Tributes to ‘magnificent, erudite and wickedly funny’ Andre Leon Talley

Vogue editor-in-chief Dame Anna Wintour has remembered her former collaborator Andre Leon Talley as “magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny” after his death at the age of 73.

The former Vogue creative director worked alongside Dame Anna for decades.

The fashion trailblazer, who became recognisable to those outside the industry for his role as a judge on the reality show America’s Next Top Model, died in New York on Tuesday.

A statement by Wintour said: “The loss of Andre is felt by so many of us today.

“Yet it’s the loss of Andre as my colleague and friend that I think of now. He was magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny – mercurial, too.

“Like many decadeslong relationships, there were complicated moments, but all I want to

remember today, all I care about, is the brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend to me and to my family for many, many years and who we will all miss so much.”

Talley was hired by Dame Anna at Vogue in 1983, and in 1998 was appointed the magazine’s creative director.

He left the magazine in 1995 for a stint at fashion publication W before returning to Vogue as editor-at-large until 2013.

Talley was also a largerthan-life personality on screen, and in 2018 he appeared in the documentary The Gospel According To Andre, directed by Kate Novack.

He also played himself in shows such as Sex And The City and Empire and was a judge alongside Tyra Banks on modelling competition show America’s Next Top Model.

During a career spanning five decades, he befriended big names in the fashion world and was beloved by Hollywood’s A-list.

Actress Milla Jovovich lamented the loss of a “force of nature”, adding she felt “lucky” to have met him several times.

Edward Enninful, editor-in-chief of British Vogue, credited Talley with forging a path for him, while designers including Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Furstenberg also paid tribute.

Andre Leon Talley.