How I Revived My Teenage Dream to Become a Fashion Designer in My 30s

Fashion became an immediate obsession of mine upon watching the 2008 movie, Coco Chanel. At the time of its debut, I was in junior high and was just starting to figure out what interested me most in life. I was in absolute aw of the glitz, the glamor, and the elegance that Coco Chanel embodied. Pearls quickly became my favorite jewelry, and I would spend hours walking through the local department stores of my hometown, looking at the formal gowns and imagining that I was wearing one to a fancy event.

I learned how to sew at a very young age thanks to both my Nana and my Girl Scout Troop, though I originally focused on making pillows, purses, and other simple things that I was taught how to make. However, by October of 2008, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at making clothing for the first time. I remember it like it was yesterday: I was at a weekend retreat and the thought of making myself a skirt kept crossing my mind. When I finally reached home, I sat down at my sewing machine, grabbed the brown broadcloth I happened to have on hand and got to work! I made myself a knee length pleated skirt with a waistband that had a ribbon woven through it as I didn’t have any elastic. There was no pattern, nor did I have the help of today’s handy-dandy YouTube – instead, I had a vision in my head, and I figured out how to bring it to life. I went on to make 25 different skirts throughout my high school career and even made a few for my classmates, who I charged a small fee.

The skirt that started it all!

Modeling the first garment I made

By the time I was a senior in high school, I had big dreams to go to college in New York City and become the next big fashion designer. I made my own Homecoming dress that year and everyone I knew was in big favor of me following my dream. Unfortunately, I come from a working-class family, so we didn’t have the means to support these big dreams of mine. Instead, I graduated from high school then went straight into the work force, letting those dreams fade into the distance.

Fast forward to the year 2020 where I was very unhappy in my role as a Medical Office Manager, and my now-husband asked me, “if you could pick any career in the world to have, what would you chose?” I instantly responded, “I would work in fashion as a fashion designer” to which he replied, “okay, so why don’t you?” I then went on to give him 5,000 different excuses as to why I couldn’t chase this longtime dream of mine, the biggest one being that I felt like I would need some type of education to help me break into this ultra-competitive industry. Being the problem-solver that he is, my husband began to research local college programs and found out that not only does Houston Community College have a fashion design program, but it’s incredibly affordable and I would even qualify for financial aid.

I applied for the program, took the college placement exams and enrolled in my very first fashion course, thus marking the beginning of what would become an exciting journey with so many wonderful surprises ahead. Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed all of my classes and the knowledge that I’ve gained, but I’ve thrived both inside and outside of the classroom. I’ve competed in 4 different fashion design competitions in the past year and have taken home awards at every single one of them. I secured an internship with my all-time favorite Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao, who I gained invaluable experience working alongside last semester and have continued to keep a close connection with. Additionally, I took on the ultimate challenge of designing and making my own wedding dress from scratch last month and received praise on its outcome from both Chloe and from my professors.

The next step is to graduate with my Fashion Design, A.A.S. degree in May 2025. Then in June, my husband and I will be relocating to New York City so I can pursue career opportunities in the fashion industry while preparing to apply for the Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree program at F.I.T., with the goal of starting the program in Fall 2026.

If only 17-year-old Bailey knew that her dreams would one day come true – she just had to be patient and trust the journey.

Meet the Author:
Bailey Reber Thakore

Bailey Reber Thakore is an emerging women’s evening wear designer specializing in Indo-Western formal garments. Her love for Indian culture and traditional attire began in 2020, when she started dating her now-husband. Since 2022, she has traveled to India on three different occasions and spent six weeks immersing herself in its vibrant culture early last year.

Her designs draw heavily from her personal experiences wearing sarees and lehenga cholis at Indian weddings, including her own, blending the elegance of Indian craftsmanship with contemporary Western aesthetics to create truly unique and inspiring pieces.

Learn More About Bailey