André Leon Talley, a titan of fashion journalism who served as creative director and editor-at-large at U.S. Vogue, died on Tuesday at a hospital in White Plains, N.Y. He was 73 years old. A cause of death was not immediately available. Talley’s death was confirmed to USA Today by his literary agent David Vigliano. New York Times fashion director and critic Vanessa Friedman also posted a tribute to Talley, calling him “a towering figure, in every sense.”
One of the most celebrated voices in the fashion world, Talley’s tenure at Vogue in the 1980s and ’90s was pivotal in shaping the magazine’s image. Talley served as news director at Vogue from 1983 to 1987, before becoming the publication’s creative director in 1988. Talley worked closely with U.S. Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour throughout his time at the magazine. After holding the position for seven years, he became Vogue’s editor-at-large, a position that he held until 2013. Talley’s career in fashion journalism spanned six decades, with his contributions also appearing in Women’s Wear Daily, W and the New York Times.
Among Talley’s various impacts, his push to include more Black voices among designers and models was a major force in helping to bring diversity to the runway. Often wearing flowing robes and caftans, Talley was an immediately recognizable presence at all events. Talley was also a major figure among the LGBTQ+ community — although he did not explicitly define his sexuality, he called himself “fluid.”
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Born on Oct. 16, 1948 in Washington, D.C., Talley was primarily raised by his grandmother in Durham, N.C. He graduated from North Carolina Central University with a degree in French literature in 1970, later earning a Masters in the same discipline from Brown University.
Talley has written three books, including two memoirs. He also co-authored 1984’s “MegaStar” with Richard Bernstein.
