Andre Leon Talley collection to go up for auction at Christie's

Legendary Vogue editor and fashion icon Andre Leon Talley's personal collection is going up for auction at British auction house Christie's.

Talley who died in January 2022 was the first Black man to hold the title Creative Director of American Vogue. He was also known for his discerning taste that extended well beyond fashion and amassed a collection that encompasses haute couture, handbags, jewelry, fine art, literature and decorative arts.

Born in 1948 he was obsessed with French culture and the fantasy of Paris from a young age. Talley majored in French studies at North Carolina Central University before earning a master's degree in French literature from Brown University. After that he moved to New York City to apprentice under Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute who arranged for him to work at Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. He went on to hold positions at Women's Wear Daily and The New York Times before working as fashion news director at Vogue in 1983. In 1988 he was promoted to creative director (the first African American man to hold the position) and as later appointed editor-at-large working alongside legendary editor Anna Wintour.

The collection will be available in a series of sales via two mediums live and online from January 27 to February 16. The online auction features a selection of iconic clothing, personalized handbags and a selection of memorabilia while the live sale features a custom Pink Crocodile Coat by Prada, a personalized Rough H Calf Box Leather Hac Birkin 60 with Gold Hardware from Hermes and A Green, White, and Tan Printed Cotton Caftan by close personal friend Diane von Furstenberg.

The 500 plus collection reflects the close personal and professional relationships Talley cultivated throughout his lengthy career with iconic designers and artists of the time, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford, Ralph Rucci, Oscar de la Renta, Andy Warhol, Yves Saint Laurent, Helmut Newton, Manolo Blahnik, Alice Springs and Bill Cunningham.

Proceeds from the live and online auctions will benefit the causes Talley had chosen to support during his lifetime such as the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York and Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina.

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