André Leon Talley
Encyclopedia
André Leon Talley is the former American editor-at-large for Vogue
magazine, listed as Contributing Editor in the April 2010 masthead. Talley has been a front-row regular at fashion show
s in New York
, Paris
, London
and Milan
for more than 25 years. He uses his influence to promote young fashion designers and mentors young talent in other fields.
His most famous pairings of late have been with designers Tracy Reese, Rachel Roy
, and singer/actress Jennifer Hudson
. He is known as a very close friend of pop diva Mariah Carey
, fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons
, and tennis star Venus Williams
. In 2007, he was ranked 45th in Out
magazine's "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America".
Talley has an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Savannah College of Art and Design
, where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. As of March 2010, Talley is currently serving on the judging panel for America's Next Top Model
.
, as the son of Alma Ruth Davis and William C. Talley. His parents left him with his grandmother, Bennie Davis, who raised him and, he claims, gave him an "understanding of luxury." After graduating from North Carolina Central University
, Talley received his master's degree in French from Brown University
. While at Brown, Talley befriended students from the nearby Rhode Island School of Design
and often went on weekend trips to New York City
. He is associated with former American Vogue editor-in-chief and Costume Institute consultant, Diana Vreeland
. His first job was as an assistant for Andy Warhol
for $50 a week.
In the mid 2000s, an intervention was initiated by Anna Wintour
, to get Talley to lose weight. As seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show
, he eventually lost a great deal of weight, and was eating more healthily.
In 2008, Talley advised the future First Family
on fashion, and introduced Michelle Obama
to Jason Wu, from whom she bought several dresses including her inaugural gown.
He had a cameo appearance in the 2008 movie Sex and the City as a Vogue executive. He also appears in the movie-documentary about the Italian couturier Valentino Garavani, Valentino: The Last Emperor
and in the documentary The September Issue
.
In October 2011, the André Leon Talley Gallery opened in the new Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art.
He also authored A.L.T. 365+, an art monograph designed by art director Sam Shahid, published in 2005. 365 features photos and captions from one year in the life of André Leon Talley.
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
magazine, listed as Contributing Editor in the April 2010 masthead. Talley has been a front-row regular at fashion show
Fashion show
A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during Fashion Week. Fashion shows debut every season, particularly the Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter seasons. This is where the latest fashion trends are made...
s in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
for more than 25 years. He uses his influence to promote young fashion designers and mentors young talent in other fields.
His most famous pairings of late have been with designers Tracy Reese, Rachel Roy
Rachel Roy
Rachel Roy is an American fashion designer, and philanthropist who was born and raised in California. She grew up and attended Seaside High School along the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California. Rachel attended Columbia Union College, where she majored in liberal arts...
, and singer/actress Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
. He is known as a very close friend of pop diva Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora Lee Simmons
Kimora Lee Simmons is an American fashion model, and former president and Creative Director for Phat Fashions.-Early life:...
, and tennis star Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
. In 2007, he was ranked 45th in Out
Out (magazine)
Out is a popular gay and lesbian fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazine, with the highest circulation of any gay monthly publication in the United States. It carries itself in a similar editorial manner to Details, Esquire, and GQ. Out was published by PlanetOut Inc...
magazine's "50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America".
Talley has an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
, where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. As of March 2010, Talley is currently serving on the judging panel for America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model
America's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry....
.
Biography
Talley was born in the African American community of Hayti, Durham, North CarolinaHayti, Durham, North Carolina
Hayti is the African American community in the city of Durham, North Carolina. The business section was also known as "Lil" Mexico in the early 1920s and 30s. Over 200 Africian American businesses were located along Fayetteville, Pettigrew and Pine Streets, the boundaries of Hayti during it's...
, as the son of Alma Ruth Davis and William C. Talley. His parents left him with his grandmother, Bennie Davis, who raised him and, he claims, gave him an "understanding of luxury." After graduating from North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, Talley received his master's degree in French from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
. While at Brown, Talley befriended students from the nearby Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
and often went on weekend trips to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is associated with former American Vogue editor-in-chief and Costume Institute consultant, Diana Vreeland
Diana Vreeland
Diana Vreeland was a noted columnist and editor in the field of fashion. She worked for the fashion magazines Harper's Bazaar and Vogue and the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Born as Diana Dalziel, Vreeland was the eldest daughter of American socialite mother Emily Key Hoffman...
. His first job was as an assistant for Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
for $50 a week.
In the mid 2000s, an intervention was initiated by Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, OBE is the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. With her trademark pageboy bob haircut and sunglasses, Wintour has become an institution throughout the fashion world, widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and her support for...
, to get Talley to lose weight. As seen on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
, he eventually lost a great deal of weight, and was eating more healthily.
In 2008, Talley advised the future First Family
First Family of the United States
The First Family of the United States is the unofficial title for the family of the President of the United States, who is both head of state and head of government of the United States. Members of the First Family consist of the President, the First Lady of the United States, and any of their...
on fashion, and introduced Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
to Jason Wu, from whom she bought several dresses including her inaugural gown.
He had a cameo appearance in the 2008 movie Sex and the City as a Vogue executive. He also appears in the movie-documentary about the Italian couturier Valentino Garavani, Valentino: The Last Emperor
Valentino: The Last Emperor
Valentino: The Last Emperor is a documentary film about the life of Valentino Garavani. It was produced and directed by Matt Tyrnauer, Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair magazine. The film is an exploration of the singular world of one of Italy's most famous men, Valentino Garavani...
and in the documentary The September Issue
The September Issue
The September Issue is a 2009 American documentary film about the behind-the-scenes drama that follows editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her staff during the production of the September 2007 issue of American Vogue magazine. The film is directed by R.J. Cutler and produced by Eliza Hindmarch and...
.
In October 2011, the André Leon Talley Gallery opened in the new Savannah College of Art and Design Museum of Art.
Books
Talley wrote an autobiography entitled A.L.T.: A Memoir, published in 2003.He also authored A.L.T. 365+, an art monograph designed by art director Sam Shahid, published in 2005. 365 features photos and captions from one year in the life of André Leon Talley.