About the Book
One of the most striking figures in international style offers a unique and unforgettable memoir of the two women who shaped his dreams, tastes, and character.
" My grandmother and Mrs. Vreeland had similar ways of appreciating luxury, " writes Andre Leon Talley, " because they both believed in the importance of its most essential underpinning: polish." In A.L.T., Vogue's editor at large explains how a six-foot-seven African-American man from North Carolina became the influential fashion figure he is today, learning life's most enduring lessons from two remarkable women: his maternal grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis, a woman who worked back-breakingly hard as a maid, yet taught him to embrace the world with a warm heart and an open mind; and Diana Vreeland, the inimitable editor in chief of Vogue and director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, who became his peerless professional mentor. In a rich, eloquent voice that resonates with both small-town wisdom and haut monde sophistication, Talley tells of the grandmother who encouraged his dreams and ambitions while instilling in him an abiding sense of dignity and style, and of the legendary fashion doyenne who took him under her wing as he rose to fame in the wild New York of the 1970s. Threaded throughout are stories of the man himself, who has survived thirty years in the " chiffon trenches" with eminent grace and style.
Clear, elegant, and often magical, A.L.T. shines like a rare jewel as it illuminates three extraordinary lives.
Review :
" Andre Leon Talley's memoir is a remarkable story. It is the solid building of a man, from honest, dignified beginnings, with unfailing integrity and values, and a profound respect for the human soul. It is the story of a journey from goodness to glamour, without ever losing the goodness along the way. The book is, as Talley is himself, about the elegance of the human spirit, and the genuine luxury of love. His deep respect and genuine affection for women, embodied by his grandmother at first, and the illustrious Diana Vreeland at last, shine throughout.
" The book demonstrates The American Dream, from humble beginnings to glory, not in a single leap, but in slow, graceful, measured steps, never losing sight of the right goals: friendship, kindness, compassion, generosity, honesty and love. Andre Leon Talley clearly loves the young, the real, or even the unreal, if honest and carried out with sufficient style and panache. His own profound belief in ' goodness, ' generosity, love and integrity shines through on every page. I was deeply moved by the book, and am proud to be his friend." -- Danielle Steel
" From the waters of the well, Andre Leon Talley fashions a new translation of black life writing. His elegant style resonates the life and language of a brilliant reader of great writers-- Toni Morrison, Gustave Flaubert, Jorge Luis Borges-- and cultural texts. Sunday mornings with his grandmother at church; a master's in French studies at Brown University; marvelous women everywhere influence the deep sensibility of this world-class critic and historian of haute couture. His impeccable descriptions define andexpand the borders of Vogue. With amazing grace, Talley narrates ' chanting memories' of love, beauty, struggle, and home."
-- Professor Janis A. Mayes, Department of African American Studies (African and Diasporan Literatures in French and English languages), Syracuse University
" I liked this book so much because it describes Andre 's fascination and deep understanding of beauty and elegance since he was young. What impressed me the most was the pleasure these things gave him. You understand it from the description of the sheets smelling of sun or from the way gloves and hats were put in order in the closet." -- Miuccia Prada
" For those who know Andre Leon Talley, as one reads, one can almost hear his voice telling these stories of his life experiences with laughter and tears. Stories of enchanted memories of a sainted ancestor and a flamboyant mentor. Stories enshrined in his heart and shared with all of us through poetic recollections.
" From Sundays at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Orange County, North Carolina, to the French chateau of Karl Lagerfeld, Andre Leon Talley paints colorful pictures of life filled with style and grace that are both instructive and entertaining.
" Young adults should read this book. It celebrates luxurious living that is rooted not in the material, but in the spiritual. Andre Leon Talley's sense of the feminine, and his celebration of the highest elements of style, make this a must-read memoir." -- Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, pastor, the Abyssinian Church of the City of New York
