‘The Chiffon Trenches’ by André Leon Talley, published by Fourth Estate
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Through beautiful prose, Talley exposes the cut-throat nature of the fashion industry in his memoir The Chiffon Trenches.
The pages track his childhood – a period where the library became his “favourite retreat” where his “world became the glossy pages of Vogue” – to his first days at Interview before examining his rise to the top of Vogue’s masthead.
He credits his “great depth of knowledge” for carrying him throughout his career. While the book certainly highlights his mastery of fashion, it also reveals so much more.
It exposes the egos, racism, rumours and challenges he and others faced, but also shines a light on the figures that influenced him.
The book takes you along on his exceptional journey, charting the career of one of the most recognisable names in the fashion world. It’s an undeniably insightful read.