Larger Than Luxe

André Leon Talley and Anna Wintour (SOURCE: VOGUE)

André Leon Talley is larger than life! Not only is he 6 ft 7in tall in stature but his presence fills any room. Always visible from the front row of high fashion runway shows, it wasn’t until I watched The Gospel According to André that I realized the significance of his work in fashion journalism.

With roots in the Jim Crow south, André rose from being a fashion enthusiast to a legendary curator. Some of his earliest influences include his grandmother, French literature, and luxury magazines. He is on a first name basis with some of the most notable designers including Manolo Blahnik, Tom Ford, and Oscar de la Renta.

As a Black man pioneer in fashion, there were many assumptions and criticisms to wade through. Only recently, Talley opens up about racial incidents he’s faced in the industry. Instead of retaliating, he focused more on his work and less about the accusations made on how he rose to the top.

Under the mentorship of Diana Vreeland, a French-American journalist, Talley learned the intricacies of fashion design. Once Anna Wintour became Editor-in-Chief of Vogue in 1988, Talley became her Creative Director before transitioning to the role of editor-at-large.

Over the course of his career, Talley covered moments such as First Lady Michelle Obama’s inaugural look in 2013 and Naomi Campbell’s look in the Gone With the Wind themed shoot for Vanity Fair in 1996.

Learn more about André’s journey in his new book “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir.”