A powerful new exhibition, André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever, opens August 15 at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah and later at the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta (October 15). Running through early 2026, the show traces the extraordinary life of André Leon Talley—a towering figure in fashion whose personal journey, told through the clothes he wore, left a permanent mark on the industry.
Born and raised in the segregated South, Talley’s story is one of resilience and transformation. He grew up in Durham, North Carolina, largely under the care of his beloved grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis. A cleaning woman at Duke University, she instilled in him the belief that impeccable dress was both a form of self-respect and a way of honoring others. Her values would echo throughout Talley’s life.
After excelling academically at Brown University, Talley moved to New York City, where he began his career under the legendary Diana Vreeland at The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though his beginnings in the city were modest—he often relied on thrift stores for clothing—he had an extraordinary eye. One of his signature finds, a long military coat, became a staple, even worn to the Met Gala’s famed after-party as he watched celebrities sweep through the Great Hall.
The SCAD exhibition doesn’t merely showcase Talley’s flamboyant capes, caftans, and couture; it reflects a deeper narrative. It captures his unique blend of confidence, glamour, intellect, and unshakable faith. Known for his larger-than-life personality and encyclopedic knowledge of fashion, Talley rose to become Vogue’s first Black male creative director, shaping the magazine’s voice and vision for decades.
Style Is Forever is more than a fashion retrospective—it’s a tribute to a man who used style as a language of power, identity, and pride. Through garments and personal effects, visitors glimpse the inner life of a cultural icon who redefined what it meant to be both elegant and unapologetically oneself.
This exhibition is not just about clothes—it’s about the legacy of a legend.
