Wednesday

Looking For A Possible Hero : Andre Leon Talley

-The African American Editor at Large at Vogue magazine ALT has been a front-row regular at fashion shows for more than 25 years. More than just a fashion icon but a possible hero for the next generation, he gives insight of what could be.

Talley’s career at Vogue began in 1983, when he was hired as fashion news director. He served as creative director from 1988-95. After living in Paris for a few years, he returned to Vogue in 1998 to take on his current role. His editor-at-large duties led him to be the official voice of Oscar fashion at the 79th Annual Academy Awards and to curate a celebration of Oscar fashion: a retrospective of famous — and infamous — Oscar gowns.

Talley graduated from Brown University with a master’s degree in French studies and went on to work with Andy Warhol at Interview magazine. From there, he began to forge a career in the world of high style, working closely with some of the most celebrated names in fashion, the arts and Hollywood.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, Talley’s work with legendary style authority Diana Vreeland, his professed mentor, confirmed his interest in fashion and its many cultural manifestations. Like Bennie Frances Davis, the grandmother who raised him, Vreeland became one of the primary inspirations in Talley’s life, and their relationship is richly detailed in his autobiography, “A.L.T.: A Memoir” (Villard, 2003). His latest book, “A.L.T. 365+” (powerHouse, 2005), is his first art monograph. Talley’s photographs and text chronicle 365 days of his life and offer a privileged and rare inside look at the people and places he encounters in his work and travels.

In addition to his work at Vogue, Talley is a member of SCAD’s Board of Trustees. In May 2000, SCAD honored Talley with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was renamed the André Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award and has been presented to other fashion icons such as Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada, Tom Ford, Vera Wang and Marc Jacobs. In 2008 the award will be presented to John Galliano. In 2004, Zac Posen was honored with the André Leon Talley New Look Award.

What will your story read?-if he can do it so can you.

For you to get it if you don't wanna win; so get up off ya ass and go for yours, Im goin for mine.-it's possible.

m a r q u i s . p h i f e r
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