CHANEL, CIRCA 2007

Few figures loomed as large in Mr. Talley's life as Karl Lagerfeld. The two bonded over a mutual appreciation of French history, literature, the history of fashion, and art. Mr. Talley went so far as to describe Lagerfeld as the brother he always wished he had. Over the years the two would exchange letters, sketches and gifts including Louis Vuitton luggage and Faberge jewelry. When asked to describe their relationship, Mr. Talley said "We simply were two people from worlds apart, who found in each other alignments on all things that mattered in our lives,".