Style is personal. Your parents or your friends might inspire you, but how you show up and express that style–however bland or boastful–can cost, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. And to prove this theory, Chime and Complex teamed up for an eight-part series, Ball On A Budget, in which some of today’s biggest names in culture and entertainment create entire fits for under $300.
Setting the tone and a high bar for the show is singer, actress, and newly minted culinary school graduate Teyana Taylor. Just a few days shy of the release of her new album, Escape Room, Taylor stopped by Varsity Vintage Clothing store in Los Angeles, where sports journalist and Ball On A Budget host Ashley Nicole Moss gave her three different events she’d need to shop for, getting tea, hosting a dinner party, or making a pizza run in her hometown of Harlem.
“Harlem pizza run, for sure,” Taylor said.
As the two browsed the clothing racks, they discussed the 34-year-old’s fashion journey. And while Taylor is known for dazzling red carpets and being an overall fashion icon, Taylor is also a proponent of being fiscally sound to make affordable fits look like they came straight off the runway.
“I've been in this industry for over a decade, giving my fans all the looks,” Taylor said. “Over time, the one thing I've learned is that financial literacy is the real flex. When you understand your money, you can take creative risks and build generational wealth. Partnering with Chime on Ball on a Budget shows that style and smart spending go hand in hand, which is something I wish more young artists understood early in their careers.”
As she picked a few items and took note of some accessories, Taylor made it clear that having money does not automatically mean you have style.
“I don’t feel like you have to have money to have style,” Taylor said. “I think your style is just who you are and what you put on. I can put on a jacket that’s a couple of thousand dollars, and everything underneath isn’t.”