You know those people who just seem too big for the room they’re standing in? That was André Leon Talley. Literally. He was 6'6" and usually draped in a custom caftan that cost more than a mid-sized sedan. But if you only know him as the "fashion guy" from America’s Next Top Model or the towering figure next to Anna Wintour, you’re missing the point. Honestly, the André Leon Talley movie—specifically the 2018 documentary The Gospel According to André—is the only way to actually get what made this man a titan.
It’s not just a "fashion flick." It’s a survival story.
What the André Leon Talley Movie Actually Reveals
Directed by Kate Novack, The Gospel According to André doesn't just parade famous people in front of a camera to talk about how "fabulous" he was. Sure, you get Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs, and Tom Ford. But the real meat of the film is André himself talking about his childhood in the Jim Crow South.
He grew up in Durham, North Carolina. Segregation was the law of the land. His grandmother, Bennie Frances Davis, was a cleaning lady at Duke University. She’s the one who taught him that style wasn't about money—it was about dignity.
The Church as a Runway
In the movie, André talks about the "Sunday best" culture of the Black church. He describes the women in their massive hats and gloves as his first introduction to "high fashion." It’s a far cry from the front row in Paris, but the film draws a direct line between those pews and the Vogue offices.
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"I live for beauty and style," he says in the film. "Not fashion."
That’s a distinction a lot of people miss. Fashion is what you buy; style is who you are. The movie shows him flipping through old copies of Vogue in a library as a kid, using them as a "glass window" to a world he wasn't supposed to be allowed into.
Beyond the Documentary: The Cameos
While The Gospel According to André is the definitive André Leon Talley movie, he popped up in plenty of other places. If you’re a Sex and the City fan, you’ve definitely seen him.
Sex and the City (2008)
He has a cameo during the iconic wedding dress montage. You know the one—Carrie Bradshaw is being photographed for Vogue in all those over-the-top gowns. André is there as a Vogue executive, basically playing himself. He actually coached Sarah Jessica Parker on how to pose like a real model. It was a small role, but it solidified his status as a pop culture fixture.
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The September Issue (2009)
This is another must-watch if you want to see the "working" André. This documentary follows the production of the 2007 September issue of Vogue. You see him on the tennis court (wearing a custom Louis Vuitton towel-robe, naturally) because Anna Wintour told him he needed to lose weight. It's funny, but it also shows the intense pressure and the weird, symbiotic relationship he had with the industry.
Why This Movie Still Matters in 2026
Fashion has changed. It's faster, cheaper, and often feels a bit soulless. André Leon Talley was the opposite of that. He was an encyclopedic nerd about history. He could tell you the exact origin of a sleeve puff from 18th-century France.
Watching the André Leon Talley movie now feels like looking at a lost art form. He was the first Black man to hold his position at Vogue. He dealt with horrific racism behind the scenes, being called "Queen Kong" by some in the Paris fashion world. The film doesn't shy away from that. It shows how he used his clothes as armor.
Key Facts About The Gospel According to André
- Release Date: May 25, 2018.
- Director: Kate Novack.
- Runtime: 94 minutes.
- Appearances: Anna Wintour, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Whoopi Goldberg, and Naomi Campbell.
- The Narrative Arc: It moves from his upbringing in the South to his time at Andy Warhol's Factory, then to WWD and Vogue.
How to Watch It Right Now
If you want the full experience, don't just put it on in the background while you fold laundry. It’s too visual for that. The archival footage of 1970s Paris is incredible.
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- Check Streaming: It’s frequently available on platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max) or for rent on Amazon and Apple TV.
- Pair it with his Memoir: If the movie hooks you, read The Chiffon Trenches. It fills in the gaps that the documentary, which is a bit more "polite," leaves out.
- Watch "The September Issue" First: Seeing him as a supporting character in Anna Wintour's world makes his own documentary much more impactful. You see the man behind the "larger-than-life" persona.
André Leon Talley passed away in 2022, but the movie keeps that specific, operatic energy alive. He was a guy who survived the Jim Crow South and went on to conquer the most elitist industry on the planet. Honestly, it’s a better underdog story than most fictional movies coming out of Hollywood these days.
If you're looking for inspiration on how to be unapologetically yourself, start with this documentary. You don't need to know anything about Chanel or Dior to appreciate a man who refused to be small.
Your next step: Head over to a streaming service and search for The Gospel According to André. After watching, look up his 1996 Vanity Fair "Gone with the Wind" shoot—it's mentioned in the film and is one of the most provocative things he ever produced.