By Beatrix Zwart of www.stylenews.co.uk

Former US Vogue Editor-at-Large, now listed as Contributing Editor in the April masthead, André Leon Talley is a powerful man in the world of fashion and a force to be reckoned with.  Acting as right hand man to Editor of US Vogue Anna Wintour (aka THE Queen of Fashion) is no walk in the park as seen in the hit film documentary ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and as such it should come to no surprise that Leon was ranked as one of the ‘50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America’ in Out Magazine in 2007. Like Anna Wintour, André shares a unique eye for spotting trends before they hit the catwalks and is regularly spotted on the front row of New York, Paris, London and Milan fashion shows. Sharing Anna Wintour’s forward thinking and visionary outlook, Leon has always supported new talent and uses his strong influence to promote young fashion designers. Mexican born designer and ex Oscar De La Renta Apprentice, John Saldivar is a prime example of André’s influence. Having worked as Leon’s assistant at Vogue prior to his stint at global Fashion House Oscar de La Renta, John Saldivar has since become a renowned fashion designer with celebrating followings including the likes of actresses Scarlett Johansson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kirstin Davis. André’s passion for new designers has seen him continue to mentor young talent in other fields as well. A keen interest in the arts, André spent his youth mingling and befriending students at the Rhode Island School of Design and after many trips to New York André received his first job as assistant to the celebrated artist Andy Warhol. As an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Talley continues to actively pursue his passion for art and design as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Talley grew up in Durham, North Carolina and was raised by his grandmother, Bennie Davis. Bennie’s love for fashion and luxury, clearly rubbed off on the young André Leon Talley as it was here where his ‘understanding of luxury’ was born. André’s love for designer labels and bling can be seen at it’s best in the hit documentary film ‘The September Issue’ when he steps out in full head to toe Louis Vuitton tennis gear including a matching Louis Vuitton kit bag on court (a classic moment, not to be missed). Having struggled with weight for many years, Anna Wintour was quick to intervene and in the mid 2000s Talley as seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show started eating healthier and eventually lost a great deal of weight. The tennis scene in the September Issue was another Wintour initiation and a stylish one at that (well if you’re going to get fit you may as well do it it in style!)

Talley’s powerful position and influential nature saw him advising the First Family on fashion back in 2008, when he introduced Michelle Obama to designer Jason Wu, from whom she has since bought several dresses, including her inaugural gown. André is not only a fashion icon but a celebrity too. His recent pairings with singer/actress Jennifer Hudson, Rachel Roy and designer Tracey Reese continue to demonstrate his powerful influence. Mixing with the celebrated, Talley’s close friends include pop diva Mariah Carey, fashion designer Kimoura Lee Simmons and tennis star Venus Williams. André’s influence continues to thrive at Vogue as well as outside the magazine, seeing the Contributing Editor acting as a judge on US TV reality competition, ‘America’s Next Top Model’.

photo credit: Style News