Fashion legend André Leon Talley, who served as Vogue’s creative director and editor-at-large, died Tuesday at age 73.
Talley, who became the first African American creative director of the magazine in 1988, died at White Plains Hospital from an unknown illness, according to TMZ, which first reported the news.
His death was confirmed by his friend Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation.
“André Leon Talley was a singular force in an industry that he had to fight to be recognized in,” Walker said in a statement, calling him a “creative genius” and noting his ability to craft a persona for himself out of “a deep academic understanding of fashion and design.”
The longtime fashion writer was appointed to the creative director post by Vogue icon Anna Wintour. However, he dished about the media icon in a 2020 memoir called “The Chiffon Trenches.”
Talley, a former “America’s Next Top Model” judge, was known for his attention-grabbing garb and trailblazing career at the intersection of the media and fashion worlds.
He grew up in the South and eventually received a master’s degree from Brown University, but in 2004 he moved into a mansion in White Plains, one of New York City’s northern suburbs, a New York Times profile noted.
The Post revealed last year that the pioneering Talley was embroiled in a legal battle to fight eviction from the mansion over a purported $500,000 he owed on rent for the home. Talley had said he didn’t owe anything and that the mansion was his.
“I’ve experienced many peaks and valleys in my life and remain quite resilient,” he posted on Instagram amid a GoFundMe to support him in the legal fight. “The matter we are dealing with is unfortunate, but will be handled by my very capable legal team at this time.”
