He just cannot stand to see that young woman do too well … it rubs something in his tortured half-soul the wrong way. Liz Smith gives us the big hearted Texan breakdown:
Jennifer Hudson, did win big – but lost big, too, because of the much ridiculed metallic bolero Andre Leon Talley made her put on. (Post fashion editor Serena French said it made her look “lost in space.”) “Jennifer was kind of sponsored by Talley and Vogue,” said one fashionista. “Andre insisted she wear that hideous Oscar de la Renta dress with the awful, awful gold python bolero.
It’s a classic case of Fashion Passive Aggression. The odd internal politics of the little fashion world promote their own odd menagerie of characters dictatorial powers. They decide to put Jennifer Hudson on the cover of Vogue — purchase her soul directly from her church deacon and then wrap her in vinegar, brown paper and tinfoil and send her to the Oscars.
Leon Talley is a personally monstrous dresser who has nonetheless long been established as a tastemaker and an editorial force – and one suspects was more invested in forcing Hudson to kowtow to his Chewbacca will then actually craft her look or make her happy as a fashion client.
“Jennifer really didn’t want to, and so [noted stylist] Jessica Paster got her a beautiful gold Roberto Cavalli custom-made. But when Andre found out, he went ballistic. Moments before she left for the show, there was a power struggle and Jennifer ended up putting his outfit on.”
It’s a case of the psychological needs of the stylist wining out over the styled … that’s never good. Wookies should use their powers for good not for evil.
pics via PerezHilton
I was wondering to myself, “who in the hell dressed Jennifer?” She looked like Judy Jetson with that damn vest/coat whatever the hell it was on!! I’m glad that she won, she is VERY talented. I was hoping that she just took that vest or whatever it was off because the dress was NOT that bad. I saw worst at the Academy Awards.
Andre Leon Talley has been a tastemaker in the world of fashion for over thirty years, after having been mentored by legendary editoe Diana Vreeland.
However, his own personal style is flamboyant, vulgar and often tasteless and is an example of an Afro-American man from the poor South rising the ranks but never honing his own personal style, admittedly difficult for a 6’7″ not conventionally good looking man.
I can see how he feels that as a black so-called arbiter of taste he is the only person who can guide an upcoming star like Jennifer; he was instrumental in putting her on the cover of March’s issue of ‘American Vogue’ so how dare she go to another stylist! And why did Oscar de la renta put pockets in a potentially attractive Oscar gown. The lopsided golden python capelet was a sign of black upward mobility wannabe-ism! Tacky!
Yuck! She should have “accidentally” torn it(to shreds!) and put on her convenient back-up dress. 🙂 “Sorry Andre, I DON’T know HOW that happened! Maybe next year!” It’s one thing for a celeb to pick out their own bad fashions, but to be FORCED to wear something this hideous? That’s not cool, Andre.
Talley has no room to talk. He looks like a fucking Chia-Pet in that picture.
the dress wasn’t that bad, but the bolero was hideous. Anyway it could have been worse, she could’ve lost.
that chick is fug, and im not sure that its leon chubacca’s fault. her lace front wig is more convincing than his goofy fur hat. lol actually i think that his hat is funny and intended to be that way.
i dont think that she should have won.
…that was a very wry and i think accurate observation about the “passive aggressive fashion” thang.
I laughed when I saw the python thing. I was thinking to myself: “There is NO way J-Hud picked that out.” Let’s face it. Bad fashion happens even to good people.
Not conventionally good looking??? LOL! That’s saying it tastefully. He is one UGLY UGLY UGLY mofo!
I adored the dress Jen. The jacket, no! But oh well, tell the fre-ak to get over it already!
FIRST OF ALL JHUD DESERVED THAT AWARD BECAUSE SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB TO SAY ITS ONLY HER FIRST MOVIE, NOW FOR THE CASE AT HAND THAT DRESS WASNT HITTIN ON NOTHING AND YOU COULD TELL SHE WAS UNCOMFTORABLE, JUST COMPARE HOW SHE ACTED ON THE ACADEMY AWARDS RED CARPET TO THE SAG AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS, YOU COULD TELL ANDRE LEON FORCED HER INTO WEARING THAT SHIT. SHE WAS MUCH MORE COMFTORABLE IN THAT RED DRESS WHILE PERFORMING AND THE PRETTY GOLD ONE SHE WORE TO THE AFTER PARTIES. AND FOR HATERS LIKE THE ONE THAT SAID SHE SHOULDNT OF WON YOU CAN KISS HER “LITTLE GOLD MANS” ASS CUZ HE WENT HOME WITH HER.