Beauty & style ‘gospel' — according to André Leon Talley

The Metrograph movie theater recently hosted a screening of "The Gospel According to André," where filmmaker Kate Novack deep-dives into the career and life of fashion journalist, stylist, and creative director André Leon Talley. The screening coincides with the Met's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" exhibition, which provides an insightful experience through the history of dandyism.

- By BRENIKA BANKS

Curator and author Monica L. Miller with fashion model and activist Bethann Hardison. (Brenika Banks photos)

(Brenika Banks photos)

"Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" is based on the book "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity," published in 2009 and written by Monica L. Miller, Columbia University's and Barnard College's chair of Africana Studies and acclaimed scholar.

Fashion designer Marc Jacobs described Talley as "larger than life." "I don't live for fashion; I live for beauty and style," Talley says in the opening line of the film. As a youth, Talley's escape from reality was fashion magazines, specifically "Vogue." "I loved seeing Black people in 'Vogue'," says Talley in the film.