THE CHIFFON TRENCHES A Memoir

Former VOGUE editor-at-large and for three decades the highest-ranking Black man in fashion journalism, André Leon Talley narrates his memoir in a confident and charming voice at a perfect pace. The juxtaposition of the title words resonates with the introduction, in which Talley breaks down the design of a seemingly simple Beyoncé magazine cover. He explains quiet activism through subtle suggestions during fashion shoots while also covering frivolity. A lifelong observer, Talley describes the nuance of Anna Wintour's silence; voices the boozy, languid drawl of Lee Bouvier Radziwill; and replicates Diana Vreeland's imperial tone. Talley recalls his high-pitched screams of "Andy!" at his wild friend Andy Warhol, and he whines adorably for luggage that suits his wardrobe, part of the dramatics involved with his friendship with the late Karl Lagerfeld. A.L.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]