André Leon Talley: “Style is What Makes you Happy”

On April 29 Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ hosted a meeting with André Leon Talley, american fashion journalist and one of the most influential representative of the fashion world.

Stefano Albertini, director of CIZM, proudly introduces Mr Talley and the event mediator Grazia D’Annunzio, heart and soul of Vogue Italia in New York and a regular presence at Casa Italiana during all fashion events.

The atmosphere is ironic and engaging. Grazia D’Annunzio starts illustrating André Leon Talley’s life by showing photos featuring his most significant milestones.
Starting from a childhood picture of his grandmother who Mr Talley considers the most important woman in his life and, above all, the person who taught him what style is all about.

His life keeps unfolding in visual narrative that portrays him standing next to personalities like Diana Vreeland, famous american fashion journalist of french origins. Or the unmistakable icon Andy Warhol, or next to Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue America, one othe most inspirational women in his life.
André Leon Talley has worked for the world’s most popular magazines, like Interview, the New York Times, W Magazine (french edition), and of course Vogue America, for which he has been Artistic Director for many years and is now a collaborator in its digital edition.

For the last 25 years he has been in the front row at all fashion shows from New York to London, from Milan to Paris.

Mr Talley entertains us with various anecdotes about his career, but what he reiterates, time and time again, is that the strongest point in his career has been always being prepared on any topic and for every situation.

He remembers when for the first time he met Karl Lagerfeld , known worldwide as an eclectic stylist and creative genius. Although very young Mr Talley was extremely relaxed and, studying every single moment of the designer’s life gave him the extra confidence he needed, so much so that Mr Lagerfeld himself was left pleasantly surprised.
That was the starting point of a friendhip that lasts to this day.

Grazia D’Annunzio knows André Leon Talley personally and brings up another topic very close to his heart. Mr Talley has always tried to use his influence in the fashion world to support young stylists, like for example Jason Wu who, in his early thirties, dressed Michelle Obama in occasion of the President’s election and for a cover on Vogue America.

Mr Talley wraps up the interview with : ‘Style is what makes you happy’. Let’s take his word for it!