According to André Leon Talley, he has never finished a lunch with Anna Wintour. Indeed, he has never even managed to eat a first course, with Wintour suggesting “Let’s go back to the office” before the appetizers even arrive.
By no means the most scandalous of revelations, Talley’s new book, released today, promises to tell all about his relationship with the first lady of fashion. Creative editor of Vogue from 1988, Talley worked alongside Wintour for 25 years. He has previously accredited her with elevating to the top, saying that: “I’m very grateful for my friendship and career with her.”
Yet his latest memoir has seen him try to turn the tables, saying that she had “dashed so many on a frayed and tattered heap during her powerful rule”. He even goes so far as to conclude that she is not capable of human kindness.
There is an element of hurt in his memoir. He writes that he was cast aside, for being “too old, too overweight, and too uncool, I imagined, for Anna Wintour”.
However, he does note that: “I didn’t write the story thinking, ‘How can I hurt Anna Wintour?’”. In fact, “the first person I gave the galley [proof] to was Anna Wintour. I sent her an email saying, ‘If there is anything that you see in the galley that you would like to be removed, please tell me and I will be happy to do so.” He was asked to cut a passage about Wintour’s daughter’s wedding and some other more private aspects.
As usual, Wintour has the final word. She is apparently “saddened by the way he chose to portray many aspects of their friendship”, but nonetheless, “wishes him the best.”
The Chiffon Trenches is released today.
