Andre Leon Talley

On my radar: opera pumps



Roy Halston and Andre Leon Talley in opera pumps

This photo of Roy Halston and Andre Leon Talley (above) appeared on my Pinterest and got me thinking about opera pumps.

WTF are opera pumps? Quite simply a Regency-era formal men’s slipper previously adorned with a buckle, now with a flat grosgrain bow (below). The opera pump is traditionally worn with black tie, accompanied by black sheer silk socks (and sock suspenders!). The classic variety popularised by the Edwardians is made from black patent leather, although since the 1950s highly polished calfskin has also been an option. How is an opera pump different to a ballet pump? To me, it has a slightly slimmer profile, a more solid heel, is cut higher on the vamp and finished with a grosgrain bow. (more…)



Quote of the day: André Leon Talley



Andre Leon Talley

“This is too much. What story do we need to be working on, children? What story? Let’s get cracking, darlings, on fur. Fuh, fuh, fuh. One must set the mood around the fuh and the heels, the hair, the skin, the nipples under the fuh, the hair around the nipples, the fuh clinging to the nipples, sweat, oysters, champagne, régence!”
André Leon Talley, The New Yorker

An oldie but goodie, don’t sleep on this fabulous (yet bittersweet) Hilton Als 1994 profile on the late, great André Leon Talley

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Credit t/c
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Quote of the day: Andre Leon Talley on toxic punctuality



Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour by Marina Schiano

‘It really piques her when you’re late. Or when you don’t show up and she expects to see you there, she gets really, really upset. She can’t stand absentia or tardiness. She can’t stand people who linger over their food. My first lunch with Anna when we first went to Vogue was at BiCE. We sat down at 1 o’clock, the lunch was over at 1:12. As I was about to bite into my main course [she said], “OK, we’re done. Let’s go back to the office.”’
Andre Leon Talley, Amy Odell’s Back Row newsletter (more…)



Nino Cerruti style



Nino Cerruti

It’s not even the end of January and already fashion’s legends are crossing the great divide.

While the death of Andre Leon Talley has rightfully dominated the news (everyone it seems has a heartfelt story of his larger-than-life persona), another – more understated – style elder quietly passed away at the age of 91 last weekend. Nino Cerruti (affectionately known as Il Signor Nino) was the grandson of a textile entrepreneur, whose Cerruti 1881 brand was a mainstay of 80s menswear, pegged alongside Armani as the epitome of relaxed masculine elegance. In fact, Giorgio Armani cut his teeth at Cerruti in the 1960s before going on to start his own label. (more…)