cover image A.L.T. 365+

A.L.T. 365+

Andre Leon Talley, . . powerHouse, $85 (240pp) ISBN 978-1-57687-240-6

A year in the life of a Vogue editor-at-large is something to behold, and Talley doesn't disappoint in this hulking monograph, designed by art director Sam Shahid. A fan of Kodak disposable cameras, Talley snapped the people, places and moments that "touched [his] heartstrings" over the course of a year. Essentially a scrapbook of pictures and thoughts on the haute couture set, the work is laden with shots of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, as well as of a coterie of supermodels and fashion designers (e.g., Diane von Furstenberg swimming in the pool at her Connecticut "country home"). There are some pictures of fashion shows (Alexander McQueen's, Zac Posen's, John Galliano's), as well as of other scenes Talley frequents (performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company; the Ritz Paris). Many photographs are candid and amateurish, such as a shot of Aretha Franklin with a shiny face, caught with her mouth agape, mid-sentence; or the one depicting Sony, the six-month-old mastiff belonging to Talley's personal trainer, Alex Dennis (although the dog's face is formed into a humorous "what are you looking at?" expression, it's terribly unfocused). The accompanying text gushes with Talley's sentimental love for his friends and family—and it's those people who will most love this ultra-insider jetsetter's account. 309 photos. (Sept.)