André Leon Talley, a titan of fashion journalism who served as creative director and editor-at-large at US Vogue has died at the age of 73.
Talley’s death at a hospital in White Plains, New York, on Tuesday was confirmed through the figure’s official Instagram page. Media are reporting that he died of a heart attack or complications of Covid-19.
Talley’s career in fashion journalism spanned six decades, with his contributions also appearing in Women’s Wear Daily, W and the New York Times.
Among Talley’s various impacts, his push to include more black voices among designers and models was a major force in helping to bring diversity to the runway. Often wearing flowing robes and caftans, Talley was an immediately recognisable presence at all events.
Talley was also a major figure among the LGBTQ+ community - although he did not explicitly define his sexuality, he called himself “fluid.”
Born on October 16, 1948 in Washington, D.C., Talley was primarily raised by his grandmother in Durham, North Carolina.
He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a degree in French literature in 1970, later earning a Masters in the same discipline from Brown University.
Talley apprenticed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1974 before moving on to work at Women’s Wear Daily, eventually serving as its Paris bureau chief.
Talley later held a five-year tenure at W before moving to the New York Times. In 1983, he began his reign at Vogue, starting with a four-year tenure as fashion news director before becoming the publication’s creative director in 1988.
In the election ahead of the Obama administration, Talley advised the soon-to-be-elected family on fashion, collaborating with designer Jason Wu.
He furthered his stature as a public figure through his appearances on television. He was a regular red carpet correspondent during gala events including the Met Gala and served as a judge on America’s Next Top Model.
He was the subject of the 2017 documentary The Gospel According to André, which chronicles his life after his tenure at Vogue.
Talley has written three books, including two memoirs. He also co-authored 1984’s MegaStar with Richard Bernstein. His most recent book, The Chiffon Trenches, details his falling out with Wintour and his experience with racism working in the fashion industry.
Last year, Talley was awarded France's Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres honor - recognising people who have made significant contributions to the arts.
Wintour has remembered him fondly as "magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny".
In a statement shared by US Vogue, she said Talley "inspired" generations of people to work in the fashion industry.
She signed off by calling him a "brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend to me and to my family for many, many years".
