About a year ago, I discovered the documentary The Gospel According to Andre. The man who inspired the character Nigel from the film The Devil Wears Prada captured my attention, not just because of his animated personality and daring sense of style, but from his extensive knowledge in the field. Before diving into the twists and turns of his fascinating life, here is some wise advice that Talley has graced upon us:
“When I have interns, I always say, ‘Handwritten thank-you notes can make a difference.’ People remember that – not an e-mail, a handwritten note in an envelope.”
“The zenith of elegance in any woman’s wardrobe is the little black dress, the power of which suggests dash and refinement.”
“Luxury is to be able to take control of one's life, health and the pursuit of happiness in a way that is joyful.”
“You can be an aristocrat without being born into an aristocratic family”
“I have four bedrooms in my house. One is for guests, the other three are for closets.”
Before he was a fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor at Vogue Magazine, Andre Leon Talley lived with his grandmother in North Carolina, growing up within a deeply religious culture. Every Sunday, Andre watched as each churchgoer entered the chapel dressed impeccably. Drawn to fashion, he did everything he could to immerse himself in the culture, so far as becoming fluent in French, attending Brown University, and accessing an unpaid internship at Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute in 1974. The Editor-in-Chief of Vogue at the time, Diana Vreeland, saw his potential and made him her right hand man immediately. She introduced him to iconic designers like Halston and Oscar de la Renta, and found him a position as Andy Warhol's assistant. Eventually, Anna Wintour assumed Vreeland’s position and appointed Talley as the magazine's first black and queer creative director in 1988, until being given the title of editor-at-large.
Despite all of his accomplishments, Talley faced torment throughout his life due to his fluid sexuality and race. He recognized this in his documentary, The Gospel According to Andre, by referring to a time when fellow Brown students threw rocks at him as he walked to class. He later discusses a common nickname that infiltrated throughout the fashion community, when certain people called him “Queen Kong”. Though facing adversity, Talley impacted the black and queer community by breaking down barriers in the fashion industry while gracefully overcoming ignorance.
Andre Leon Talley passed away on January 18th of this year. Though he will be missed, he has left an impactful mark on the fashion community while having his own memoir and documentary.
Comments