This is a Public Service Announcement: If you are in, or anywhere NEAR Atlanta, GA, I beg you, I beseech you, get over to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and check out Style is Forever a curated personal collection of the late, great Andre Leon Talley! When I tell you it was damn near a religious experience, please understand that I am stating facts.
Right off the bat, goosebumps. The stunning black mannequins – all in the likeness of Talley himself, stood in stark contrast to the walls of the surrounding White Room, each form a sentry of style adorned in designs from Dior, Kamali, Saville Row, R. Lauren, Gucci and more. Though the space invited whispered conversation, words were forsaken as we basked in the siren songs of old school southern gospel music – a nod to A.L.T.’s beloved grandmother and his upbringing in the southern baptist church.
The back wall was adorned with meticulously catalogued personal memorabilia – photographs, notes, accessories, shoes, valises, awards – records of a life lived in excellence.
From here, the tour guide lead us into the 2nd room, the Black Room, the largest – and most impressive part of the exhibition. This collection of caftans is like nothing you have ever seen, made by every designer you can think of. The sheer range and breadth of design styles is impressive, some pieces breathtaking in their simplicity while others stun with their intricate patterns, designs and detail. Unlike the gospel music of the White Room, the audio system here regails visitors with the sounds of Talley himself, telling his stories in his own words.
More personal memorabilia line the back wall.
And finally, the collection ends in the Red Room, where visitors can purchase the Style is Forever coffee table book.
Curated by Rafael Brauer Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums and presented across SCAD museums in Atlanta and Savannah, Style Is Forever marks the 10th anniversary of the university’s SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film.
Open now through January 11, 2026.
