• Andre Leon Talley attends a Philipp Plein event as part of Milan Fashion Week on September 21, 2013 in Italy. Getty Images
    Andre Leon Talley attends a Philipp Plein event as part of Milan Fashion Week on September 21, 2013 in Italy. Getty Images
  • Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley attend a cocktail and dinner hosted in honour of designer Michael Kors during Paris Fashion Week 2012 at the United States Embassy on March 7, 2011 in Paris. Getty Images
    Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley attend a cocktail and dinner hosted in honour of designer Michael Kors during Paris Fashion Week 2012 at the United States Embassy on March 7, 2011 in Paris. Getty Images
  • Karl Lagerfeld and Andre Leon Talley pose during the Chanel 2012-13 cruise collection at Chateau de Versailles on May 14, 2012 in France. Getty Images
    Karl Lagerfeld and Andre Leon Talley pose during the Chanel 2012-13 cruise collection at Chateau de Versailles on May 14, 2012 in France. Getty Images
  • Andre Leon Talley attends the Fendi fashion show as part of Milan Fashion Week on February 21, 2013 in Italy. Getty Images
    Andre Leon Talley attends the Fendi fashion show as part of Milan Fashion Week on February 21, 2013 in Italy. Getty Images
  • Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour attend the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Fashion Week 2012 on March 5, 2012 in France. Getty Images
    Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour attend the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Fashion Week 2012 on March 5, 2012 in France. Getty Images
  • Andre Leon Talley and Renee Zellweger pose backstage at the 2003 CFDA Fashion Awards at the New York Public Library on June 2, 2003 in New York City. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley and Renee Zellweger pose backstage at the 2003 CFDA Fashion Awards at the New York Public Library on June 2, 2003 in New York City. AFP
  • Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Andre Leon Talley pose for photos in the lobby of the main tent during Olympus Fashion Week fall 2005 at Bryant Park February 9, 2005 in New York City. AFP
    Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Andre Leon Talley pose for photos in the lobby of the main tent during Olympus Fashion Week fall 2005 at Bryant Park February 9, 2005 in New York City. AFP
  • Oprah Winfrey and Andre Leon Talley attend the Legends Ball at the Bacara Resort and Spa on May 14, 2005 in Santa Barbara, California. AFP
    Oprah Winfrey and Andre Leon Talley attend the Legends Ball at the Bacara Resort and Spa on May 14, 2005 in Santa Barbara, California. AFP
  • Roberto Cavalli, 'Vogue' editor Andre Leon Talley and Lee Radziwill attend the Marc Jacobs fall 2007 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on February 5, 2007. AFP
    Roberto Cavalli, 'Vogue' editor Andre Leon Talley and Lee Radziwill attend the Marc Jacobs fall 2007 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on February 5, 2007. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley and Selma Blair attend the 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards at the New York Public Library on June 7, 2004. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley and Selma Blair attend the 2004 CFDA Fashion Awards at the New York Public Library on June 7, 2004. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley and designer Diane von Furstenberg attend the book launch of 'Diane Von Furstenburg: The Wrap' on March 31, 2004 in New York City. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley and designer Diane von Furstenberg attend the book launch of 'Diane Von Furstenburg: The Wrap' on March 31, 2004 in New York City. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley greets Serena Williams at the S by Serena spring 2020 collection launch during New York Fashion Week on February 12, 2020 in New York City. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley greets Serena Williams at the S by Serena spring 2020 collection launch during New York Fashion Week on February 12, 2020 in New York City. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley, Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, Naomi Campbell and Fern Mallis attend a press conference promoting Fashion for Relief at the Bryant Park Hotel on November 16, 2005 in New York City. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley, Sean 'P Diddy' Combs, Naomi Campbell and Fern Mallis attend a press conference promoting Fashion for Relief at the Bryant Park Hotel on November 16, 2005 in New York City. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley attends the Zang Toi spring/summer 2004 show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park on September 13, 2003 in New York City. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley attends the Zang Toi spring/summer 2004 show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park on September 13, 2003 in New York City. AFP
  • Andre Leon Talley and Jonathan Newhouse attend the Marc Jacobs fall 2020 runway show during New York Fashion Week on February 12, 2020. AFP
    Andre Leon Talley and Jonathan Newhouse attend the Marc Jacobs fall 2020 runway show during New York Fashion Week on February 12, 2020. AFP

'Vogue' editor Andre Leon Talley has died aged 73


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

Andre Leon Talley, the famed creative director and editor-at-large of American Vogue, has died aged 73.

His cause of death has not yet been announced.

TMZ was first to report that he died at a hospital in White Plains, New York, on Tuesday, and his literary agent David Vigliano later confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter.

His family have yet to make a public statement, but W magazine, where he worked in the 1990s, tweeted, "Rest in peace, Andre Leon Talley."

Talley never spoke publicly about his health, but in March 2021, he thanked fans for their "outpouring of love and concern" on Twitter.

"I am healthy in mind and spirit and am quite grateful for the many messages from dear friends and extended community," he wrote.

"As you probably know from The Chiffon Trenches, I’ve experienced many peaks and valleys in my life and remain quite resilient. The matter we are dealing with is unfortunate, but will be handled by my very capable legal team at this time."

The Chiffon Trenches is a memoir released by Talley in May 2020.

Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour attend the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2012, in Paris. Getty Images
Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour attend the Stella McCartney show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2012, in Paris. Getty Images

Andre Leon Talley's career

Talley served as US Vogue's news director from 1983 until 1987, and then as creative director from 1988 until 1995. Talley is credited with championing the work of black models in the 1980s and 1990s.

In 1995, he moved to Paris to work at W, but continued as a contributing editor at Vogue, which he ultimately returned to in 1998 as editor-at-large until he left in 2013.

Andre Leon Talley in popular culture

Talley's face and name will be familiar to those with more than a specific interest in fashion.

He appeared in numerous films and TV shows as himself, including Sex and the City, Valentino: The Last Emperor and Empire, and as a judge on America's Next Top Model.

He also featured in documentaries The September Issue, The First Monday in May, Manolo: The Boy Who Made Shoes for Lizards and The Gospel According to Andre, and appeared as himself in Mariah Carey's 2006 music video for Say Somethin'.

In 2008, Talley took up the role of fashion adviser to the Obama family, ahead of Barack Obama's US presidency.

Updated: January 19, 2022, 7:44 AM