Leaving a job is never easy. Whether you’ve been there five years or five minutes, it’s a decision not to be taken lightly. One person who knows this all too well is André Leon Talley, the fashion icon and editor-at-large of Numéro Russia. Talley surprised many with his exit from Vogue in 2013, after spending nearly 30 years on staff.
In a recent interview with Oprah, he said it all came down to a big paycheck: “The Russians offered me a whirlwind of money. I took the job because I thought it was going to be wonderful financially, and I needed a change. I needed to challenge myself.”
The style star was equally candid about the realities of the fashion industry, and how it isn’t all Champagne and freebies. Talley worked hard to get where he is — and it wasn't a breeze. “Don’t think that I’m sitting here looking glamorous, and it’s easy…A crystal stair wasn’t put in front of me and I just glided up it. I absolutely struggled to maintain and get to the top.”
Oprah also got Talley to open up about the lack of diversity in fashion and his relationship with Anna Wintour. Click above to watch a preview of the episode, and tune into OWN to see ALT on Oprah: Where Are They Now? on February 7. (Fashionista)