André Leon Talley’s presence could possibly be felt all over the place on the Met Gala on Monday. The late inventive director and editor at giant of Vogue journal, who died in 2022 at age 73, closely influenced the spirit of the costume exhibit, the place considered one of his fits was featured, and the glitzy occasion itself.
Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour wrote extensively about her previous colleague in her editor’s letter final month, writing that she can be “thinking of him on the night of the Met Gala, an evening made for him — and one I can scarcely believe he will miss.”
And he or she was hardly the one one. Many attendees, as numerous as Anne Hathaway and Rev. Al Sharpton, had Talley high of thoughts as they walked the blue carpet Monday. Hathaway, in Carolina Herrera, stated she dressed particularly for him.
“We wanted André Leon Talley to look down from heaven and scream ‘GLAMOUR,’” Hathaway stated on the Vogue livestream.
Sharpton, in the meantime, needed to highlight Talley’s trailblazing contributions to the style world. He stated that individuals like Talley fought to have an evening like this. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” is the primary Costume Institute exhibit to focus solely on Black designers.
“I know André Leon Talley is looking down on us, smiling,” Sharpton stated. “That’s why I had to be here. And I had to be as dandy as I could.”
Occasion co-chair Colman Domingo appeared to pay homage to Talley’s ardour for dramatic capes, and probably even the look that Talley wore in 2011, together with his vibrant blue Valentino.
Some have been extra apparent. Actor Tessa Thompson wore a fan accent with the late famed Vogue editor pictured on the entrance, and mannequin Paloma Elsesser wore a leather-based jacket adorned together with his face whereas on her method to prepare for the occasion.
And others obtained additional inventive, channeling Talley’s infectious exuberance. Doechii, who’s on the host committee, recreated a well-known {photograph} of Talley joyfully bounding out of a lodge, with a larger-than-life smile, a tennis racket and arms stuffed with Louis Vuitton baggage.
The purpose, everybody appeared to grasp, was to have enjoyable with it. Talley would have.
“André knew who he was, and I know how much he would have adored “Superfine,” each side of it,” Wintour wrote.
