André Leon Talley, who died January 18 at age 73, was the poster boy for a bygone era of fashion media, when the focus was on designers and their craft, and when knowledge of fashion history was a valued asset. “He was a one man style encyclopedia,” Toronto writer Shinan GovaniAndré Leon Talley and Anna Wintour at the 1999 Met Gala.
André Leon Talley and Naomi Campbell at the 2006 Met Gala. Photography courtesy of Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage As Talley’s stature grew in the fashion world, his mere presence at an event made it significant. He became an icon, even before he started wearing colourful Daniel Day caftans to, a result of the emotional eating that started after the grandmother who raised him died. At six foot six, he literally took up more space than anyone in the room. And yet, he seemed more interested in the people around him, charming socialites and encouraging young people who approached him to follow their dreams.