This month, Christie’s announced that it would auction off some 400-plus lots of items belonging to the late, great fashion editor André Leon Talley, with the proceeds going towards organizations dear to his heart: the Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Harlem institution he regularly attended, and the Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina.

Before the auction officially kicks off on January 27, Christie’s brought a portion of the collection to be on view in Palm Beach, an event which was celebrated with a luncheon for 100 guests. As part of the proceedings, Christie’s tapped PALMER Editorial Director Stefano Tonchi to lead a lively discussion with two talents championed by Talley, LaQuan Smith and Vania Leles. The trio shared memories of Talley, as well as sharing which of the items up for auction they’d most want to take home for themselves; LaQuan loved the white alligator coat from Prada, where Vania had her eye on the matching Chanel cuffs.

The collection is on view in Palm Beach through January 31.

Carrie Bradburn/CAPEHART