Known as one of the fashion world’s most recognized personalities, Talley stepped down as Vogue’s editor-at-large after three decades to become the editor-in-chief for Numero Russia, an international magazine based in Russia. Talley was the son of William C. Talley, a taxi driver, and Alma Ruth Davis, and was born on October 16, 1949, in Durham, North Carolina. However, he was raised by his grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis, who worked as a domestic in the Durham area. Davis had a profound effect on him, and he credits her with his uncommon flair for fashion. As a teen, he ventured to the library in the white section of town. It was there that he discovered Vogue and quickly became a devoted reader.
Talley’s postsecondary experience began at North Carolina Central University, and later, he was granted a scholarship to Brown University, where he earned an M.A. in French Studies in 1973. He initially planned to teach French, but the fashion world beckoned him. He first worked as an assistant for Andy Warhol. In 1983, he began working as the editor-at-large for Vogue magazine and soon became the most notable African American in the world of designer fashion.
A man of great stature and influence, Talley was also known to criticize high-profile designers for excluding women of color on the runway and for championing a host of lesser-known fashion designers, such as Rachel Roy and Jason Wu, over the course of his career.
In 1984, he co-authored MegaStar with Richard Bernstein, a publication containing portraits of famous celebrities. In April 2003, Talley penned his autobiography, A.L.T.: A Memoir, followed by A.L.T. 365+, an art monograph that features photographs and captions from one year of his life.
Talley had a cameo appearance in the 2008 feature film, Sex and the City as a Vogue executive, and in 2009, he appeared in the movie documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor and in The September Issue, a 2009 behind-the-scenes documentary about the September 2007 issue of Vogue.
He was a board trustee at the Savannah College of Art and Design, and in 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate. The André Leon Talley Gallery opened in the Museum of Art at the College in October 2011. During the same period, the College established the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award, an annual award given to up-and-coming fashionistas.
In January 2014, Talley became the Artistic Director for Zappos Couture, a web-based provider of couture apparel and other goods. Along with Zappos, assisted with re-designing the website, which included a new look and original content.
André Leon Talley died on January 18, 2022, in White Plains, New York. He was 73 years old.
