Bozoma Saint John Talks Fashion, Loss, and Wearing Head-to-Toe Black Designers on ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’

And then from there it just snowballed. I was just like, you know what? I think every single look—it doesn’t matter if I’m at home cooking with my daughter or if I’m going to lunch or I’m going to the ball—I don’t care where I’m going, it’s going to be head-to-toe Black. And that’s going to be my contribution. That’s the statement I’m going to make.

Saint John in a Yaura Fashion set and Tru Face by Grace earrings.

Saint John in Philthy Ragz.

What does this look like in terms of planning? Did you get a filming schedule and plan all your looks ahead of time?

Girl, I wish it was that organized! It would’ve made styling much easier. I would say that I know what I’m doing a couple of days beforehand. So then, yes, I can be like, What am I going to wear to lunch with so-and-so? But it just meant that I had to just continue to call in outfits. Thankfully, a lot of them were already in my closet.

I got a rack and then pulled out everything in my closet that was by Black designers, and then pulled out all my jewelry by Black designers too. The challenge was that three weeks into filming I was like, Damn, I’ve worn 40 outfits already. Where do I go now? So then I was calling designers that I knew to be like, Girl, what you got? Can you send me something? Or I’d go to their websites and be like, Okay, I need to buy this. It did become a little bit of a challenge as the weeks went on because I didn’t have enough in my own closet and I wanted to continue. But it also pointed out that I don’t know enough Black designers. I need to know more.

Saint John in Ivy Park (above and at right).

I notice you have quite a bit of Ivy Park.

Yes. Somebody on Twitter was like, “We know she’s part of the Beyhive! Look at her. This is like the fifth Ivy Park outfit she’s worn.” But they’re so easy because they match already. So you put it on and people think you put in some kind of effort.

You’ve worn lots of designer, too.

Yeah, Dapper Dan made a set custom for me when he was partnering with Gucci, so that’s something I already owned. I came up to Harlem and he helped me pick the fabric, and we picked the appliqués—the whole thing. I carry Chanel, but it’s a bag from Pharell’s collab. And I wear Louis, but it’s got to be Virgil.

Saint John in Nichole Lynel denim and a Chanel x Pharrell Williams bag.

Saint John in a Dapper Dan Harlem x Gucci set and Jordan Brand sneakers.

You came onto the show very well-versed in fashion, but has your intentionality about your looks been a learning experience at all?