The legendary fashion editor’s collection contains pieces by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Versace
The legendary fashion editor’s collection contains pieces by Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Versace
At the top of last year, the fashion industry lost one of its greats: André Leon Talley. The famed editor cut his teeth working for Diana Vreeland at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute before progressing to Interview, Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times, and finally, American Vogue. At Vogue, he became the first Black man to hold the title of Creative Director.
This year, beginning on January 17, Christie’s will be auctioning off the Collection of André Leon Talley, which will be sold in a live sale at Christie’s New York on February 15, as well as two online sales ending on February 16-17. Prior to the sale, a selection of highlights from the collection will go on a global tour, debuting in Palm Beach on January 18 and continuing in Paris on January 23.
Reflective of the glamour inherent to Talley’s life and career, his collection spans fashion, fine art, and interior design. Each piece is emblematic of his decades-long relationships with famed designers, such as Karl Lagerfeld and Miuccia Prada, as well as prominent influences in his life, such as his grandmother and American Vogue editors, Diana Vreeland and Anna Wintour.
As Alexis Thomas, executor of Talley’s estate, explained: “Andre was an intellectual and held a lifelong dedication to social justice and a pioneering vision for Black creators and luminaries. [He] saw his collection of beautiful objects, laden with fashion history, as his legacy.” Working to further that legacy, the tour catalogue will feature the work of Talley’s mentee, designer LaQuan Smith. Likewise, sales from Talley’s collection will benefit the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York and the Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina.
Talley’s collection is an unprecedented one, marking the legacy of a man who became a fixture in an industry he had to fight to be a part of.
Credits: Cover image: André Leon Talley – Courtesy of Alexis E. Thomas
