While the death of legendary fashion designer André Leon Talley has left many reeling, including his confidant Michelle Obama, it has also once again brought to light how badly he was treated by the ‘elitist fashion industry’.
Talley reportedly passed away on Tuesday at the age of 73, succumbing to an ‘unknown illness’ in a New York hospital. As is to be expected, big names rushed to pay tribute to the late talent, among those being Anna Wintour. Wintour ruled over Talley while he acted as editor-at-large of USVogue.
In His Obituary, Wintour Described Talley As 'A Figure Who Broke Boundaries'
Penning in Vogue, Wintour wrote "The loss of André is felt by so many of us today: the designers he enthusiastically cheered on every season, and who loved him for it; the generations he inspired to work in the industry, seeing a figure who broke boundaries while never forgetting where he started from; those who knew fashion, and Vogue, simply because of him."
"Yet it's the loss of André as my colleague and friend that I think of now; it's immeasurable. He was magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny—mercurial, too."
"Like many decades-long 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."
Wintour Allegedly Dropped Talley For Being 'Too Old, Too Overweight, Too Uncool'
It's a beautiful commemoration for sure, however, as Maureen Callahan of The New York post points out, Wintour was largely responsible for Talley’s downfall later in his life. Allegedly the Vogue icon dropped her former editor for being “Too old, too overweight, too uncool.”
No longer in the ‘in’ crowd, Talley struggled. In 2018, seemingly broke and alone, André faced eviction from his White Plains mansion. Although the fashion-barrier-breaker claimed that he owned the property, ex-Manolo Blahnik CEO George Malkemus stated that he did not, and he accused Talley of owing $500,000 in rent.
As far as the public knows, Talley received little to no help from Wintour, who had not long before fired him as Vogue’s official red-carpet Met Gala interviewer, choosing to replace the veteran with a younger, hipper YouTube star.
Following this slight, Talley sadly said of the industry that once heralded him a superstar “Fashion does not take care of its people.”
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