I was in Barcelona in 2018 to receive an award- draped in a custom caftan by Dapper Dan/ Gucci. It reminds me of our Sunday Best and also of our many blessings. Psalm 91: V 11/14: 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. @voguespain @dapperdanharlem @gucci #sundaybest #aword #dapperdan #blessings
As we prepare our tables for Thanksgiving tomorrow, I’m reminded of a beautiful luncheon that was hosted by Kay Graham in her Georgetown home, in her legendary Billy Baldwin- decorated dining room. The luncheon was in honor of Diana, Princess of Wales. To my surprise, I was seated to the right of Diana. This was indeed an honor. As the luncheon continued, I made a colossal blunder. My elbow knocked Princess Diana’s red wine glass straight into her lap (she wore a lavender Gianni Versace suit with a slim pencil skirt). There was an audible gasp at the table. I said to myself, inside my head, “oh well, this is it, you’ll never be asked anywhere again. You’re sunk.” With grace and total ease, Diana dipped the edge of her linen napkin in her water glass and looked at me with a beautiful smile as she dotted her dress. “Oh, it’s nothing,” she said. Princess Diana reinvented her Sloane Ranger, Miss Prim style to high voltage glamour with the help of the late Anna Harvey of @britishvogue . The defining moment: that short little black dress she let show her sexy cleavage at Graydon Carter’s reception in London. She redefined her liberated sexy princess style with a little black vampy dress by a Greek female designer when she arrived at Graydon Carter’s Serpentine Gallery benefit in June 1994. In fact Diana used fashion as revenge armour to battlethrough the tsunami of pain and hurt she suffered from her disastrous marriage. As she was the People’s Princess, she evolved her personal style into one of great elegance. She made fashion work for her; fashion did not define her. She was high fashion. #Vogue#CFDA#airmail #thecrown #princessdiana #graydoncarter #lbd #princessofwhales #thechiffontrenches
It was the golden age of style. Diana Vreeland’s legendary Met show, in December 1983: Yves Saint Laurent’s great l25 year retrospective. I got to escort Iman, who decided a giant mohawk was only fitting for her black couture Alaia dress. The dress was flown over from Paris, just for the evening. The inset panels had glitter that moved inside chiffon windows as she walked. Iman, decided to get dressed in my apartment, a small tiny, duplex at 1 Astor Place, downtown. That was her floor length fur I am carrying, not mine. Iman’s neck looked like a selfie stick. I think I looked like Jay-Z, a young Jay-Z. The couture dress went back to Alaia for his archives. I remember Paloma Picasso showed up in couture draped velvet by St.Laurent and Jacqueline de Ribes, in YSL plumes and velvet. Style was different then. #thechiffontrenches #iman #vogue #themet #cfda #mondaymood #makeitfashion #jayz #ysl #palomapicasso #alaia
In the realm of possibility of forgiveness, yours truly, in Tom Ford, custom, by @gucci , and Dame Anna Wintour, in Galliano couture, @dior climbing the stairs to The Met Gala. (Dec. 1999) check that date. Those were the halcyon days when we were at the apex of high fashion world. We were our younger better angels . Anna made history by making me the first African-American male EVER to be named as creative director of Vogue, in 1988. She crashed the glass ceiling. From there, the possibility of Sir @edward_enninful , became the first Black male to EVER become editor in chief of Vogue U.K. #vogue #cfda #vogueuk #dvf #thechiffontrenches 📸// @rose.hartman
Often one danced alone; it was all good in the neighborhood. No one judged you. When I was alone, my three favorite people to dance with were Monolo Blahnik, John Richardson and Loulou de la Falaise, accessories designer and muse to Yves Saint Laurent. Honorable mention goes to Diana Ross, with whom I danced one night in her Saint Laurent dress, dipping her head within inches of Studio 54’s parquet floor. Studio 54 1976 #thechiffontrenches #dianaross #studio54 #ysl #saturdaynight #dance #monoloblahnik
Often one danced alone; it was all good in the neighborhood. No one judged you. When I was alone, my three favorite people to dance with were Monolo Blahnik, John Richardson and Loulou de la Falaise, accessories designer and muse to Yves Saint Laurent. Honorable mention goes to Diana Ross, with whom I danced one night in her Saint Laurent dress, dipping her head within inches of Studio 54’s parquet floor. Studio 54 1976 #thechiffontrenches #dianaross #studio54 #ysl #saturdaynight #dance #monoloblahnik
The most camp and completely over-the-top photo organized by the late Tony Snowdon, who died at the age of 86 in 2017. We were in Rome for Tina Brown’s Vanity Fair, to do the entire Fendi sisters, the legendary fur dynasty in 1987. There were five competitive sisters at that time. And we had to make them laugh to break up the seriousness of it all. Snowdon came from London and he was one of the best photographers. Totally polite and correct. He was married to Queen Elizabeth II’s sister Princess Margaret. Snowdon is featured in series 2 of The Crown. We were great friends and bonded immediately. I loved working with Tony because he always insisted on proper lunch, with a set table and polished silver at his home. He suddenly felt the camp moment to lighten the shoot and thrust himself and me in these lynx coats to the ground. Today, this would not be possible. Camp. This is definition of high camp. Roy Strong, landscape architect, director of the V&A museum in London, and the director of the National Portrait Gallery, wrote of his friend Snowdon, in his diaries: Scenes and Apparitions. “Tony Snowdon seems to like someone in attendance.” He was 67 years old (and still full of vitality and energy) in 2000 when Strong wrote in his diary about supper at his elegant home. “All his intelligence and sharpness of eye and observation were intact.” So was his wry sense of humor. #thechiffontrenches #thecrown #fendi #fur #brrrr 🥶❄️ @miltongendelphotographs
I submit the Vogue cover, of our historically and monumentally, first black and immigrant Vice-President elect Kamala Harris: Its GREAT. JUST GREAT! GREAT. She selected her personal wardrobe choices. Her work uniform with her ubiquitous Converse sneakers is aspirational. I predict its going to set a trend for all young women all over the world, are going to dress like Kamala Harris. Not everyone evolves wishing to be a screen star, or a music vixen, or a Kardashian beauty empress. There are girls who will see in this cover, something wonderful. Black photographer @tylersphotos , comes from a universe that is new. He is not aligned with the titans of @vogue photographers before him: Avedon, Penn, and the current hero Annie Lebowitz. His work must be seen through the prism of 2021. We are after all dealing with serious issues: the global Pandemic, the sudden horror of domestic terrorism. Both the digital and the print covers are superb. Knitting controversy is utterly ridiculous. I worked on Vogue over three decades. I was chosen by Anna Wintour to do the first profile for our legendary and brilliant, African-American First lady, Michelle Obama. For months, the Vogue team took every moment of organizing the shoot with gravitas. Tonne Goodman styled the cover and the shoot. I wrote the piece. Excellence is required and while fashion is always the core issue ,yet the cultural pendulum swings. After all, no one is wearing a stiletto everyday during COVID . Madame Vice-President-elect has a lot of work to do. And she is not thinking every day about how she is looking. Her mere strength, her determination and her goals to work for all Americans is foremost. A simple black jacket, a tee shirt, a simple strand of pearls, and her beautiful hair, her smile, her warmth suggests all the elegance one desires. Everyone is trashing that pink and green background. It is symbolic that Tyler Mitchell would use that to express her Madam vice president admiration for her sorors of the AKA at Howard U. Take me down. Clapback at me on social media. All I can say is Anna Wintour is not abdicating. And I wish I were there, at Vogue, to celebrate w/ the team.
As Candice Bergen said recently to Maureen Dowd in the Sunday NY Times: “we need kindness “ at this time. It’s fitting in this world of broken norms, and this holiday season: BE KIND. Just a kind word ,nothing big. Give fresh fruit to your neighbor. Bake a pie. Send paper white bulbs in a clay pot. Needlepoint a pillow cover or slippers. Create Xmas tree ornaments out of colorful paper. Most of all be kind to yourself in terms of surviving and protecting yourself from COVID and your fellow man. Forgive grudges and past squabbles with loved ones. Say something nice and Smile🖍 #thechiffontrenches #maureendowd #nytimes #bekind #cfda #vogue #happyholidays #candicebergen
Happy Birthday Anna. I have come this far by faith and your belief in me. We were both dressed by Tom Ford at Gucci when he was/is superstar of style. I wish you a wonderful birthday on this Election Day, and hopefully we can re-unite in unity and harmony, and our better angels will sing. Lets hope the whole nation will heal through our Votes for Joe Biden. #bidenharris2020 #vogue #cfda #vogueuk #TomFord
Kamala Harris, so proud of elegant AKA soror -the first Black woman to be a major party’s VP nominee. She makes incredible history and with the Harris-Pence debate, she showed how strong and how smart and how eloquent she is. She makes all Americans proud, not just Democrats, but also Republicans, and Independents. Super brilliant and with class and gravitas. Not some white male aggressive bully who lies with a sincere smile on his face. She is a shining example of how exceptional people of color, brown people and black people, can be when they are given the opportunity to BE #thechiffontrenches #vogue #bidenharris #symonesanders #blacklivesmatter #vote @kamalaharris
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; Isaiah 40:4 My friend since 1975: DIANE von Furstenberg with our new ground breaking Vice-President Kamala HARRIS. And a super image of Wonder Woman by Ashley Lomgshore. Power to all women today and for the joy, the beauty , the power of women. DVF and Vice-President HARRIS , you heal the land. Heal the land! #dvf @kamalaharris @therealdvf #bidenharris2020 #vote #edwardenninful #madamevicepresident
At the Kessler Media Production,(Katonah, NY)studio where I did the voice reading of #thechiffontrenches on my 72nd anniversary, October 16th. It was a dreary rain-soaked afternoon, and I had just had my annual flu shot the day before. So if I look a bit like I am under the weather, it is because I am/was/still am! How I got over, my soul looks back and wonder how I got over. Gospel lyrics by Clara Ward – I soldier on, through the trenches of life living and EVER hopeful for our great nation to be healed on November 3. Please wear masks and wash your hands frequently. Eight million people infected and over 220,000 who lost their lives. Plan your VOTE. And God Bless the lady who is reported to have stood in line for over 12 hours in the state of Georgia. VOTE. 📸// Jonathan Becker #bidenharris2020 #vogue #cfda #marcjacobs #blacklivesmatter #grammys #vote
Decemeber 25, 2020 at 7:01 a.m. I unveiled this amazing oil portrait, by my dear friend, Kimberly Cole Moore, before dawn. She took me in four different elements and forged a masterly memory from her mind’s eye. With great brilliance, she evokes, André Leon Talley, who gave to all of you Chiffon Trenches, this year, a New York Times bestseller. She captured me in a sumptuousness, sheer sumptuosity ! She should paint and just paint. She merged many great moments in art history, into one great portrait, inspired by her own love of Velasquez , John Singer Sargent, Francis Bacon, Manet. What a gift to give the power of friendship through one’s own mind and technical brilliance. She says I am her muse. Last year, she painted my beloved grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis, a simple domestic maid, all her life, who lived in the same humble house at 1007 Cornell Street, for over 50 years. She attended a Ralph Rucci show with me, who made this sumptuous white silk and black court coat, she followed me to the Oxford Union where I gave a talk (yes, the Oxford Union!) and came to Paris, to see my great exhibition The Little Black Dress, at the Mona Bismark Foundation, which SCAD had mounted. I am seated there, in a throne like chair, inspired by Francis Bacon’s rare Black pope which I have seen on the walls of the Francois Catroux decorated salons of Beatrice Santo Domingo Braga,in New York City. I feel that the spirit of Christmas is here, as this portrait and my grandmother’s portrait, painted last year, by such a talented hand; an artist, who expresses true friendship by giving of her soul and time to create permanence , passionately, brilliantly, with masterful hands and skill. Her brush has captured the inner me, the quietude of my mind, and the somber gaze, the elegance of my hands. Thank you Kim. And Merry Christmas and looking forward to all the bright sunny days of 2021. photograph by Kim Cole Moore #Vogue #TheChiffonTrenches #ScadFash #monabismarkfoundation #monoloblahnik #kimcolemoore#RalphRucci
“No civilized country can accept or allow what we saw Wednesday with the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol. This was (indeed) a sin against history.” Peggy Noonan- You so brilliantly penned in the @wsj what 70 million people who voted BIDEN-HARRIS, are thinking IN YOUR COLUMN TODAY: “Bring the Insurrectionists to Justice!” You are as clear as a flawless stone; you are the Marie de Rabutin Chantal , Marquise de Sevigne of our century. Your intellectual, philosophical inspires awe. Sails on the high waves of true conservative thinking. Thank you wondrous Peggy! 📸// here on @arimelber @msnbc together #ChiffonTrenches #WSJ #Peggynoonan #bidenharris2020 #godblessamerica
With Oscar de la Renta, after one of his shows in Paris, for Balmain haute couture, or New York. I do not remember except Oscar was one of the most loyal and close friends. He always made me feel that fidelity and the bond of love could open any door. Love of humanity and talent, and love of friendship. We had wonderful days, especially in Paris, where I would have creamed spinach and a steak with bernaise sauce on a tray, room service, in his suite at the Ritz hotel with his wife Annette de la Renta. We also had great moments, the three of us, just sitting in the pouring rain in their incredibly grand, yet cozy, home in Connecticut. He always included me in everything: I remember he found a seat for me at the first Met Gala in December 1975, at the last minute, pushing me to his table with his late first wife, the elegant Francoise de la Renta. I miss his singing, his dancing, his smile, his Hollywood movie moghul voice and sartorial perfection. I miss his taste, his flawless taste in everything that matters, especially luxury, beauty and style. He also came to me on Sunday, to my church, in Harlem, Abyssinian Baptist Church. He once brought Candice Bergen and her husband. Oscar gave me joy. He was the best raconteur about the great moments in life: he went to the Capote black and white ball, and the famous Versailles Franco-American fashion show that is soon to be a Netflix film. His gardens were an oasis from any storm, in Kent, Conn. and Santo Domingo, D.R. Oscar de la Renta was the most optimistic and positive person I ever met in my life. He never had an evening where he sulked, sat at home, and became depressed. It is his memory that I rejoice in at this the advent of 2021: his spirit is with me in precious memoryspeak; he loved to sing, he loved to dance, he loved the good life, beauty and luxury and yet, simplicity, as in a game of checkers with his staffers. So with this, to ALL: I say, let us sing, dance, rejoice in the dawn of 2021. #thechiffontrenches #vogue #cfda #oscardelarenta #dvf #Vogue.#CFDA#oscarsgirl #elizareedbolen #2021 #happynewyear2021
A glorious visual cantata sung between iconic Naomi Campbell and Vogue. To celebrate her five decades of advocacy, mentoring, and iconic class status, Anna Wintour delivers again, with this celebrated cover of Naomi. Both have sung in clarion voices the talents of their better angels. This kind of cover will help heal wounds of intolerance. Anna made icon history by featuring Naomi Campbell on her first solo cover of American Vogue in September 1989 – history is cyclical. This cover, stunning in its visual drama of glambolic elegance (in Dior couture!) embodies the best of all possible worlds. We must live in the world of forgiveness. Both women represent the better angels of today who address the importance of giving back to better mankind. Campbell speaks out against systemic racism and fights to erase all the decades of inequality and injustice. The sheer presence of Campbell as an iconic angel, posing in stoic perfection and dressed in white, calls to mind the iconic angels of Cimabue altar works, (Florentine artist, 1290). Inside, she is photographed, like quiet fireworks, in her hooded silvery spangled Valentino, couture dress, sparkling at the age of 50 as she was when she was discovered outside on the streets of Covent Garden, in her native London. #TheMet #Vogue #CFDA #thechiffontrenches #progress #naomicampbell #blacklivesmatter @naomi @voguemagazine @dior @maisonvalentino
A glorious visual cantata sung between iconic Naomi Campbell and Vogue. To celebrate her five decades of advocacy, mentoring, and iconic class status, Anna Wintour delivers again, with this celebrated cover of Naomi. Both have sung in clarion voices the talents of their better angels. This kind of cover will help heal wounds of intolerance. Anna made icon history by featuring Naomi Campbell on her first solo cover of American Vogue in September 1989 – history is cyclical. This cover, stunning in its visual drama of glambolic elegance (in Dior couture!) embodies the best of all possible worlds. We must live in the world of forgiveness. Both women represent the better angels of today who address the importance of giving back to better mankind. Campbell speaks out against systemic racism and fights to erase all the decades of inequality and injustice. The sheer presence of Campbell as an iconic angel, posing in stoic perfection and dressed in white, calls to mind the iconic angels of Cimabue altar works, (Florentine artist, 1290). Inside, she is photographed, like quiet fireworks, in her hooded silvery spangled Valentino, couture dress, sparkling at the age of 50 as she was when she was discovered outside on the streets of Covent Garden, in her native London. #TheMet #Vogue #CFDA #thechiffontrenches #progress #naomicampbell #blacklivesmatter @naomi @voguemagazine @dior @maisonvalentino
Tom Ford liked my photo for UGG. He told me . That’s my great fashion king and friend. I am so proud at the age of 72, to be chosen as an UGG iconic collaborator. I’ve worn Roger Vivier bespoke, Manolo Blahnik bespoke, John Lobb, Paris, bespoke, Tom Ford and Berluti bespoke. About ten years ago, I opted for @ugg when they first made them available for men. Its my go-to shoe for comfort. The unexpected style surprise: UGG. Fascinating comfort and dope chic! I have my UGG boots monogrammed with my initials ALT. An UGG makes you feel as if you are walking on clouds or soft pillows. #feelugg #thechiffontrenches #makeitfashion #footwear #mensfashion #tomford #andreleontalley #mondaymood
Jonathan Becker, my friend, took this great photo of @venuswilliams and yours truly, as we departed the impressive bungalow she shared with her sister, @serenawilliams , back in the day. She in a stunning white swimsuit, me in navy @prada alligator balmacan coat, all smiles and happiness. The halcyon days of Andre Leon Talley #thechiffontrenches Catch his exhibit, at the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville . Alabama titled Social Work – from October 30th, 2020 through January 24th, 2021. I am godfather to his daughter, Roberta, so named after Roberta McCain, who lived to be 108. They were both born in the same month, and she held her in her arms as a young child. He will include the very elegant dandy portrait of Reverend Al Sharpton, Civil Rights activist and MSNBC host of Politcs Nation#NAN#PoliticsNation #CFDA #Vogue #JonathanBecker #blm 📸// by Jonathan Becker
Jonathan Becker, my friend, took this great photo of @venuswilliams and yours truly, as we departed the impressive bungalow she shared with her sister, @serenawilliams , back in the day. She in a stunning white swimsuit, me in navy @prada alligator balmacan coat, all smiles and happiness. The halcyon days of Andre Leon Talley #thechiffontrenches Catch his exhibit, at the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville . Alabama titled Social Work – from October 30th, 2020 through January 24th, 2021. I am godfather to his daughter, Roberta, so named after Roberta McCain, who lived to be 108. They were both born in the same month, and she held her in her arms as a young child. He will include the very elegant dandy portrait of Reverend Al Sharpton, Civil Rights activist and MSNBC host of Politcs Nation#NAN#PoliticsNation #CFDA #Vogue #JonathanBecker #blm 📸// by Jonathan Becker
Jonathan Becker, my friend, took this great photo of @venuswilliams and yours truly, as we departed the impressive bungalow she shared with her sister, @serenawilliams , back in the day. She in a stunning white swimsuit, me in navy @prada alligator balmacan coat, all smiles and happiness. The halcyon days of Andre Leon Talley #thechiffontrenches Catch his exhibit, at the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville . Alabama titled Social Work – from October 30th, 2020 through January 24th, 2021. I am godfather to his daughter, Roberta, so named after Roberta McCain, who lived to be 108. They were both born in the same month, and she held her in her arms as a young child. He will include the very elegant dandy portrait of Reverend Al Sharpton, Civil Rights activist and MSNBC host of Politcs Nation#NAN#PoliticsNation #CFDA #Vogue #JonathanBecker #blm 📸// by Jonathan Becker
“He has no peer,” says Barry Diller. “I’ve never seen Francois do anything that was not original and perfect.” Diller should know. He had Francois decorate his 305 yacht, as well as his home in Beverly Hills. His wife Diane has lived in his decor most of her adult life. Her Paris flat, her country house have his imprint. My dear friend, Francois Catroux, age 83, died last weekend in Paris. He passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long illness. One of the greatest Interior architects and decorators, he and his wife, Betty, (seated here) always in black, always dressed by Yves Saint Laurent, even to this day, were wed in 1967. Francois gave Betty unconditional love, for half a century and more. He loved Betty more than life itself. And he also loved his two adult daughters. He had this elegance, that you could only associate with the best of grand high Parisian bohemian style. The Catrouxs, both my good friends, represented everything that is the essence of true French high style. They were void of any affection and pomp and pretentiousness. Betty, as muse to @ysl is always an icon. She recently had an exhibit curated in Paris, devoted to her basic all black St. Laurent wardrobe. Francoise designed special closets to house her one shade of black everything. I will miss Francois. He was Alain Delon’s dopperlanger #vogueparis @therealdvf #archdigest #pierrebergé #ysl #yslfoundation 🕊
The true American Dream achieved: Senator-elect, Rev. Raphael Warnock, of the great state of Georgia. He is the first African-American man to be elected to the senate from the peach state. There have been only 11 black senators in the entire history of this country. He was the young assistant minister at The Abyssinian Baptist Church, when I joined in 1989. His mother,VerlenreWarnock, had 12 children; he grew up in the hardscrabble public housing in Savannah, Georgia. He attended Morehouse College, earned four degrees and is pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, in Atlanta, GA. Warnock has 4 degrees, yet his most accomplished degree is one of his faith. Notice how measured he is in his delivery, his eloquence. I know him, he is a decent, honorable, and a man full of empathy. “Your vote is your voice; your voice is your dignity,”says Reverend Warnock. The last time I saw him, before the Pandemic, years ago, was on a long, long line in the Atlanta Airport, waiting to go through the checkpoint. His tsunami smile burst across his face as he greeted me from afar. He has created history in the last 72 hours; gaining over 50 thousand votes over a blond white lady, who throughout a debate kept calling him, ” A radical , socialist.” He never lost his cool, he never clapped back, he never rose to the ire or disdain of an angry black man. . His mother, who is 82 years old, (as he said so beautifully last nite having seen the moutnaintop and having witnessed weeping through the darknest night, he knew that joy was coming in the morning. : “whose hands picked somebody else’s cotton; and who gave birth to 12 children!) got to vote for her son, to go to the U.S. Senate. What a dream. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said; “I have a dream.” #TheChiffonTrenches #ebenezerbaptistchurch #raphaelwarnock #atlanta #georgia #vote #blm #faith
