CHIFFON TRENCHES

Andre Leon Talley in my opinion,  was a complete hoot. Andre' who was a Vogue editor whose groundbreaking innovations in fashion made him a worldwide gamechanger and tastemaker, passed on to Fabulon, just tonight, at only 73. Larger than life, funny as hell, and of years late, famous for wearing his billowing oversized coats and capes as were his fan snapping moments. was something else. He ran at times over the years with the likes of Anna Wintour, Divine, Andy Warhol, Naomie Campbell, Bianca Jagger, John Gallino and Karl Lagerfeld. Tally made his name at Vogue working with Anna Wintour, longer than anyone else or counterpart, in shaping the world of fashion. And yes, I do think he was the only one to make Dame Wintour laugh.  Talley earned a master's degree in French Lit from Brown. In 1974 he apprenticed for the then Vogue Editor Diana Vreeland, where she recommended Talley to a job at Interview magazine, which led to WWD, before untimely landing at Vogue till his retirement.

 One of the many notable moments was when he advised the Obamas on fashion, introducing the First Lady to Jason Wu, actively worked to make the fashion industry more diverse, and seeing that Vogue was putting more Black models on the runway and in its pages. And then there were his quotes. I remember on a talk show once,  talking about his LGBT icon status. "I'm not heterosexual; I'm saying I'm fluid in my sexuality, darling". When fashion gets boring, like now in this pandemic, I recall him talking with Vera Wang in the "September Issue" on a lack of fashion in the industry to which he replied, "It's a famine of fashion honey."  And how true. I use that one to this day when I get bored of fashion. Alas, my only experiences were when I got to meet Andre' twice when he came to the opening of the Rachel Zoe boutique at the flagship store with Bloomingdales, when we were there doing visuals for the day for the event. And another for a Dita von Tesse show. Both times he was very open and cordial with the store team, campy and snappy with the one liners. I could have listened to him talk all day. He talked so elegantly, precise yet fun and whimsical. If I recall, it was also the first encounter I had with Iris Apel when he was present.

And I highly recommend his book if you're into fashion and a queen who can spill tea.

"The Chiffon Trenches" I remember when it had gossip and power brokers salivating before it hit the shelves in 2020.The book was a good read, and is a memoir and yet, like an historical document, chronicling of a world that was already on the fade but, post-Covid 19, and how fashion will be changed forever- if it survives at all. But the book also has excerpts taking aim at Anna Wintour herself, as well as Karl Lagerfeld. Juicy henny. But most impressive is all this from an African -American poor boy from the Jim Crow South, who made it to the front row of the Parisian fashion world, rubbing elbows with the world's leading designers. Not bad.

Andre 'Leon Talley

October 16th 1948-January 18 2022

FAMINE OF BEAUTY

Me, walking around Walmart.....

Andre Leon Tally Shopping in Paris

Spend time with André Leon Talley in this deleted scene from The September Issue, as he visits Paris, shopping and having a "summer shirt " custom made at the legendary men's haberdasher Charvet - an absolute necessity for" lunching on Karl Lagerfeld's terrace in St. Tropez" I love the scene and he reminds me so much of a good friend, Vera Charles shopping. He is so particular and formal, and you know what? I love it, so old school.

The September Issue, In March

So, my copy of The September Issue arrived this week and what a better time to watch it than during all the rain we are getting. Now, whether or not you follow fashion, or even interested in it, or like Anna Wintour, I think this documentary is down right fascinating. It was very interesting to see just how much work goes into a issue and how the whole process works from beginning to end. Vogue has been the most powerful and best-respected fashion magazine in the world for decades, and each year the journal devotes a fall issue to the designs and designers that the editors feel will be influential in the coming year. We get Vogue at our store along with many others but Vogue really is the blible and we use it lots for insprition and to keep up with the latest trends.


Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for twenty years, is the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion these days and has been. Hidden behind her trademark bob and sunglasses, she has never allowed anyone to scrutinize the inner workings of her magazine. Until now. With unprecedented unlimited access, filmmaker R.J. Cutler's new film takes the viewer inside a world they only think they know. Every August a record-breaking number of people can't wait to get their hands on the September issue of Vogue. The 2007 issue was and remains the biggest ever, weighing over four pounds, selling thirteen million copies, and impacting the $300-billion global fashion industry more than any other single publication. He takes us behind the scenes at Fashion Week, to Europe, on shoots and re-shoots, and into closed-door staff meetings, bearing witness to an arduous, entertaining, and sometimes emotionally demanding process. At the eye of this annual fashion hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Wintour and Grace Coddington, incomparable Creative Director and fashion genius.


They are perfectly matched for the age-old conflict between creator and curator. Through them, we see close-up the delicate creative chemistry it takes to remain at the top of the ever-changing fashion field. The chemistry between these two fascinated me more than anything else in the film. As a visual stylist, I really got into seeing Grace's creative side and I could feel her disappointments when she got nixed on some things creatively, but you go on and survive. And what a role model she is. Grace started out a model and is now probably the best and most talented Creative director in magazine publishing. In my line of work the road can really take you so my directions. The other part of the film which is interesting is Anna's Editor -at- Large, the larger than life Andre Leon Talley,the side kick you see with Anna at runway shows.





Andre I found to be interesting as he seems to be the only one there at Vogue who acts as the office jester. He really seems to balance out the place with tons of humor and can make Anna laugh. And his whole schick at the luxurious men's haberdasher Charvet is just priceless. He reminds me of my friend Vera with his decorum, mannerisms, and taste for the finer things. He also made me laugh when he said he couldn't work in a cubicle because their isn't enough air and ventilation, or creativity in a matchbox. so he makes the whole world his office.Here's a example of his sense of humor when he hears he has to eat in the car.



What a great film and I found it to be very inspring for myself. I highly recommend this film.Tootles.