Fashion journalist, André Leon Talley dies at 73

American fashion journalist and former Vogue creative director, André Leon Talley has died in a hospital in New York. The reason for his hospitalisation is unclear.

73 year old Talley worked as Vogue’s fashion news director from 1983 to 1987 before becoming its creative director, a position he held from 1988 to 1995. He returned to the publication in 1995 and worked as its editor-at-large unit his departure in 2013.

He also contributed to a number of other publications including The New York Times, W and Interview.

The writer was revered for his effort to push for diversity in the fashion world, often including models of color in his runway shows, Black models in particular.

He was so closely associated with the magazine that in 2008’s “Sex and The city” film, he appeared as a Vogue executive.

The star also served as a judge on from March 2010-Dec. 2011.

Talley also authored a number of “American Next Top Model” books, most recently “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir,” which was released in 2020. In 2017, he served as the subject of the documentary “The Gospel According to André.”

The Met Gala, an annual event overseen by Wintour, paid tribute to Talley on Twitter, sharing four photos of the fashion icon in his element, often wearing a cape or oversized shawl, which was his signature look.

Fox/ Stephanie Ingbian