First Spark
Heard the name Dorothea Towles floating around fashion history circles last week. Honestly, was kinda embarrassed I didn’t know much. So I did what I always do – dove headfirst down a rabbit hole. Found out she was the first big Black model in Paris back in the 50s? Blown away. Felt this itch to really get what she must have faced. Figured the best way was to try walking a tiny fraction of her path.
Digging Deep
Started simple: Googled everything. Read dusty old articles from Ebony, Jet mag archives online. Watched interviews people did about her later. The stuff that hit me hardest? Snubs she shrugged off. Like booking gigs just cause a designer wanted her specifically, only to arrive and find other models giving her the cold shoulder. Or being told “no coloreds” at some front doors in Paris itself, even while famous. Crazy.
My goal became clear: Understand the sheer weight she carried. Not just facts, but the feeling.
Putting Theory Into Practice
How do you even start mimicking that experience in 2024? Had to get creative:
- Watched vintage footage Like, real old black and white shows. Paid insane attention to her walk, her poses in old photos. Tried copying them in my living room mirror. Felt awkward as hell. Realized her posture screamed confidence against all odds.
- Wore my most “out there” outfit This meant digging out a bright patterned vintage dress I usually feel too shy to wear. Walked to the local coffee shop midday wearing it. Felt every single pair of eyes. Tried channeling that “I belong here” vibe Dorothea must’ve mastered. My palms were sweaty.
- Documented my “findings” Scribbled down every awkward feeling, every stupid thought (“Do I look ridiculous?”) that popped into my head during that walk. Compared them mentally to the barriers she conquered daily. Yeah. Mine felt like pebbles vs her mountains.
Big Takeaway
This little experiment? Humbling as heck. I wasn’t just learning about Dorothea Towles. For that weird little walk in my loud dress, I got a tiny, fleeting taste of that hyper-awareness she lived with. The constant scanning, the micro-adjustments, the emotional armor you build brick by brick. Her legacy isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s about walking into rooms not meant for you and owning them anyway, stitch by stitch, runway by runway. Broke barriers? She bulldozed them. Makes me look at that dress in my closet different now. Maybe I’ll wear it more.
