Tracee Ellis Ross Gives the Best Shopping Advice

On the influence of her mother, the legendary Diana Ross, on her style:

“I am born of a style icon queen who just redefined all of it. And sadly, I had access to her closet. I say that for her. My aesthetic and what I love was defined by my mother and her intense sense of glamour.”

…and on raiding her mother’s closet:

“In college, I called home once and no one was answering. There was no answering machine. Finally, my mom answered, and I was like, What are you doing? She said, I’m in the garage. We are cleaning out the garage for Aunt Rita to take stuff for resale. And I was like, Well, well, well, well, well, well, not so fast. So my mother learned nothing could leave the house without me seeing it first. And so I would come home and there would be black garbage bags filled with the most extraordinary things. And I would decide what Aunt Rita could take and what we could sell.”

On outfitting her character Joan Carol Clayton for Girlfriends:

“Traditionally, in Hollywood, Black productions, productions with a Black cast, or Asian, or anything other than white, or mainstream, usually get a smaller budget. So we had a very small wardrobe budget. And I felt that Joan Carol Clayton should dress a particular way. So I was like, no problem. I’ll bring my clothes in. And I have a lot of those clothes still.”

Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boot

“When Girlfriends happened, it was the first time I was officially supporting myself. As in, I took over my medical; my mom was no longer paying for it. I don’t think I was on her insurance anymore. And I was like, okay, every time the show gets picked up for another season, I’ll buy myself something. After the first season, I didn’t buy anything memorable. When the second season got picked up—I had longed for, and wanted forever, the Vivienne Westwood pirate boot. At the time, it was something like $780. It was so much money. It was insane. That’s still a lot of money now. But a boot like that today would be about $4,000. Kate Moss had worn it in multiple pictures, and she was all over my wall. They had to measure your foot and draw an outline of your foot in the store. And then I had to wait for them. It was months, and I couldn’t wait, and I still have them.

“And I will tell you that a gentleman was in my closet and he was like, What are those? Some sort of antique army boot? I said, No, it’s the pirate boot. He was like, ha ha ha ha. And I was like, Oh, sir, you and I will never walk out. Oh, sir, you have failed.

“I still have them. They’re so beat up and, like, they’re treasures.”

Christian Louboutin Follies Strass Red Sole Pumps

“I love a high heel so much. Like, I love a stiletto. I was a So Kate girl. You know what I mean? They give such a beautiful leg. And genuinely, for a while, it was a comfortable shoe for me. I actually could wear it. When I was I think 28, I bought a version of the So Kate that was a white pump that was all crystal on the outside. Like, sparkly. And I decided that was my wedding shoe. So I bought three pairs of them. I still have all three pairs. I have no wedding plans. I still haven’t gotten married.”

Bottega Veneta Puddle Boot

“The Bottega Veneta puddle boot. I have five pairs of those. I love a big shoe. The real of it is, I have very long femurs, which is the bone that goes from your knee to your hip. It’s the reason I was a really good runner. And so my knee to ankle, I feel, is a bit short and uses a lift really well. I am ridiculous, but I know that about myself. The puddle comes in all these glorious colors. They look like candy. So I have yellow, fluorescent green, brown, black, and white.”

Balenciaga Off-White Triple S Sneakers

“Do you remember when Balenciaga came out with the Triple S? That chunky sneaker? And everyone was like, this is the most ridiculous shoe. I was the first person to buy it. I mean, that’s not true, but I was like, bring it on. I might have about 12 Balenciaga sneakers.”

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Alaïa Open Fringe Leather Belt

“There is a belt that I can’t seem to get from Alaïa. I can’t find a size 40 or 42. I might have to covet it forever.”

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Alaïa Asymmetric Georgette Wide-Leg Pants

“I bought the Azzedine Alaïa nylon balloon pants with the ruching.”

Alaïa Cropped Turtleneck T-shirt

“Oh, I also bought an Azzedine Alaïa black cotton poplin cropped blouse with snaps at the back. It has a little mock collar and a half dolman sleeve. It’s really great looking. And you know, I can—I still happily show my upper, upper, upper, upper, very upper part of my stomach. Below the belly button, we just keep that for friends.”

Leah Chernikoff is the former digital director of ELLE.