André Leon Talley recently talked to stylish hopefuls at the 21 Club on succeeding in fashion.
Behold, his top 5 tips:
1. Learn French. At age 28, André was on staff at the Paris Bureau of Women’s Wear Daily, which apparently offered him unique opportunities. He explains, “When I got to Paris and I could speak French, I know how much it helped me to establish relationships with Karl Lagerfeld, with the late Yves St. Laurent. French, it just helps you if you’re in fashion. The French people started style.”
2. Don’t do a reality TV show. Though he was on the judges panel of America’s Next Top Model, he did so as an afterthought after years of hard work. He says, “I think reality TV is a terrible thing. I am a victim of having watched Dancing With the Stars this season. I was watching and I realized, you know, I would never put myself in the position that these people do, of humiliation, to be rejected.”
3. Handwrite your letters. He says, “When I have interns, I always say handwritten thank-you notes can make a difference. People remember that — not an e-mail, a handwritten note in an envelope.” *Editorial note: It’s good to write one handwritten letter a month. Buy yourself some nice stationary and get to it. You’ll be head and shoulders above the rest.
4. Don’t shy away from doing menial or poorly paid tasks. André started off as a receptionist at Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine, and was paid $50 a week to take messages, answer the phone, and pick up Andy’s lunch. He adds, “People have started their careers picking up pens on the floor for great designers, interning for designers, and having menial tasks.”
5. Good etiquette and grooming are key. Learn your pleases and thankyous, and always dress to impress. He says, “The kind of tools you need to be a successful [are] punctuality, grace, manners, speaking properly to people, looking well-groomed, [and being] focused.”
Those are a solid set of tips, and I couldn’t agree more! What do you think of his rules of success?
Would you add anything to the list?
Read more at New York Magazine.
May 19, 2010 1:05 pm
Love it! Those are good tips for fashion and for life.
May 19, 2010 1:33 pm
Perfect tips, especially number 5! He’s such an inspiration !
May 19, 2010 2:28 pm
Absolutely!! Great list for any profession if you want to be successful!
May 19, 2010 2:43 pm
Great tips number 3 – 5 are especially important. My handwriting sucks, but I always hand write and/or sign my letters. People have mentioned they notice and it makes business relationships more intimate. It shows that you took time to personally thank someone.
May 19, 2010 5:42 pm
ALT is such a legend!
These tips work for any career. I notice so many people think they will be the “doing it” over night. Nobody wants to pay dues anymore. You have to take the be humble coffee orders before you can lead the team!
May 19, 2010 7:50 pm
I don’t agree about not doing reality tv. I is a good stepping stone for some.
May 20, 2010 8:29 am
wow, from a man that wears aladdin slippers, these are some fantastic tips applicable to practically any career choice (except the first would be ‘learn a second language’ as opposed to just french); i agree with the reality tv thing, because unless you win, and win big, many elite people will put you in the category of ‘rejected’
May 20, 2010 10:59 am
[...] Andre Leon Talley gives 5 Tips to succeed in fashion (that also apply to life) (Fashion Bomb Daily) [...]
May 20, 2010 11:30 am
Thanks for posting this Claire….the first tip made me laugh BUT I think these tips will help many…hopefully myself included! ;)
June 19, 2010 3:30 pm
This is so true! How long have you been in France? How is your French?
June 19, 2010 3:31 pm
you need a re-tweet button
November 10, 2010 10:04 pm
Tips from the greatest! This helps you a lot in your life style!
January 28, 2011 1:58 pm
Here’s the last tip:
EVERY FASHION STUDENT SHOULD HAVE A FULL KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY ASPECT OF ANDRE LEON TALLEY’S DYNAMIC LIFE AND FASHION CAREER.
ANDRE LEON TALLEY IS A TRUE ORIGINAL FASHION ICON.
HE IS A PIONEER.
May 1, 2011 9:36 pm
I couldn’t agree with him more. Thanks God, i got pretty much all the tools. I just need to start working on writing the thank you letters.
June 11, 2011 10:50 am
[...] André Leon Talley Offers Five Tips on Making it in Fashion. Share and [...]