Vogue Icon Andre Leon Talley Passes Away At 73

Fashion icon Andre Leon Talley has passed away at 73. A source with direct knowledge told TMZ that Vogue’s former creative director and one-time editor-at-large passed away Tuesday at a hospital in White Plains, NY. It’s currently unclear exactly what he was battling in the hospital.

Talley was an important part of Vogue’s vision and direction in the 1980s and 1990s, when he worked his way up the magazine’s ranks to become the news director, which he led from 1983 to 1987, and then Vogue’s creative director in 1988.

He held that position for about 7 years, and before long, he was the EAL for all of Vogue, with a brief hiatus in between, until 2013, when he left the company. He continued to contribute to Vogue in various capacities, including podcast appearances, even after his official departure.

ALT will be remembered as a fashion innovator, not only for his stylish flair, but also for his push to include more POC on the runway, particularly Black models. His work and career speak for themselves, as does his consulting work elsewhere, which includes serving as a stylist for the Obamas during Barack Obama’s presidency. He even served as a judge on ‘America’s Next Top Model,’ among many other notable accomplishments, such as his ‘SATC’ cameo and frequent Wendy Williams chats.

He’s been working with Anna Wintour, Vogue’s editor-in-chief, for decades and is regarded as one of the country’s first prominent African-American tastemakers. Andre was also an LGBT icon, despite the fact that he never explicitly said that he was gay, preferring to be more fluid in his sexuality.

We last heard from him in 2017, when he was talking about Rihanna, fashion, and Trump. Andre’s enormous personality was on full display in front of the cameras, and it was a peak Andre moment. May his soul rest in peace.