Photo by Courtney Scott
Former Vogue editor-at-large and fashion industry icon André Leon Talley returns to St. Louis this weekend for his second visit this summer to support the Saint Louis Art Museum's exhibit Reigning Men: Fashion in menswear, 1715-2015.
Talley will direct a gender fluid fashion show that features work from the Saint Louis Fashion Incubator designers at the museum’s summer fundraising event this Saturday, July 15.
“We are thrilled to have one of fashion’s most notable celebrities returning to the art museum for the fashion show,” says Jan Goldstein, event co-chair and member of the Museum’s Friends Board. Goldstein is also on the board of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund. “Mr. Talley was inspired to create this fashion show after having visited Reigning Men and the fashion incubator. This is such a great compliment to our city’s artistic community.”
During his recent visit, Talley spent substantial time with the incubator designers. He learned about their backgrounds and what inspires them. While reviewing their collections, he paid them compliments and enjoyed seeing the pieces modeled. “I think they each felt they connected with him on a personal level and felt very comfortable with him,” Saint Louis Fashion Fund chair Susan Sherman says. “I think what really [excites him] are young designers, and that was very evident.”
Talley extended his last trip to St. Louis to spend extra time at the incubator, and that's when the idea for a fashion show came to life. “Before I knew it, he was pulling looks and directing and we had a show,” Sherman says. “It was an incredible afternoon, one that I will never forget.”
Talley describes this aha moment as "just a meeting of the minds." He adds, "It happened organically out of a conversation." Talley asked incubator designer Reuben Reuel to try on one of his own designs, a printed shirt dress. “It actually looked very good on him, so it came upon me that this could be a fluid moment.”
The fashion show, Fluid Fashion 18, is comprised of 18 gender fluid fashion looks.
Male and female models will walk the runway together, wearing the same piece styled differently (i.e. the dress worn on the woman will also be worn on the man, paired with jeans and biker boots.) “It is aligned to the exhibit, because the exhibit shows brilliantly that men can be as opulent, exotic, and individually dressed with fabrics that are sometimes associated with women’s clothing,” Talley explains.
“It is how he pieced it and put it all together that is fascinating,” Sherman says. “It is a level of sophistication you would see in Paris or Milan. This is not your average show.”
Talley names Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, as the muse and inspiration behind the concept. The rising style star exemplifies gender fluidity in many of his edgy looks.
“I found that the designers clothes were totally relevant and valid, and these were sophisticated designers who had specifically individual special skills and visions," Talley says. "They certainly are worthy of attention. It is appreciation of the incubator and for the first six designers in their program. I really do love their work, and I think they have great futures and great promise.”
Fashion_incubator
The six inaugural designers of the Saint Louis Fashion Fund
Although Saint Louis Fashion Fund is new, it has incredible contacts in the fashion industry, especially in New York. It's been gaining substantial ground within its first year. “We are constantly bringing people out here, not to just educate our designers, but the community at large," Sherman says. "I think that is what the museum wants to do as well. This is such an intense, incredible exhibition that is running three months, and you need programing around it. We are thrilled to play any role we can.”
Goldstein adds that the fundraiser will be an "energetic" evening of creative fashion and cocktails. The museum will also be transformed to reflect the theme. "Plus, there are a few surprises," she says.
Notable guests will include longtime Vanity Fair photographer Jonathan Becker and broadcast journalist Tamron Hall. Hall, who announced this week she will host a daytime talk show she is developing with Weinstein Television, is expected to walk in this Saturday’s runway show. Brent R. Benjamin, the Barbara B. Taylor director of the art museum, will also be styled by the incubator designers for the evening.
Tickets are available online starting at $150 for Fluid Fashion 18, which will take place Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. at the Saint Louis Art Museum (1 Fine Arts). Proceeds will benefit the art museum.
