I’ve mentioned many times that North Carolina is clearly not a fashion state. So if or when an icon comes through, that is a night to show up and drop everything to do so. Andre Leon Talley was in town so you know what I and my fashion buddies did? Rescheduled things to be at Hillside High School in Durham, to watch his documentary, ask him questions, and learn from the icon himself.
Properly speaking, Mr. Talley came home and lit a fire in fashion lovers, family and friends in the area. Black history was literally siting on stage in the auditorium giving us hope and wisdom about the fashion industry. 
Talley is known as the big black men who’s frequently seen sitting in the front at the shows next to Anna Wintour, American Vogue’s Chief Editor since the 1980s. You may have seen him in his larger than life kaftan, have heard him speak french and fashion terms you don’t know, and may have known him as the man with the connects and enough fashion clout to influence and denote what is real fashion among the fashion of today. However, what you may not know is that Talley’s trailblazing is backed by years of knowledge and work as a fashion journalist.
After watching the documentary, Talley recants details of one his foundational industry moves, his interview with Karl Largerfeld. Most of his influence came not so much from his looks but because of what he knew. The reason Largerfeld took interest in him beyond the interview was because he was prepared. “I asked the right questions…I knew my stuff,” Talley pointed out.
The Gospel According To Andre’ is about 90 minutes, however the most of the event
was in answering all of the questions after the we watched the documentary. Around 50 aspiring fashion fellows asked questions ranging from Talley’s current state of love to guidance on career choices. There were even some cringe worthy propositions asked that night…something about make-up and embalming services. None-the-less, Talley answered every question with a little dialogue and some answers came with a background story. Some of the questions got redundant and Talley was being nice, thankfully. Most us stuck it out though because well, it’s Andrea Leon Talley, the man sitting where many of us want to be or at least somewhere near it.
What really stirred the room, although silently, was after three young locals asked Talley about guidance in their career paths, he suggested the three to band together to start a Durham Fashion Week. One local designer, blogger and model got a chance to stand next to Talley in front of the auditorium as he doubled down on the idea of creating something that celebrates and reveals the hunger for fashion in the area as the Durham Fashion Week, hopefully pioneered or influenced by the those three joined by others in the audience with their fashion dreams currently living the area. 
If these young people and any others can get the work done, Durham may get to see their legendary son return again.
While I’ve aspired to be many things in fashion, journaling from a candid place with relativity as the goal seems to be where purpose and convenience falls for me. In that, seeing and hearing Mr. Talley was like finding a light house after sailing without guidance due to living in NC. He may not be exactly where I’m going but, he is the image and light of where land is/could be for a southern raised fashion loving guy like me.
A big thank you goes to Sulaiman and Lesleigh Mausi and the Dome Group team for putting on the this event. Black History month became a fashion gift for one night because of them.
Check out the photos below to see the moments created at this event.
