André Leon Talley’s personal collection is up for auction. | Photo by Jonathan Becker via Getty Images

From colorful custom caftans to monogrammed Louis Vuitton luggage, Durhamite and late fashion editor André Leon Talley’s personal collection is elegant, extravagant, and unequivocally designer. And it will soon be up for auction.

Hundreds of pieces of rare art, accessories, clothing, jewelry, correspondence, and photography that belonged to Talley will be auctioned off beginning later this month. The sale of his personal collection is so significant that the New York Times is calling it “The Fashion Sale of the Century.”

Talley was raised by his grandmother in Durham, where he attended Hillside High School and North Carolina Central University. He became Vogue’s first Black creative director in 1988 and later became editor-at-large, working closely with legendary editor Anna Wintour for decades. Talley died on Jan. 18, 2022 at the age of 73 and will be remembered as a fashion journalist pioneer.

André Leon Talley's Louis Vuitton luggage — One of André Leon Talley’s Louis Vuitton luggage sets.

“The Collection of André Leon Talley,” comprised of 448 lots, will be shown in Palm Beach, FL, Paris Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week before most of it is auctioned off by Christie’s, a New York City auction house. Bidding will begin online for 356 lots on Friday, Jan. 27, followed by a live auction for 68 lots on Feb. 15.

The pieces are valued at prices ranging from $200 for a group of designer gloves to $200,000 for an Andy Warhol original. Other notable items include Talley’s iconic Tom Ford kimono, a Jacob & Co. colored diamond watch, and Louis Vuitton graffitied briefcases.

All of the proceeds will go to Black churches — one of which is in Durham. The money will be split between his childhood church Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church and the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.

SEE WHAT'S FOR SALE

EVENTS

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Friday, Jan. 20

North Carolina Symphony - Aretha: A Tribute | Friday, Jan. 20-Saturday, Jan. 21 | Times vary | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $50-$75 | Don’t miss this high-energy, glittering tribute to Aretha Franklin featuring Broadway powerhouse Capathia Jenkins.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Artspace Winter Family Day | Saturday, Jan. 21 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Artspace, 201 E. Davie St. Raleigh | Free | Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the “When We Are Still Together” exhibition by Taiwanese-American artist Jan-Ru Wan; there will be demos by Artspace studio artists, plus cultural activities and performances.
Alternative Beverage Party | Saturday, Jan. 21 | 1-4 p.m. | State of Beer, 401 Hillsborough St., Raleigh | Free | Sip non-alcoholic drinks from Rebel Rabbit, Groove Wagon, Slingshot Coffee Co., Needs & Wants, Umbrella Dry Bar, and Bright Side Beverage Club.
Kelsey Cook | Saturday, Jan. 21 | Times vary | Goodnights Comedy Club, 401 Woodburn Rd., Raleigh | $20-$28 | Kelsey Cook is the daughter of an international yo-yo champion and a professional foosball player.

Sunday, Jan. 22

Winter Showcase Soirée | Sunday, Jan. 22 | 1-4 p.m. | Heights House Hotel, 308 S. Boylan Ave., Raleigh | Free | Meet top local vendors, explore the venue, and sip on signature cocktails with your future partner.
January Triangle Beer Co. Drag Brunch | Sunday, Jan. 22 | 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Triangle Beer Co., 320 E. Durham Rd., Cary | $10-$60 | Join in on Sunday funday with food, mimosas, and queens.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

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Quality should never be a luxury

Two women wearing high-quality, neutral-colored cashmere sweaters sit on the beach together.

Quince delivers high-quality essentials at affordable prices, directly from the factory to you. | Photo by Quince

You deserve to have nice things. At Quince, you can treat yourself to the finer things in life. We’re talking 100% Mongolian cashmere, washable silk, Italian leather, 14K gold, European linen + more everyday luxuries — always up to 80% less than other brands, always with free shipping + returns for 365 days.

Plus, Quince partners with responsible factories around the world and bypasses the traditional retail middlemen, so you can sustainably elevate your life at affordable prices.*

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NEWS NOTES

Weather

59º | Sunny | 1% chance of rain ☀️

Announced

PNC Arena will host the spring championship series for “League of Legends” — the world’s most popular esport and the inspiration behind Emmy-winning animated television series “Arcane.” The tournament will be held April 8-9 and tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 27. 🎮

Development

The proposed $3.2 billion 43-mile commuter rail system is too expensive to build all at once. So, GoTriangle has proposed building it in phases. Weigh in on which section you think should be built first by completing this survey. (The News & Observer)

Drink

State of Beer is turning 8 years old and celebrating with an anniversary party on Sunday, Jan. 29. Stop by between 12 and 5 p.m. to try the exclusive Bananas Foster Pastry Stout by Trophy Brewing and enjoy music by Oak City Soul. 🍻

Trending

Duke neurosurgeon Oren Gottfried has a pretty unique side hustle — he’s the voice of a medical robot on the drama “Chicago Med.” Additionally, he often reviews scripts for medical accuracy. Hear Oren as the machine named OR.20 Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC. (WRAL)

Ranked

In a recent study by CoworkingCafe, Raleigh was ranked the No. 4 best city for work/life balance and mental health. The list was determined based on economic, cultural, and infrastructural factors, and their psychological influence on workers.

Holiday

The Lunar New Year is coming up and we have just the way to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit (or Year of the Cat in Vietnam). On Sunday, Jan. 22, head to Lake Lynn Community Center for Korean barbecue, crafts, games, a lion dance, and demonstrations by Wah Lum Kung Fu.

Eat

Whether you’re saying bye to booze for Dry January, cutting back on drinking as a New Year’s resolution, or could just use something tasty to sip on, this cranberry ginger mocktail is seasonal and pretty. 🍹*

Job

Looking for a career refresh? Synergy Face + Body is hiring multiple positions at their Raleigh locations. On the list of desired qualities: Industry experts with a positive attitude, talent, and a desire to expand your skill set. Learn more + apply.*

Travel

Heading abroad in 2023? Babbel offers lesson plans for 12 different languages spoken throughout Europe (where 59% of our readers plan on traveling to in 2023). Prep for the trip of your dreams with bite-sized, 10-minute lessons that will help you learn the new language in as little as three weeks. 🌏 *

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READ

“Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions” 📘

John Samuel grew up in Cary. | Photo by Christer Berg

John Samuel — the CEO and co-founder of Durham-based disability inclusion and digital accessibility company Ablr — recently released his memoir, “Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions: A 30,000-Mile Journey for Love, Confidence, and a Sense of Belonging.”

When John was in college, he was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease — and he didn’t tell his friends, professors, or employers for 17 years. But he continued to chase his dreams.

John’s book details his journey of perseverance after losing his eyesight, including how he embraced his disability and traveled 30,000 miles around the world. His search for a career and love took him to places like India, Cameroon, and Uganda before he ended up back in the Triangle.

“I hope that my story of traveling the world and finding my way back home to the Raleigh area encourages people to keep moving forward, even when things seem bleak, and to see what is possible when you embrace your whole self,” John told RALtoday.

Read or listen to John’s book here. Bonus: Watch his TedxRaleigh presentation.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: This weekend, I’m hiking the trails at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area — it was one of my favorite places to venture outdoors while I was in undergrad at UNC. Where’s your favorite place to hike around the Triangle? Let me know.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit locally with these four Lunar New Year celebrations.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

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