Fashion Icon André Leon Talley Dead at 73: Fashion World and Hollywood Pay Tribute

According to TMZ, the fashion icon and former Vogue creative director died at a hospital in White Plains, NY on Tuesday, but it's unknown what he was battling in the hospital.

Following the news, designers and fellow members of the fashion industry, as well as celebrities, took to social media to mourn the death of Talley and honored him with touching tributes.

Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, with whom Talley worked alongside for decades, shared a lengthy statement, which was published on the magazine's website on Wednesday.

"The loss of André is felt by so many of us today: the designers he enthusiastically cheered on every season, and who loved him for it; the generations he inspired to work in the industry, seeing a figure who broke boundaries while never forgetting where he started from; those who knew fashion, and Vogue, simply because of him; and, not forgetting, the multitude of colleagues over the years who were consistently buoyed by every new discovery of André’s, which he would discuss loudly, and volubly -- no one could make people more excited about the most seemingly insignificant fashion details than him," Wintour said. "Even his stream of colorful faxes and emails were a highly anticipated event, something we all looked forward to."

"Yet it's the loss of André as my colleague and friend that I think of now; it's immeasurable," she added. "He was magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny -- mercurial, too. Like many decades-long relationships, there were complicated moments, but all I want to remember today, all I care about, is the brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend to me and to my family for many, many years, and who we will all miss so much."

Fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen all paid tribute on Instagram.

"Good bye darling André ❤️🙏… no one saw the world in a more elegant and glamorous way than you did ❤️🙏… no one was more soulful and grander than you were ❤️🙏…the world will be less joyful now ❤️🙏," von Furstenberg wrote. "I have loved you and laughed with you for 45 years…. I will miss your loud screams and your loyal friendship…I love you soooo much ❤️🙏."

Jacobs said, "I am in shock. You championed me and you have been my friend since my beginning. Our chats, the moments we shared….oh my friend. You and your passions were larger than life. I love you and I will miss you dear André. Rest In Peace."

Posen -- who said he was "heartbroken" by the news -- wrote, "What a loss,
Thank you for the Wisdom, the Support over many years of friendship. Andre's belief in my work meant so much to Me. He was my fashion angel deeply loved by generations at the ZP studio and my family for 20 plus year. #ALT Legend, trailblazer
A King. . ♥️👑🕊🖤 going to miss you terribly."

Meanwhile, hotel heiress and reality star Paris Hilton tweeted, "You brought so much vibrancy and personality to the fashion world and there will never be someone like you! You are a pioneering fashion legend forever, Rest In Peace."

"The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg also took to Twitter, writing, "…Just in time for the front line at fashion week in Heaven, Mrs Vreeland,Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld ..and now Andre Leon Talley. R.I.P. Unforgettable in every way…"

Actress Milla Jovovich shared a sweet photo of herself and Talley on Instagram, calling the late fashion legend an "incredible artist" and "one of the most genuinely wonderful humans" she's ever met.

"I can't believe what a force of nature has left us today," she captioned the post. "Andre Leon Talley was such an incredible artist, but he was also one of the most genuinely wonderful humans I've ever met. Always there with the most beautiful smile and open arms, he was so sweet and kind, always so gracious and I imagine the term 'fierce' was coined after meeting him. I feel so lucky to have been embraced in his warm glow so many times in my career, because good people are few and far between in this business and you’re much more likely to meet a scowl when going places than his ever present, all encompassing loveliness. I send you so much love Andre. It was an honor and a privilege.❤️"

Filmmaker Ava DuVernay posted a touching tribute to her Instagram Stories, writing, "Our paths first crossed in my publicist days. I was in awe. We spent quality time together then. He was wise and kind to me. Years later, he came to a 'Queen Sugar' season launch party and people were shocked when he walked in. He came to support and to cheer me on after all the years that had passed. He was lavish and loving. I'll remember him fondly. Rest in beauty, Sir."

Supermodels and Naomi Campbell and Beverly Johnson also honored Talley.

Campbell shared a series of photos of herself and Talley on Instagram. The model reflected on her friendship with Talley, recalling fond memories.

"Dear Andre, Words cannot describe what it feels like knowing you are no longer with us in the physical form, like everyone who loves you my heart skipped a beat," she began. "When I heard I reached out to @dvf who let me know you went peacefully without pain."

Campbell went on to list some of the many adventures she and Talley went on together, including their last trip to Nigeria in 2019.

"Everyone said you would cancel on me last minute and I refused to believe .. and there you came to Lagos with a wheelchair and all, and you embraced everyone and everyone embraced you ..," she recalled. "you were animated, fun and seeing all the young Nigerian creatives sitting at your feet taking notes with admiration, to going to church on Easter Sunday in Lagos of which you said coming to Africa was like an epiphany for you .. Seeing you so happy and in your zone is how I choose to remember you."

Campbell added, "Your unconditional love and support has never wavered, from encouraging me to pick up the phone and calling Anna Wintour and asking for my first American vogue cover September issue to giving me the confidence to learn the Michael Jackson dance for our super bowl sobe commercial .. to just sitting in bed ordering room service watching tv, you were Andre a ray of light filled with laughter and positivity that played a huge impact of our ever lasting [sic] family ship."

"Andre is on his way to the otherside [sic] and will drape you all in divine larger than life luxury," she concluded. "I love you always Naomi. REST EASY KING 🕊🕊❤️🤍❤️🕊🕊 #andreleontalley #andreleontalley #legend #ALT."

In a second post, Campbell posted another series of photos of herself and Talley, captioning the post, "REST WITH THE HIGHEST ANDRE LEON TALLEY. @andreltalley #legend #PIONEER #ICON 🕊🕊❤️🤍❤️🕊🕊🙏🏾."

Johnson, meanwhile, spoke to PEOPLE about her friendship with Talley, as well as his impact on the industry, particularly the Black fashion community.

"He was an incredible, very unique person," said Johnson, who also called Talley an "engineer of fashion" and "regal and smart, quick-witted and brilliant."

Speaking about Talley's legacy, Johnson said she believes "he did what he had to do."

"He had the last word," she told PEOPLE. "He wrote his book. He said whatever he needed to say. He did his documentary. He told his story. It makes me smile. It really makes me smile, and I feel that he did what he had to do, and that's him. That is André Leon Talley. He had that kind of strength to make those things happen. From his words and that's power."

"Like I always said, you're the one out there taking all the arrows in the front and in the back," she added. "That's when you're a trailblazer, and he most certainly was a trailblazer taking a lot of arrows."

Johnson also shared a tribute to Talley on Instagram, posting a photo and video of them together. "André was a Fashion Genius! He was human walking talking encyclopedia of Fashion," she captioned the video. "A Giant in the fashion world . RIP🙏🏾♥️."

See how more stars are honoring Talley in the tributes, below.