Photography Courtesy of SCAD

Over the weekend, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) payed a moving tribute to one of the school’s staunch supporters and mentors, the legendary fashion editor, André Leon Talley.

Talley, who was a longtime Vogue editor and its first-ever Black Creative Director, died on January 18 at the age of 73. Last month, many fashion luminaries, including Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss, Marc Jacobs, Martha Stewart, attended his funeral at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, and all came dressed to the nines to honor the fashion icon.

Talley served on SCAD’s Board of Trustees for more than 13 years, and gave the commencement address in 2008. He was the first-ever recipient of the SCAD Lifetime Achievement Award in Fashion, now named the André Leon Talley award.

On Friday, May 20, the college paid tribute to its longtime supporter with a panel titled, “Our Friend André: A SCAD Tribute to André Leon Talley,” hosted by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. There were films played featuring interviews with colleagues and friends, remarks by Talley’s close friend, designer Diane Von Furstenberg, and the presentation of the André Leon Talley Award to SCAD alum and 2021 CFDA American Womenswear Designer of the Year, Christopher John Rogers.

Andre Leon Talley at SCAD. Courtesy of SCAD

Wallace kicked off the event by speaking about Talley’s legacy at SCAD, referring to him as “The Charlemagne of Chiffon.” She spoke about Talley’s impact on students and how he would take them on trips to New York. “In their eyes I see so much yearning and passion,” Wallace said he wrote to her, “Each girl had on their best shoe. Some of them limping by noon.”

Wallace went on to say, “He called SCAD his ‘zen zone of divine wonder.'”

Von Furstenberg presented alumnus and 2021 CFDA American Womenswear Designer winner, Christopher John Rogers, with the André Leon Talley Award. Rogers was one of Von Furstenberg’s designers from 2017 to 2019. She encouraged him to start his own label, saying that if he ever needed her she will be there for him, but she joked, “He never called”.

Von Furstenberg went on to saying, “Christopher you have woven magic into the threads.” She continued, “Watching your career take flight has been a gift to all of us and especially to me.”

Christopher John Rogers with the Andre Leon Talley (ALT) award. Courtesy of SCAD.

Rogers graciously accepted the award expressing his appreciation for Talley saying, “While I never had the privilege of meeting André, his presence, reserve, and support for young designers throughout his career from John Galliano, Gianni Versace, to Rifit Ozbek, were incredibly inspiring to me throughout my years at Savannah College of Art and Design and through my brief tenure in this industry.”

The designer added, “I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this award, and although it symbolizes a lifetime of achievement, I feel that I am just getting started and I can’t wait for you to see what’s next.”

He also spoke more about his time at SCAD, the success he has had, and his plans for the future during a separate panel with his design team, moderated by Jose Criales-Unzueta, also a SCAD alumni.

SCAD Savannah – Spring 2022 – Fashion Show – Andre Leon Talley Remembrance Program – Honoree: Christopher John Rogers, BFA Fashion (FASH) 2016 – Speakers: Vanessa Friedman, Diane von Furstenberg, Constance White – Trustees Theater – Photography Courtesy of SCAD

Von Furstenberg was then joined by New York Times fashion journalists Vanessa Friedman and Constance White to share stories about the time they spent with Talley. Von Furstenberg, who has known Talley the longest, spoke of her first memory with him in 1973. “I lived on Park Avenue and I was having a party. I went down the elevator and there was this very long, skinny person wearing an orange satin cape. He was taking pictures for Interview. I invited him upstairs [to the party] and we became very intimate friends for the longest time.”

She added, “The wonderful thing about André is he had an incredible life. He had the life he wanted to have.”

SCAD’s tribute to Talley concluded with its annual fashion show, an event Talley himself helped shape across many years as a mentor, juror, and distinguished guest. This year’s show featured more than 175 exquisite looks from 60 student designers from SCAD’s School of Fashion graduating class. A fitting end to a beautiful tribute.