In extremely sad and unexpected news, Andre Leon Talley - the fashion icon - has passed away. The full story inside.
UPDATE: Andre Leon Talley's IG shared a post to tribute his accomplishments and persona.
A fashion icon, an industry titan, and history maker. 73-year-old Andre Leon Talley lived a life that was one for the books before his unfortunate passing Tuesday.
ALT's literary agent David Vigliano confirmed Talley's death to USA TODAY late Tuesday, but didn't have any further details.
TMZ reported he died at a White Plains, NY hospital, but what he was battling at the hospital has yet to be disclosed.
His extra grand life was a match for his extra grand persona, becoming one of the most prominent faces of VOGUE after making history at the iconic magazine over multiple decades.
andré leon talley, 1984.
photo by andy warhol pic.twitter.com/V4mXaD1mLc
— maya cade (@mayascade) January 19, 2022
The North Carolina native started working at VOGUE magazine in 1983, and eventually made history as its first black editor, the magazine's Creative Director, and its Editor-At-Large until 2013.
ALT is synonymous with fashion, being a front row staple at every Fashion Week and always keeping the people on their toes when tit came to giving his opinion on what they're wearing.
The 6-foot-6 fashion icon wrote two memoirs, "A.L.T.: A Memoir" in 2003 and "The Chiffon Trenches" in 2020, served as a judge over four seasons of "America's Next Top Model" and was the center of the 2017 documentary, "The Gospel According to André." He was, in fact, fashion.
Whether he rocked his custom tailored suits in the 80's and 90's or his custom, fabulously made capes in recent ties, his fashion IQ was beyond. He also used his voice to speak up on racism in the fashion world.
“I could be walking down the street and they could decide to arrest me, even in all this gold and gilt.”
– Andre Leon Talley, speaking to the New York Times in May 2018 about racism in the fashion world and in America
A treasure of a man. May he rest in power and peace.¸Å12 pic.twitter.com/7Bam0aiPya
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 19, 2022
ALT shocked many of us in his latest book when he said his iconic friendship with Anna Wintour wasn't everything it was cracked up to be, due to him not feeling like he was not given the same opportunities as others to push VOGUE in the direction it really needed to go. He also spoke on the financial incentives not quite being there either.
"I’m not belittling myself to say my strength was in my ability to be beside a small, great, powerful white woman and encourage her vision," he wrote in his memoir of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, according to the New York Times.
Later, he would defend Wintour, crediting her, Diana Vreeland and Andy Warhol with shaping his career.
"This is not a vengeful ... tell-all," Talley told Vulture in May 2020. "I will not criticize her. My book is an epistle to everyone that I love. It’s a love letter to Anna Wintour. I love her deeply."
R.I.P.
Oh Andre! Heaven is going to be too fabulous now. Sir! You blessed us with your charm, wit, and taste for the exceptional. You'll shine so brightly from the heavens that we'll know what true stardom looks like. We'll gaze up at you always. In awe. And with gratitude. pic.twitter.com/7lLyUkSp2n
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 19, 2022
A fashion icon, an industry titan, and history maker. 73-year-old Andre Leon Talley lived a life that was one for the books before his unfortunate passing Tuesday.
ALT's literary agent David Vigliano confirmed Talley's death to USA TODAY late Tuesday, but didn't have any further details.
TMZ reported he died at a White Plains, NY hospital, but what he was battling at the hospital has yet to be disclosed.
His extra grand life was a match for his extra grand persona, becoming one of the most prominent faces of VOGUE after making history at the iconic magazine over multiple decades.
The North Carolina native started working at VOGUE magazine in 1983, and eventually made history as its first black editor, the magazine's Creative Director, and its Editor-At-Large until 2013.
ALT is synonymous with fashion, being a front row staple at every Fashion Week and always keeping the people on their toes when tit came to giving his opinion on what they're wearing.
The 6-foot-6 fashion icon wrote two memoirs, "A.L.T.: A Memoir" in 2003 and "The Chiffon Trenches" in 2020, served as a judge over four seasons of "America's Next Top Model" and was the center of the 2017 documentary, "The Gospel According to André." He was, in fact, fashion.
Whether he rocked his custom tailored suits in the 80's and 90's or his custom, fabulously made capes in recent ties, his fashion IQ was beyond. He also used his voice to speak up on racism in the fashion world.
“I could be walking down the street and they could decide to arrest me, even in all this gold and gilt.”
– Andre Leon Talley, speaking to the New York Times in May 2018 about racism in the fashion world and in America
A treasure of a man. May he rest in power and peace.¸Å12 pic.twitter.com/7Bam0aiPya
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) January 19, 2022
ALT shocked many of us in his latest book when he said his iconic friendship with Anna Wintour wasn't everything it was cracked up to be, due to him not feeling like he was not given the same opportunities as others to push VOGUE in the direction it really needed to go. He also spoke on the financial incentives not quite being there either.
"I’m not belittling myself to say my strength was in my ability to be beside a small, great, powerful white woman and encourage her vision," he wrote in his memoir of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, according to the New York Times.
Later, he would defend Wintour, crediting her, Diana Vreeland and Andy Warhol with shaping his career.
"This is not a vengeful ... tell-all," Talley told Vulture in May 2020. "I will not criticize her. My book is an epistle to everyone that I love. It’s a love letter to Anna Wintour. I love her deeply."
Rest in fabulous fashion, Mr. Talley.
Oh Andre! Heaven is going to be too fabulous now. Sir! You blessed us with your charm, wit, and taste for the exceptional. You'll shine so brightly from the heavens that we'll know what true stardom looks like. We'll gaze up at you always. In awe. And with gratitude. pic.twitter.com/7lLyUkSp2n
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) January 19, 2022
RIP Andre Leon Talley. Rest well King @etnowpic.twitter.com/A6d2eA1m39
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) January 19, 2022
RIP André Leon Talley (1948-2022) pic.twitter.com/HRVlTUtsjD
— Couture is Beyond (@CoutureIsBeyond) January 19, 2022
RIP to a fashion LEGEND. ICON. GEM. Andre Leon Talley. pic.twitter.com/ojPpuu7k0f
— gone girl. (@cassandrapintro) January 19, 2022
Grace Jones, André Leon Talley, and Keith Haring photographed by Andy Warhol at the Factory, 1984. pic.twitter.com/m9gb0o44Pf
— (@MJFINESSELOVER) January 19, 2022
rest in peace andré leon talley your impact on the fashion industry will continue to live on forever pic.twitter.com/rrjBzVxcsm
— sydney sweeney’s whore (@MIUCClAMUSE) January 19, 2022
One of my favorite moments from André Leon Talley with Rihanna, RIP to a legend pic.twitter.com/eoG1z87Uuo
— Black Lives Still Matter (@wiz_thcreator) January 19, 2022
RIP fashion journalist, André Leon Talley
Photo: Getty
