Have I mentioned how much I love when we do features? (I’m sure I have lol) This month, we got to do 3!
The Wkender proudly presents Ms. Taylor Hope as our second WkendHER feature for the month of July! She’s young, she’s black, and is a positive representation of women in the LGBTQ community!
Taylor was born in Buckhead, a suburb of Atlanta, and raised in the “NAWF” (shout to the Migos, Lou Will, and the slew of A-listers from the area). The supreme creative, she’s seen success in many business ventures. Taylor Hope is versed in the arts of painting, tattooing, and corrective cosmetics. All of which bring her joy and confidence, while adding color to the lives of her vast array of clientele.
Taylor is an archetype for fashion; her style is impeccable, and dare I say her versatility is unmatched. I literally had no choice but to ask where this came from!
Growing up, her mother was a personal stylist. Prior to that entrepreneurial endeavor, she spent time working with high end department stores, which meant Taylor literally grew up in Saks and Neimans. “My mom was always bringing me something dope to wear!” As a result, she learned to identify quality and distinguish between fabrics. However, Taylor argues, “My sense of style may be genetic; my dad is pretty fly too!”
From high end department stores to niche boutiques and back, her style evolved over time. The common thread throughout was that she continued to be ahead of the curve. “I attract a certain type of person based on the fits that I wear. My outfits start conversations, and those conversations allow me to push the creative culture. My style allows me to reach beyond my core to do things like fashion shows and shooting with The Wkender.”
Being an entrepreneur means saying yes to opportunity, and for Taylor, that means hitting the runway from time to time. “[Modeling] gives me a chance to represent all of my communities in so many different lanes, some vaguely addressed with the masses, and others not at all. People often fool themselves into believing they cannot simply because no one else who looks like them is.” Her intention is to shift the paradigm to break molds and show people you CAN. Her belief is that everyone should feel they are good enough to be represented because they are.
Taylor is truly an artist, and her style is simply one facet of who she is. She paints, tattoos, microblades, models, and more. In many instances, this would mean having to find inspiration, guidance, mentorship from a plethora of places. When asked if she could meet anyone that she thinks could help her to push to higher heights, she immediately responded with one name…… ASAP!
“I’d choose Rocky because he sits so comfortably between music and fashion. He’s grown to a point where he does [music] because he wants to. At this point, he’s just making money being him. Much like Rocky, my art goes past the canvas. Fashion and Art go hand in hand, and he’s one of the purest examples of how they commingle. Which box Sway? How?! I’m just authentically me, and as a result, I vibrate higher!”
Authenticity is at her core, and as the OGs say, “Real recognize Real!”
As she and I were closing the conversation around this post, she gave me a bit of insight, “Staying fly makes me feel like I get to change the world the fun way. I don’t believe that’s an impossible thing to think”. To be perfectly honest, style is a muscle you build over time, but there are nuances to the approach. For instance, your process for selecting an outfit… “When I’m putting together a fit, the first thing I choose are the bottoms. I have shoes that will literally go with anything, but the pants for me determine the vibe. I’m essentially choosing [my] mood for the day.”
A few final words of advice from a creative: “1)Stop buying art from Ikea and TJ Maxx… and buy from real artists that put their blood, sweat, and tears into it. Art is an investment and if you pour into an artist by purchasing their work you are extending their brand. I mean we all know the rest, you buy their work, you’re popping, more people buy and the piece you purchased becomes more valuable. 2)Stop looking to rappers for fashion; I know I mentioned Rocky, but that’s an anomaly. There are seasons; please dress accordingly. If you can spend hella money on Supreme, Louie, and Gucci, treat your tattoos the same. Honestly, act like you’re buying from a booster in the streets, and learn to distinguish quality. Am I getting a real or fake? Finally, one thing I can’t stand is an attractive person with trash tattoos.”
If you want to connect with Taylor see the information below:
Phone: 4049068909
Atlanta | Los Angeles
T, Thank you for allowing us to feature you. It’s always a pleasure to be in good company!
To a Life Worth Living,
The Wkender
Taylor Hope is a treasure in a world where treasures are becoming hard to find. She’s a jewel that guides fashion in an individual way that maximizes ones sense of self and purpose. Simply put, Taylor is the Hope of tomorrow…
Taylor is a class act! She has Always been a trailblazer in her community since a very young age and that’s what drew me closer to her almost 20 years ago. She reminds me Alot of myself! She was born a Star so all she needs to continue to do is Shine Brightly! ILoveYou, TayBug! GodMommi😘👸🏾🙏🏽🎁🙌🏾💃🏾