ANDRÉ

“My story is a fairy tale.”

So opens this empowering biography of trailblazing style maker André Leon Talley (1948-2022), the first Black man to serve as Vogue’s editor-at-large, creative director, and fashion news director. But this fantasy wasn’t born from lucky happenstance or serendipitous privilege; Talley’s talent and tenacity conjured the magic that colors his story. Growing up in Jim Crow–era North Carolina, Talley endured racism, homophobia, and sexual abuse, all the while shrouded in his grandmother’s unconditional love. Fashion offered escape, and Talley took it, doggedly pursuing the work that would eventually land him an (unpaid) gig under Diana Vreeland, former editor for Vogue. Talley rose to prominence, setting trends, challenging convention, and standing tall against hatred; as he put it, he “scorched the earth” with his singular vision, forever transforming the fashion industry with gifts cultivated under his grandmother’s care. Weatherford and Sanders’ text, interspersed with Talley’s own words, renders a detailed portrait of the legendary figure, offering extensive proof of his initiative and resilience. The beauty of Blackness is named explicitly throughout, but Talley’s sexual identity is broached only obliquely; while the subtlety may elude younger readers, this ambiguity will allow others to recognize their own experiences. O’Neal cleverly evokes sewing patterns of yore, a visual boon. And while both authors and illustrator pay homage to similarly magical myths—among them Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood—the narrative roughs out a real-life road map for readers who see themselves in the hero.

Affirming and important.