Vogue and its flamboyant contributor Andre Leon Talley are set to part ways after three decades, fashion sources tell Page Six.
The split, we hear, has come partly as a result of Talley’s TV aspirations. Talley recently announced he’s developing a late-night show with former NBC exec Ben Silverman, which the fashonisto described as blending Dick Cavett with “unparalleled access into my international fashion lifestyle.”
But we hear Vogue wasn’t so happy with Talley’s bid to become the next Jimmy Fallon, and is looking to put an end to things.
“The powers that be aren’t huge fans of his television aspirations, and they want to sever all ties now,” a source told us as Fashion Week ended.
Talley also recently signed on as editor-at-large at Numero Russia magazine, and was said to be headed to Moscow to work with the new title.
While Talley has represented Vogue on “America’s Next Top Model,” “Entertainment Tonight” and in the “Sex and the City” movie, his appetite for a show of his own doesn’t jibe with high-end Vogue, insiders say.
The fashion bible’s been shy about jumping into the same media opportunities as other magazines have. Marie Claire, Elle, Cosmo and Teen Vogue have all been involved in reality shows — including “Project Runway,” “All on the Line,” “The Hills” and “The Job” — which has made household names of their editors. (Vogue chief Anna Wintour famously passed on the opportunity to partner with “Project Runway” in its infancy.)
Talley’s deal to get his own show also underscores friction at Condé Nast — which hired Hollywood exec Dawn Ostroff to develop film and TV deals around its magazine brands. But sources tell us top editors are working to make their own deals outside Ostroff’s office.
Over a 30-year relationship with Vogue, Talley’s left and come back before. His rep told us, “Andre is absolutely maintaining his relationship as a contributor . . . [He] has a number of projects in the works with Vogue and Condé Nast, and maintains a warm relationship with both.”