications like Women’s Wear Daily, W Magazine, and The New York Times, however, he’s most renowned for his work at American Vogue. With a literary background (Talley had a Masters in French Literature from Brown University), he worked his way up the ranks of the fashion magazine, starting as the news director at Vogue from 1983-1987, before being appointed to the role of creative director in 1988, becoming the first African American male to hold the title. Talley went on to become the editor-at-large, a position he held until he left Vogue in 2013.
Throughout his career, Talley worked alongside some of the most iconic editors in the fashion world, apprenticing for Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, working with Andy Warhol at Interview, and serving as editor-at-large alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Talley was also known for his advocacy for more POC models in editorials and on mainstream runways.
“It’s tough being a big Black man in the world,” Talley told Medium 2017. “But you can get through it.”
“We are in a culture where white supremacy reigns. I survived based on my work ethic, my style, my roots, and all the experiences that made me who I became and who I am still becoming.”
The sentiment seems to ring true for André Leon Talley’s friends and admirers, with an outpour of tributes from the fashion and art worlds alike. As playwright Jeremy O Harris wrote on Instagram: “For a little black gay boy who reached for the stars from the south there were few people I could look up to up there amongst the stars who looked like me just more fab except for you André. For a generation of boys André Leon Talley was a beacon of grace and aspiration.”
Words by T. Angel
