Fashion
André Leon Talley brought Black to fashion’s palette
From his legendary capes to his candor, the former ‘Vogue’ editor created his own rules
André Leon Talley’s impact on the fashion world was as immense as his 6-foot-6 stature. Talley, who died on Tuesday at 73, climbed to the top of the fashion industry, becoming the first Black man to be creative director for Vogue from 1988 to 1995 and an editor at large from 1998 to 2013.
Talley’s influence in fashion goes beyond his personal style. He spoke candidly about the need for diversity — both on and off the runway — in a predominantly white industry.
Here’s a look at his life through photos.
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André Leon Talley attends Tina Brown's publication party for The Vanity Fair Diaries at Michaels on Nov. 8, 2017, in New York. (Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley attends Tina Brown's publication party for The Vanity Fair Diaries at Michaels on Nov. 8, 2017, in New York. (Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
Nigel Barker (left) kneels before André Leon Talley (right) on the runway at the Blue Jacket Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week at Pier59 Studios on Feb. 5, 2020. (Brian Ach/The Blue Jacket Fashion Show/Getty Images) 
Nigel Barker (left) kneels before André Leon Talley (right) on the runway at the Blue Jacket Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week at Pier59 Studios on Feb. 5, 2020. (Brian Ach/The Blue Jacket Fashion Show/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) greets Serena Williams (right) at the S by Serena Spring 2020 collection reveal during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 12, 2020. (Bryan Bedder/IMG/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) greets Serena Williams (right) at the S by Serena Spring 2020 collection reveal during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 12, 2020. (Bryan Bedder/IMG/Getty Images) -
From left to right: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Venus Williams and André Leon Talley attend Nina Ricci's after-party for the Met Gala at Philippe on May 5, 2008, in New York. (David X. Prutting/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
From left to right: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Venus Williams and André Leon Talley attend Nina Ricci's after-party for the Met Gala at Philippe on May 5, 2008, in New York. (David X. Prutting/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley at the Narciso Rodriguez 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Sept. 9, 2007, in New York. Talley was editor at large for Vogue at the time. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley at the Narciso Rodriguez 2008 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Sept. 9, 2007, in New York. Talley was editor at large for Vogue at the time. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (center) attends Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis Hosts a Luncheon to celebrate Ena Swansea: New Paintings at Albertz Benda on Oct. 27, 2016, in New York. (Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (center) attends Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis Hosts a Luncheon to celebrate Ena Swansea: New Paintings at Albertz Benda on Oct. 27, 2016, in New York. (Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley attends the Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2009 fashion show on Dec. 8, 2008, in New York. Talley was editor at large of Vogue at the time. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley attends the Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2009 fashion show on Dec. 8, 2008, in New York. Talley was editor at large of Vogue at the time. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley attends breakfast and a discussion on style at 21 Club on May 18, 2010, in New York. Talley was a contributing editor at Vogue at the time and recognized as a fashion icon. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley attends breakfast and a discussion on style at 21 Club on May 18, 2010, in New York. Talley was a contributing editor at Vogue at the time and recognized as a fashion icon. (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (right) with Jay-Z (left) during the grand opening of Carol's Daughter on Sept. 15, 2005, in New York. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (right) with Jay-Z (left) during the grand opening of Carol's Daughter on Sept. 15, 2005, in New York. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images) -
From left to right: Marc Jacobs, André Leon Talley, Rachel Roy and Damon Dash attend the Marc Jacobs 2006 holiday party at Gotham Hall on Dec. 13, 2006, in New York. (Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
From left to right: Marc Jacobs, André Leon Talley, Rachel Roy and Damon Dash attend the Marc Jacobs 2006 holiday party at Gotham Hall on Dec. 13, 2006, in New York. (Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (right) and Anna Wintour (left) attend the Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. (Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (right) and Anna Wintour (left) attend the Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 collection during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. (Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (right) dances with Diana Ross (left) at Studio 54 in New York in 1979. (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (right) dances with Diana Ross (left) at Studio 54 in New York in 1979. (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Marc Jacobs (right) during Oscar de la Renta and Carolyne Roehm's spring fashion show at the Plaza Hotel in New York on Nov. 30, 1990. (Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Marc Jacobs (right) during Oscar de la Renta and Carolyne Roehm's spring fashion show at the Plaza Hotel in New York on Nov. 30, 1990. (Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) with Melania Trump (center) and Donald Trump (right) at the launch party for his book, A.L.T 365+. (Stephen Lovekin/WireImage/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) with Melania Trump (center) and Donald Trump (right) at the launch party for his book, A.L.T 365+. (Stephen Lovekin/WireImage/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Jennifer Hudson (right) attend the 24th annual Night of Stars honoring "The Rule Breakers" at Cipriani 42nd Street on Oct. 25, 2007, in New York. (Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Jennifer Hudson (right) attend the 24th annual Night of Stars honoring "The Rule Breakers" at Cipriani 42nd Street on Oct. 25, 2007, in New York. (Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
From left to right: David Bowie, Iman, André Leon Talley and Gayle King celebrate the release of Iman's book, The Beauty of Color, at Cipriani on Oct. 18, 2005, in New York. (Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) 
From left to right: David Bowie, Iman, André Leon Talley and Gayle King celebrate the release of Iman's book, The Beauty of Color, at Cipriani on Oct. 18, 2005, in New York. (Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images) -
Charles "Lil Buck" Riley (left) and André Leon Talley (right) at the Versace and Lil Buck capsule collection launch event on Oct. 30, 2015, in New York. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images) 
Charles "Lil Buck" Riley (left) and André Leon Talley (right) at the Versace and Lil Buck capsule collection launch event on Oct. 30, 2015, in New York. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage/Getty Images) -
From left to right: Model Naomi Campbell, designer Zac Posen, André Leon Talley and Sean "Diddy" Combs on Sept. 15, 2005, at Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2006. (Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic/Getty Images) 
From left to right: Model Naomi Campbell, designer Zac Posen, André Leon Talley and Sean "Diddy" Combs on Sept. 15, 2005, at Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2006. (Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Russell Westbrook (right) attend the Zac Posen Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Avery Fisher Hall on Sept. 9, 2012, in New York. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Russell Westbrook (right) attend the Zac Posen Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Avery Fisher Hall on Sept. 9, 2012, in New York. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Barbara Walters (right) at his A.L.T 365+ book party during Olympus Fashion Week at Barneys on Sept. 12, 2005, in New York. (Donald Bowers/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Barbara Walters (right) at his A.L.T 365+ book party during Olympus Fashion Week at Barneys on Sept. 12, 2005, in New York. (Donald Bowers/Getty Images) -
Wyclef Jean (left) and André Leon Talley (right) at the Fusha fashion show at the Theater in Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 7, 2003, in New York City. Talley was fashion editor of Vogue at the time. (Adam Rountree/Getty Images) 
Wyclef Jean (left) and André Leon Talley (right) at the Fusha fashion show at the Theater in Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 7, 2003, in New York City. Talley was fashion editor of Vogue at the time. (Adam Rountree/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Carolina Herrera (right) during Herrera's boutique opening and book launch at Bergdorf Goodman on Nov. 9, 2004, in New York. (Randy Brooke/WireImage/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Carolina Herrera (right) during Herrera's boutique opening and book launch at Bergdorf Goodman on Nov. 9, 2004, in New York. (Randy Brooke/WireImage/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Kristen McMenamy (right) during fashion week in New York in the mid-1990s. (Catherine McGann/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Kristen McMenamy (right) during fashion week in New York in the mid-1990s. (Catherine McGann/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Anna Wintour (right) attend the Calvin Klein Fall 2007 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 8, 2007, in New York. (Brad Barket/IMG/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Anna Wintour (right) attend the Calvin Klein Fall 2007 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 8, 2007, in New York. (Brad Barket/IMG/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley backstage at the Jason Wu Fall 2009 runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 13, 2009, in New York. Talley was the editor at large at Vogue at the time. (Jemal Countess/WireImage/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley backstage at the Jason Wu Fall 2009 runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 13, 2009, in New York. Talley was the editor at large at Vogue at the time. (Jemal Countess/WireImage/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Marina Schiano (right) in 1980 in New York. (PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Marina Schiano (right) in 1980 in New York. (PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (bottom right) appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (left) and Ashley Darby (top right) on Sept. 13, 2020. (Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (bottom right) appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (left) and Ashley Darby (top right) on Sept. 13, 2020. (Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley attends The CW: It's A Reality at Simyone Lounge on Feb. 23, 2010, in New York. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley attends The CW: It's A Reality at Simyone Lounge on Feb. 23, 2010, in New York. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (left) and Anna Wintour (right) attend the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1999. Talley was the editor at large for Vogue at the time. Wintour was editor-in-chief. (Rose Hartman/Getty Images) 
André Leon Talley (left) and Anna Wintour (right) attend the Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1999. Talley was the editor at large for Vogue at the time. Wintour was editor-in-chief. (Rose Hartman/Getty Images) -
André Leon Talley (right) and designer Norma Kamali (left) attend the Norma Kamali Spring 2012 collection and launch of Norma Kamali 3D at David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on Sept. 14, 2011, in New York. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Norma Kamali) 
André Leon Talley (right) and designer Norma Kamali (left) attend the Norma Kamali Spring 2012 collection and launch of Norma Kamali 3D at David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on Sept. 14, 2011, in New York. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Norma Kamali)
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