Creative Close-Up: Andre Leon Talley

3.1.22

Hello again. This was suppose to be posted on the last day of February, last day of Black History Month, but the internet likes to make other plans. Uhhhggg!

My apologies for that, but what can you do?

I wanted to do a tribute to Andre Leon Talley. He recently passed away in January at the age of 73. He was an icon in his own right and rightfully a guy who knew fashion.

I love fashion and I recall seeing this towering man back in the 90’s wondering who is this individual who knows his fashion game? You would see Talley at the latest fashion shows, sometimes sitting with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and other celebrities.

Talley was a fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor-at-large for Vogue. From 1983 to 1987 he was the magazine’s fashion news director, the first African American male creative director for the magazine from 1988 to 1995, and editor-at-large from 1998 to 2013. That’s big in my book.

Talley also served as stylist to Barak and Michelle Obama, during their time in the White House as President and First Lady. He wrote three books, one of them made it to the New York Times Best Seller List.

He was instrumental in nurturing and supporting upcoming designers and was vocal for diversity in the fashion industry, pretty much the voice of fashion!

You couldn’t miss Andre, at 6’6 he wore the most extravagant kaftans, capes, and robes, which became his trademark looks. He was a fashion icon for sure.

I found a video interview from The New York Times titled André Leon Talley On His Journey to Success | TimesTalks.