The Chiffon Trenches

By: André Leon Talley

Narrated by: André Leon Talley

‘Honestly and candidly captures fifty sublime years of fashion’ Manolo Blahnik

Discover what truly happens behind the scenes in the world of high fashion in this detailed, storied memoir from style icon, bestselling author and former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley.

During André Leon Talley’s first magazine job assisting Andy Warhol at Interview, a fateful meeting with Karl Lagerfeld began a decades-long friendship and propelled Talley into the upper echelons by virtue of his shared knowledge and adoration of fashion. He moved to Paris as bureau chief of John Fairchild’s Women’s Wear Daily, befriending fashion’s most important designers. But as Talley made friends, he also made enemies. A fraught encounter with a member of the house of Yves Saint Laurent sent him back to New York and into the offices of Vogue under Grace Mirabella. There, he developed an unlikely but intimate friendship with Anna Wintour, and as she rose to the top of Vogue’s masthead, Talley became the most influential man in fashion.

The Chiffon Trenches is a candid look at the who’s who of the last fifty years of fashion, and proof that fact is always fascinatingly more devilish than fiction. André Leon Talley’s engaging memoir tells the story of how he not only survived but thrived – despite racism, illicit rumours and all the other challenges of this notoriously cutthroat industry – to become one of the most legendary voices and faces in fashion.

©2020 André Leon Talley (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"A memoir on thriving and surviving the cut-throat fashion industry amid racism and homophobia, The Chiffon Trenches charts Talley’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most influential men in fashion. From Talley’s first job assisting Andy Warhol at a fashion magazine, to his friendships with the late Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour, The Chiffon Trenches makes for captivating reading for fashion fans and beyond." (Another Magazine)

"What he gives us, ultimately, is a circus the likes of which, given present circumstances, we may never see again. My advice is to do as I did: apply a good squirt of Fracas to your wrists, and sit back and enjoy the lunatic ride." (Observer, Book of the Week)

"Ideal reading material for anyone who found The Devil Wears Prada addictive but now needs a stronger hit. It is brimful of toxic behaviour and noxious values, which makes it perfect consolation, too, for lockdown." (Daily Telegraph)

Abundance of class and truth

The memoir of a lifetime we get fashion, dignity, and loyalty to fight it out. It was absolutely empowering to hear his point of view on race relations in the fashion industry and the encouragement to speak your truth. Absolutely is beautifully written and will be sorely missed.

deeply moved and impressed

One would think André would be superficial. Not in the least. When I finished the book I just thought wha brilliant man! I highly recommend André's autobiography as it doesn't only demonstrate eloquence and style, but also reflects a wonderful sense of humour, kindness and humanity. What a humble and generous man. I had no idea!
If I had to sum up his book, I'd say that it is an homage to love, friendship and to an insatiable curiosity and passion for life and everything that is beautyful.
This audiobook is not only suitable for fashion victims, but for everyone. I would even go as far as saying that it is an incredibly important read for anyone who wants to understand modern culture and it's challenge to preserve meaning. André is a fountain of knowledge and sums up the past 50 years of popular culture and fashion in a way that is gripping, exciting, warm, relevant, gentle, attentive and yet absolutely fierce and bolt. I don't think this book contains even just a dull second!
It is also an important and necessary read for anyone who wants to understand the role, position and situation as well as challenges of people of colour in arts, culture and fashion right now. He reminds us not to take our liberties for granted and honours the significance and importants of certain black men and women who influence our current lifes.
Times are changing and we can hardly keep up understanding why because it happens so fast. This also applies to the world of fashion and popular culture. André's book makes one understand the influence of digitalisation on our life's better, without being negative or resentful. He doesn't make any predictions, but embraces all the change that's happening. His gaze and perspective is a always a perspective of positivity, love, strong faith and hope!