Celebrities and fashion designers have paid tribute to former Vogue creative director Andre Leon Talley who has died aged 73.

The “indomitable” fashion designer and journalist died on Tuesday in New York, his representatives at TAA PR said in a statement.

During a career spanning five decades Talley befriended big names in the fashion world including Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld and Paloma Picasso.

“It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our dear friend and client, the indomitable Andre Leon Talley on January 18, 2022 in New York,” TAA PR said.

“Mr Talley was the larger-than-life, long time 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 and he had a penchant for discovering, nurturing and celebrating young designers”.

As a fashion journalist, he worked at Women’s Wear Daily and Vogue and was a regular in the front row of fashion shows in New York and Europe.

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His byline also appeared in other publications including Vanity Fair, HG and Interview, and he was the editor of Numero Russia.

‘A force of nature’

At six foot seven inches tall, Talley was a larger-than-life character in more ways than one who campaigned for diversity both on the catwalk and behind the scenes in the fashion world.

He had a long-standing working relationship with Vogue editor Anna Wintour and also served as a judge on America’s Next Top Model.

Actress and supermodel Milla Jovovich lamented the loss of a “force of nature” in her tribute and said she felt “lucky” to have encountered him multiple times in her career.

“Andre Leon Talley was such an incredible artist, but he was also one of the most genuinely wonderful humans I’ve ever met,” she said.

Belgian designer Diane von Furstenberg said no one was “grander and more soulful”.

Sharing a picture of him she wrote: “No one saw the world in a more glamorous way than you did.

“The world will be less joyful. I have loved you and laughed with you for 45 years… I miss your loud screams… I love you soooo much.”

‘The afterlife will be too fabulous now’

US costume designer Arianne Phillips, known for her work on films including Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, said Talley was a “larger than life icon”.

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington)

She wrote on Instagram: “Andre Leon Talley trailblazer, dapper gentleman, fashion editor, writer, journalist with a singular voice – his witty repartee, larger than life icon.

“Always so kind and funny, his contribution to fashion and culture is one for the history books.”

US actresses Kerry Washington, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer also posted online tributes to Talley.

Washington wrote on Instagram: “The whole afterlife is going to be just too fabulous now… You blessed us with your charm and wit and your taste for the exceptional.”

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