Michael Penny
From Marine to fashion stylist, I transformed my life—losing 50+ lbs, building a brand, and helping men refine their style and purpose. Now, with a growing celebrity clientele and 100+ satisfied clients, I’m on a mission to elevate men in fashion and life.
My Journey
| 2015 |
From Service to Style
After finishing my service with the United States Marines I began pursuing a career with the FBI taking up several positions in the private/corporate security sector while training extensively with Saint Louis County PD. It was not long after that I realized that I was tired of the Military/LEO field and that it was time to pursue my ambitions of being a fashion stylist.
| 2019 |
The Turning Point
Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic hit soon after and like so many I became unmotivated gaining an excess of 50 lbs. After looking at myself in the mirror one morning I became disgusted with what I saw and decided to take massive action. I crafted myself a workout program and created a meal plan. After a year of sticking with it I was down 50+ lbs. It was around this time I began to see other men suffering from the same thing and knew that this was becoming a genuine problem… “This is NOT what men are.” I said to myself. I knew then I wanted to help men do more than just dress well, I wanted to help them bring back that inner fire.
| 2021 |
A New Era
I began making videos on all social media platforms under the name “Taikyokills” My videos focused on clothing quality, and styling outfits from traditional menswear to the avant-garde. It was not long after that I began to catch the eye of celebrities like Tyler, The Creator which changed my life. I dove headfirst into styling exclusively for male clients and gaining a small celebrity clientele and being invited to several high-profile fashion shows.
