Taylor Bennett
Evan Brown
Taylor Bennett has joined models Jordyn Woods and Candice Huffine for clothing company Express’ Spring 2018 campaign. “Express. Your Rules.” encourages consumers to determine their own fashion rules as the brand introduces extending sizing options in stores.
“Having this new line that is for everyone is what I am all about. It is about being yourself and I am all about that,” Bennett tells Billboard. The hip-hop artist explains that growing up, he was relegated to wearing a size “husky” because of his thighs.
Sporting a pair of Express pants, Bennett adds, “It feels like somebody has made this line just for you. I’m pretty sure that’s what Express was trying to do, and if so, they succeeded.”
While Express has offered extended sizes for some time online, the brand is committed to enhancing the in-store experience for its customers with options ranging from 00-18 (tops in XS – XL) in Women’s and XS-2XL in Men’s (with new waist sizes 28-40 inches and jacket sizes 46 and 48).
The newly expanded offering will be featured in 130 stores across 44 cities in the U.S., including all stores in Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Growing up on the South Side of Chicago with his brother Chance the Rapper, Bennett recalls being enamored with his mother’s sense of style that often came from Express.
“My mom is really into the collaboration, and I am very supportive of everything with my mom,” Bennett says of the deal, which was brokered on his behalf by MAC Presents and Cara Lewis Group. “Growing up and seeing her rocking Express all the time, it is an honor to be able to work with them. That hits home. That was automatically a correlation.”
In addition to expanding its in-store offering, Express will continue to carry all styles in extended sizing on Express.com, along with specialty petite, waist, and length sizes that are online only.
The Express. Your Rules. campaign selected Bennett as a model because of the positive message he spreads with his platform, as well as his confident sense of self.
“Confidence is reflected in your fashion choices. In the hip-hop industry right now, clothing is everything. Fashion is everything. What you wear is how you feel,” Bennett says. “I would say that the fashion is almost as big as the music. Fashion has always been a big part of hip-hop, the music industry, and where I come from.”