Met Gala Honors André Leon Talley with Extraordinary Tributes

May 05, 2025

André Leon Talley’s their presence was noticeable everywhere throughout the place Met Gala On Monday. The renowned former creative director and longtime contributing editor at Vogue magazine, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 73, had a significant impact on the fashion industry. essence of the costume exhibition where one of his suits appeared, and the glitzy event itself.

In her recent editor's letter from last month, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour penned numerous reflections on her former colleague, stating that she would "keep him in mind during the Met Gala, an event tailor-made for him—and one which I find almost unbelievable he won’t be attending."

She wasn't alone in this sentiment. Numerous guests, ranging from the varied likes of Anne Hathaway to Reverend Al Sharpton, kept Talley at the forefront of their minds as they strolled down the blue carpet on Monday. Hathaway, wearing an outfit designed by Carolina Herrera, mentioned that her choice of attire was particularly for him.

Hathaway stated during the Vogue livestream, “We envisioned André Leon Talley looking down from heaven and shouting ‘GLAMOUR.’”

Meanwhile, Sharpton aimed to highlight Talley's groundbreaking impact on the fashion industry. He mentioned that individuals such as Talley paved the way for events like these. "'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' marks the inaugural exhibition at the Costume Institute dedicated solely to Black designers."

I believe André Leon Talley is watching over us with a smile," Sharpton remarked. "That's why I felt compelled to attend. And I wanted to make sure I was as stylish as possible.

Event co-chair Colman Domingo seemed to pay homage to Talley’s passion for dramatic capes, and possibly even the look that Talley wore in 2011, with his bright blue Valentino.

Certain tributes stood out more prominently. Actress Tessa Thompson sported an item of clothing adorned with a portrait of the esteemed former Vogue editor, whereas model Paloma Elsesser opted for a leather jacket embellished with his visage as she made her way to prepare for the occasion.

Others put inextra effort, capturing Talley’s contagious excitement. Doechii, part of thehost committee, reproduced an iconic image of Talley happily leaping from a hotel, beaming widely, holding a tennis racket, and clutching oversized Louis Vuitton suitcases.