How I Shop: Bia

We all buy clothes, but no two people shop the same. It can be a social experience, and a deeply personal one; at times, it can be impulsive and entertaining, at others, purpose-driven, a chore. Where do you shop? When do you shop? How do you decide what you need, how much to spend and what’s “you”? These are some of the questions we’re putting to prominent figures in our column “How I Shop.”

Whether in the studio or on stage, Bia usually bounces between two types of shoes: If she’s not in heels, she favors Air Jordans and Chanel trainers.

The rapper is known to drop designer names and other fashion references in her bars, whether it’s in the chorus of “London” with J. Cole or in the now-iconic “Whole Lotta Money”: “I put all my jewelry just to go to the bodega… Fendi on my body, but my feet is in Bottega.” Her love affair with fashion started young, taking inspiration from maternal figures around her, like her grandmother and aunt, and from cultural icons like Aaliyah and Rihanna, who balance femininity and masculinity in their outfits — always with a heavy dollop of swag. (She tells me she’s on the hunt for the printed Tom Ford Fall 2013 boots Rihanna wore out in London a decade ago.)

Bia’s celebrating the release of the deluxe edition of her EP, “Really Her,” and getting ready for tour, which means she’s on the process of putting some looks together. Ahead, she talks personal style, her favorite designers at the moment and much more.

“Growing up in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, I was really into sneaker culture. I was one of those girls that would collect Dunks and Jordans. 

“I was always into trendy, cool streetwear brands and different brand that would come in and out, like Hood by Air and Pyrex, early Virgil (Abloh) stuff. I used to work at Foot Locker, and I was known to have every single Jordan that ever came out, back in middle school and high school. But my favorites were probably the 7s. I love the 13s, the 10s, the 9s. I love Bape sneakers.

“I still wear my Travis Jordans a lot, the bandana ones. I love a good Chanel sneaker — those are my favorite. I’m a Jordan or Chanel sneaker kind of girl. If I’m not in a sneaker, I’m in a boot or shoes. Back then, I worked at a lot of stores that would sell high-end stuff mixed with streetwear. I’m still like that: I love high-end clothes and runway pieces, but I also love streetwear and the culture. 

“I was always into fashion because my grandmother’s a real lady-like woman. She wakes up at five o’clock in the morning and does her makeup every single day. She used to work at Neiman Marcus. My grandmother came here from Italy, and she wasn’t a citizen. She worked a seamstress job for as long as I can remember. I could never afford those things growing up. 

“My family struggled a lot, like a lot of people’s families. That made me have a crazy appreciation for nice clothes and nice things because I always knew fashion, but I could never get the things I really wanted. As my career developed and as I developed into who I am, I started to find my own style. I collected pieces along the way that I felt I wanted, things that would mean something to me later on.

“My first fashion splurge was a Gucci bag. I was going into high school, and I really, really wanted this bag. I had always splurged on sneakers — I worked at 14 bagging groceries and stuff like that just so I could buy Jordan’s. That’s when I knew I love fashion. And I’ve always loved people that are like, ‘Anything I want, I’ll find a way to get it.’

“From the minute I started making music and taking it seriously, I always thought, ‘Every time I step outside, I have to be Bia. I have to put it on.’ Even when I’m on a chill day, I still got it on. Even when I’m going to the studio, I still got that stuff on. Maybe it’s more comfortable and more chill on a regular day, but when I’m doing a carpet or when I’m stepping out for an event, I always have to put it on.

“Beauty for Certain, my makeup line, is my baby. I really wanted something that felt like the products I actually used. I found this company to work (with) and we formulated it. They basically made a whole line around every day things like highlighters, blushes, lip gloss, lip liners… things that are easy. I didn’t want to focus on foundations. I wanted to do things to help if you don’t wear that much makeup — or, if you do, you can build on it.

“I have such sensitive skin, so I’m really particular with what goes on the skin. I wear everything I make, and it’s not just, ‘Oh, I want to make a lip gloss and sell it.’ When you put the deluxe lipstick on, it’s like the softest lipstick you’ve ever worn. It doesn’t cake up when you wear it for hours and are talking all day. I’m rapping and doing things, and it doesn’t have that little ring around the mouth that drives me crazy. I really take pride in it.

“I love shopping when I’m in a different city. I don’t really go into stores in L.A. too much. I work with a couple stylists and a few stores that allow me to see what I like and pick it out. Sometimes, it’s online; sometimes, somebody will bring a rack my house and I’ll take the things I like. I shop when I’m out town because that’s always fun. You can always find things you can’t find elsewhere.

“I love New York street style. The kids that get dressed in SoHo look so fly. I love London — every time I go to the U.K., it’s just a different but relatable style. I love when I can go places and take on their style, take things from them and make it my own.

“I try to map (my outfits) out ahead of time for every show. But sometimes, I’ll get there and be in a whole different vibe. I’ll be like, ‘You know what? I’m going to push this outfit and go with Thursday’s instead.’ It goes based off my mood. Sometimes, I like to put a look on in my show; other times, I like custom or a mix-and-match with my dancers, a little razzle dazzle. I’m either giving show or giving runway.

“I’m loving Ottolinger. They make me so happy. I’m loving JPG. I love Dion Lee, Mugler, Heron Preston… Oh man, there’s just so many! I love Chopova Lowena and those skirts. There are sunglasses from the Gentle Monster collab with Thug Club that I bought recently that made me really happy — they’re coming from Korea. That’s another thing: I’m really into some Korean and Japanese brands right now.

“If there’s a really good trend, and I see myself making it my own, then I’m not mad at it. But I’m not really a trend person — I like what I like; if it happens to be on-trend, that’s cool. I don’t seek the trend. I definitely am not one of those people that’s like, ‘Oh, I got to go wear these big red boots because everybody else wears these big red boots.’ I don’t wear things just because somebody else wears them. That’s not a dig, it’s just an example, because those were something that I saw everybody jump on all at once. I feel like the internet makes people want to have it just because everybody else has it.”

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