Taylor Tookes’ Guide to Breaking Fashion Rules
Words: Ana Beatriz Reitz Do Valle Gameiro | Guide: Taylor Tooke
In runway classes since from 12 years old, thanks to a push from her mother, Taylor Tookes always dreamed of being a model. But from a very young age, she was acutely aware that the industry was not designed for people of her height.
Nothing, however, could stop Taylor. She knew what she wanted, and she was going to get it. It was through defiance and persistence that she made it, walking in New York Fashion Week for the first time in 2022, and ultimately, making history as the first 5ft 1 Black model to do so.
Now, she graces prestigious magazine covers, CFDA runway shows, and Fashion Weeks across the world: what the industry once said wasn't possible for someone of her stature is becoming her reality. And in real time, as Taylor rewrites the rules of fashion, she demands the industry's attention; either through the organisation she co-founded, Height Revolution, or her presence on the catwalk – inspiring girls across the globe in the process.
Know There is a First Time for Everything
Don’t listen to people. Step into it, knowing that you can do it because there are going to be people as there always are, who are there for something that isn't the exact tradition or something that isn't the norm. It's not necessarily thinking, 'Oh, well, I'm going to be the first petite model.' It's just, 'Okay, I can do this because there's a first time for everything.' Why not me?
Be Consistent
Keep doing it, and don't let other people tell you that you can't do it. You already decided that you can do it. So block them out and do it anyway. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep reaching for opportunities. Keep showing up to places you're not allowed. Just do it.
Turn Frustration Into Change
I think that I've never really been a person to shut up when I find something that I don't like. I just got really sick of casting calls that were like, ‘Oh, you must be 5'8.’ So I put out an alert on my close friends story on Instagram. I said, “If anyone wants to tag along and create this movement with me, let me know.” Two girls came forward and said they would love to. I feel like I knew that I could make change with Height Revolution, I knew that it could be something that turned into something transformational. I just decided to go for it because I feel like people will listen to you when you're angry.
You Control Your Destiny
Understanding that I'm pretty much in control of my destiny or in control of my life changed my mindset because once I fully embraced that, things started happening for me. Doors started opening that were not open before.
Embrace Yourself!
Accept who you are. Accept every characteristic about yourself, every quirk about yourself. It's just like learning to like yourself. Once you do that, and once you're solid in that, then you're not really going to care. Being loud about that and accepting that is honestly the best thing you could do for yourself.
Being Yourself is the Standard
Being yourself should be the standard, whether you are plus size or curvy or petite or disabled. This world is made up of different people. It's not just made up of tall, skinny, white women. People want to see how people like them look in clothes. They want to see how people like them look on a billboard or on a show or on a runway. I feel like it's stupid because you guys are telling me, ‘Oh, the clothes fit better on tall people.’ It's like, okay, well, then make clothes that look good on short people too because we exist and we don't walk around naked.
Wear What You Want
People are, for whatever reason, scared to wear what they want because it's not ‘‘in’’. Like, they want to follow a trend. I remember seeing a lot of people online recently being like, ‘oh, I wish this was back in style.’ If you want to wear it, then just wear it. It doesn't matter if it's in style. It's in style because you say it is.
