André Leon Talley

André Leon Talley was the most influential Black person in the history of fashion — a larger-than-life figure who served as editor-at-large of Vogue for over a decade and whose encyclopedic knowledge of fashion history, imposing six-foot-six frame, and dramatic personal style made him an icon. He was Anna Wintour's right hand, a front-row fixture at every major fashion show, and one of the few Black voices at the highest levels of the industry for decades.

Born in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1948, and raised by his grandmother in Durham, North Carolina, Talley discovered Vogue at the local library and fell in love with fashion. He attended North Carolina Central University and Brown University, where he earned a master's in French literature. He interned for Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, launching a career that would span four decades.

Talley worked at Women's Wear Daily, The New York Times, and Interview before joining Vogue in 1983, eventually becoming creative director and then editor-at-large. He dressed in custom caftans, fur coats, and Louis Vuitton capes, treating fashion as both art and armor. His memoir, The Chiffon Trenches, revealed the racism he experienced throughout his career — even from those he considered friends. He joined the ancestors on January 18, 2022, at 73.