When long-time Vogue editor André Leon Talley was at 73 passed away, there was a strong sense of loss in the fashion world. His contributions will be missed, but perhaps more importantly, his presence. The legend sees his existence as a brilliant art project – even opting to play tennis in a rich Louis Vuitton, as seen in the September issue of . Fashion insiders and casual observers alike recognize the tall, imposing man in a theatrical robe sitting at the top of the Met Gala stairs as the interviewer, often the only one the evening’s front-line guests are allowed to chat.
Soon, anyone will be able to own an edited legacy. New auctions at Christie’s in January will offer Talley’s treasured possessions for sale in a series of live and online auctions. The catalog poignantly documents the extraordinary ascents and journeys of a black man born in the Jim Crow era in Durham, North Carolina; attending the prestigious Brown University to study French; collaborating with Andy Warhol; and living in Paris for years ; and became the first black creative director of American Vogue
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A significant portion of the items were retrieved from Tully’s home in White Plains, NY Returns include one-on-one designs by Tom Ford and Diane von Furstenberg, photographs by the late Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton suitcases (including ALT in the Sex and the City movie ), books, Chanel tennis rackets, a bunch of Prada alligator coats, vintage books, and more.
The auction includes 448a lot of. According to Christie’s, the sum was slightly more than half of the property retrieved from Tully’s home and cataloged. “He was also very generous and gave something to Savannah College of Art and Design and some friends,” said Bonnie Brennan, president of Christie’s Americas. “Not everything is available to us, but we do have a lot of options.” (The auction is closely tied to Tully’s estate, overseen by financial advisor Alexis Thomas.)
Talley and Alber Elbaz at “Poiret: Fashion in Fashion” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art King of “Costume Academy Gala, 73. Getty Images
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