For André Leon Talley, attending the Met Gala is like going back home.
In 1974, two years after graduating from Brown University, he entered the Costume Institute for internship. His mentor was the legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland, a figure who later became his mother. In his 2003 memoir, ALT, André Leon Talley recalled his first day at the Metropolitan Museum: “I arrived there early and wore a lemon yellow V-neck wool sweater that Mama bought for me in high school, and I loved it very much. At that time, I didn't know the charm of six-strand cashmere, and I was wearing navy blue alpaca trousers, which grandma liked the pants I wore when I went to church. I looked dignified.”
André Leon Talley was always elegant. He joined Vogue in 1983 and soon became the first black creative director in magazine history. When he was in Met Gala in his early days, he always wore a shining diamond brooch. Since the mid-1990s, Talley has begun to boldly show her personal style, pairing a custom-made palace cloak and jacket with formal gowns, and choosing the most luxurious fabrics.
The legendary fashion editor would later serve as a guest interview for Vogue on the Met Gala red carpet, and heSuperfine: Tailoring Black Style, the Metropolitan Museum of Art fashion exhibition in 2025In this, it has important existence significance—not only at the spiritual level, but also at the historical and realistic levels. The exhibition will feature his amazing wardrobe collection, including a burqa designed by Patience Torlowei, a Morty Sills suit, and his Louis Vuitton suitcase.
His style, as Anna Wintour describes:
1983, “Yves Saint Laurent: 25 Years of Design”
André Leon Talley and supermodel Iman. “This dress was air-carred from Paris, just for the look tonight. The inlays on the skirt shine, and with each step she takes, the sparkle in the chiffon yarn will also flash.” The editorWrite“I'm holding her fur shawl, not mine.”
Photo: Rick Guidotti / Penske Media / Getty Images
1989, “From Queen to Empress: Victorian Dress 1837–1877”
Talley, holding a fur-lined trench coat.
Photo: PL Gould / Images Press / Getty Images
1993, “Diana Vreeland: Immoderate Style”
Talley 與 Anne Bass.
Photo: WWD / Getty Images
1995, “Haute Couture”
Talley 與 Karl Lagerfeld.
Photo: Ron Galella / Getty Images
Talley 與 Gianfranco Ferré.
Photo: Nick Haddow / Penske Media / Getty Images
Talley 與 Christian Lacroix.
Photo: Nick Haddow / Penske Media / Getty Images
1997, “Gianni Versace”
Karl Lagerfeld, Cher 與 André Leon Talley.
Photo: Sonia Moskowitz / Getty Images
1998, “Cubism and Fashion”
Talley creates the look with bright color blocks.
Photo: WWD / Getty Images
1999, “Rock Style”
Talley, dressed in a custom made by Tom FordGucciDress. Anna Wintour next to her uses Christian Dior high-end custom uniforms.
Photo: Rose Hartman / Getty Images
2003, “Bravehearts: Men in Skirts”
Talley pairs classic formal outfits with diamond jewelry and brooches.
Photo: Penske Media / Getty Images
2003, “Goddess: The Classical Mode”
Talley wears a gorgeous metallic gown
Photo: Evan Agostini / Getty Images
Talley wears a gorgeous metallic gown
Photo: Fairchild Archive / Getty Images
2004, “Dangerous Liasions: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century”
Talley is wearing a robe with ruffles and taffeta
Photo: Ron Galella / Getty Images
Talley與Renée Zellweger.
Photo: Ron Galella / Getty Images
2005, “The House of Chanel”
Talley與Patricia Altschul.
Photo:Penske Media / Getty Images
Talley was wearing well-tailored formal attire.
Photo: Michael Loccisano / FilmMagic
2006 “AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion”
Talley wore a Balenciaga robe made by Nicolas Ghesquière.
Photo: Patrick McMullan / Getty Images
Talley and Naomi Campbell.
Photo: Evan Agostini / Getty Images
2007, “Poiret: King of Fashion”
Talley, wearing a dark blue suit with a signature robe. Beside him is Jennifer Hudson.
Photo: Fairchild Archive / Getty Images
Talley's signature robe unfolded on the red carpet of the Liz Hotel.
Photo: Michael Loccisano / FilmMagic
2008, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy”
Talley 與 Venus Williams.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images
Talley wore Chanel high-end custom robe made by Karl Lagerfeld.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images
2009, “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion”
Talley always wears his emotions on his body and expresses his inner world in costume.
Photo: Patrick McMullan / Getty Images
2010, “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”
Talley 與 Whoopi Goldberg.
Photo: Patrick McMullan / Getty Images
Talley 與 Whoopi Goldberg.
Photo: Bryan Bedder / WireImage for Vogue
2011, “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”
Talley, regal in royal blue.
Photo: Larry Busacca / Getty Images
Talley, regal in royal blue.
Photo: Penske Media / Getty Images
2013, “PUNK: Chaos to Couture”
Talley holds his embroidered robe
Photo: Michael Stewart / Getty Images
2014, “Charles James: Beyond Fashion”
Talley always integrates style with politics
Photo: Rob Kim / Getty Images
2015, “China: Through the Looking Glass”
Talley is wearing a red, white and blue dress
Photo: Andrew Toth / Getty Images
2018, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”
