Christie’s is proud to present the collection of the legendary fashion editor André Leon Talley, which will be sold in a series of live and online auctions beginning 27 January. As the first Black man to hold the title Creative Director of American Vogue, Mr. Talley held a rarefied status in the fashion industry. His passion for beauty and style, combined with his astute intelligence, led him to amass an extensive collection, including haute couture, handbags, and jewelry. Mr. Talley collected beautiful objects that combined fashion, fine art, literature, and interior design. As a whole, the collection is infused with glamour as well as Mr. Talley’s intellectual curiosity, reflecting his decades-long relationships with iconic designers, including many lots given to him by Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada, Ralph Rucci, and more.
The Collection of André Leon Talley celebrates key moments of the last 50 years of the fashion history. The collection draws upon many influences, notably Mr. Talley’s love for his grandmother and esteem for iconic American Vogue editors Diana Vreeland and Anna Wintour.
The collection will be offered on behalf of Mr. Talley’s estate to benefit causes he chose to support in his lifetime. Proceeds will go toward the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York and the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Durham. Working closely with Mr. Talley’s estate, Christie’s will honor his legacy by creating opportunities to elevate voices from diverse backgrounds, and to expand Christie’s network of vendors, contributors, and tastemakers. The tour and catalogue will feature Mr. Talley’s mentee, American designer, LaQuan Smith, and his friend and style icon Diane Von Furstenberg.
The Collection of André Leon Talley will be sold through a live sale at Christie’s New York on 15 February and two online sales ending on 16-17 February. An emblematic selection of highlights will begin a global tour this month, debuting in Palm Beach (18 January -31 January) and continuing in Paris (23 January – 26 January).
Elizabeth Seigel, Christie’s Head of Private and Iconic says: “André Leon Talley’s fashion sensibility was singular and timeless. He was categorically chic, and the collection that he amassed throughout his life was unlike any other. We are beyond thrilled to steward this group of objects from his homes, a selection that showcases Talley’s endless love for all-things beautiful. From monogrammed Louis Vuitton trunks, to custom Tom Ford caftans, each lot is imbued with meaning and linked to his larger-than-life persona and legacy, which continue to inspire us all.”
Alexis Thomas – Executor of the Estate comments: “I am thrilled to partner with Christie’s in the sale of the collection of my dear friend André Leon Talley. André was an intellectual and held a lifelong dedication to social justice and a pioneering vision for Black creators and luminaries. André saw his collection of beautiful objects, laden with fashion history, as his legacy, and it’s an honor to ensure that its sale will benefit the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem and Mount Sinai Church in Durham. As we embark on a global tour with the collection, we hope to bring the magic of André Leon Talley into the lives of those who have long admired him.”
About André Leon Talley:
André Leon Talley was born in 1948, and raised by his grandmother in North Carolina during Jim Crow. He studied French at North Carolina Central University and received a master’s in French literature from Brown University. He began his career working for Diana Vreeland at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and went on to work for Interview Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times and, finally, Vogue. There, he served as fashion news director turned creative director and ultimately editor-at-large, working side-by-side with legendary editor Anna Wintour for decades. Talley passed away on January 18th, 2022, at the age of 73. He is remembered for his larger-than-life persona and eccentric personal style – often decked out in floor-length robes or flowing caftans, Louis Vuitton luggage or Ugg boots – Talley believed in fashion as a means of personal expression.
