Fashion journalist André Leon Talley dead at 73

André Leon Talley, the former creative director and editor-at-large of U.S. Vogue, has died.

The fashion icon's death was first reported by TMZ, with editors announcing that he had died at a hospital in White Plains, New York at the age of 73. His death was later confirmed to multiple outlets by his literary agent David Vigliano and announced on Talley's Instagram page. His cause of death has not been disclosed.

"It is with great sadness we announce the passing of André Leon Talley on January 18, 2022 in New York," the message on his page reads. "Mr. Talley was the larger-than-life, longtime creative director at Vogue during its rise to dominance as the world's fashion bible.

"Over the past five decades as an international icon was a close confidant of Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Paloma Picasso, Diane von Furstenberg, Bethann Hardison, Manolo Blahnik and he had a penchant for discovering, nurturing and celebrating young designers."

The post continued by listing Talley's achievements throughout his career, including his bylines in magazines, contributions to fashion books, his documentary, The Gospel According to André, and his recent memoir, The Chiffon Trenches.

Talley joined Vogue in 1983, quickly working his way to becoming the title's first African-American creative director and right-hand man of longtime editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. He stayed at the fashion magazine until 1995, when he moved to Paris and later worked for W Magazine. The fashion icon returned to Vogue in 1998 and served as the editor-at-large until 2013.

Later in his career, he served as a judge on America's Next Top Model for seasons 14 to 17 and worked as a stylist for former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

Von Furstenberg paid tribute to Talley on Instagram, writing, "Good bye darling André… no one saw the world in a more elegant and glamorous way than you did… no one was more soulful and grander than you were…the world will be less joyful now... I have loved you and laughed with you for 45 years…. I will miss your loud screams and your loyal friendship…I love you soooo much."