TLC Makes a Case for the Fine Jewelry Belt, Is Forever in Style

Let’s talk about teenage dreams. I had many. The biggest? Making out with Jonathan Taylor Thomas in my backyard and being about to sing “Pretty” with TLC because it was written FOR ME.

I didn’t get to do either of those things, and it’s probably for the best, right? As most movies prove, the reality of fulfilling your dreams is never as good as you envision it being. Right?

WRONG.

I may never have gotten to make out with J.T.T., but earlier this week, I had the insanely amazing experience of getting to hear TLC. sing “Pretty,” and three other hits in a warehouse space in London. Talk about dreams. And while I couldn’t show off my amazing vocal skills and sing with them, I did have the opportunity to speak with T-Boz and Chilli before they serenaded a truly chic crowd to celebrate Tiffany’s newest Hardwear collection.

You guys have a new album coming out June 30 and it came about it the coolest way ever. You guys raised just under $500K on Kickstarter! Can you tell me what inspired it?

T-Boz: That’s a loaded question. We’ll start with what inspired it. We haven’t made a studio album in a long time and through the years our fans have been [saying] over and over again, “Come out. Come back out. When are y’all coming back out?” It’s not like we haven’t wanted to. We were just doing other things, still working, touring, and all of that. And then when our manager told us about Kickstarter … we honestly were afraid at first. We were like, I don’t know about that. We were totally not on board.

Chilli: But you know what, when he said the word ‘freedom’? That sparked our interest. And then we did it in a fun way, because the fans were able not only to help fund the album, but to get rewards. They got to go to the movies with us, we did personalized voicemails ... We still have to do the sleepovers, which is coming. Just the fact that you’re able to do stuff like that if you’re a super fan, that’s really awesome.

T-Boz: I just think the time presented itself. Time is everything, and the right time is now, and we did it in a new and innovative way.

You guys have championed style and the ‘90s was your era. You always had your own look. How does your approach to music relate to your approach to style?

Chilli: We can’t be tamed at all. We’ve never been that kind of group. We always used to talk about how our image was as big as our sound. People [don’t] only talk about our music but they talk about our clothes, our dances ... Moving forward, it’s always pressure to figure out what is going to be that next thing that we want to do.

T-Boz: We always want to be trendsetters anyway. When you hear about fashion editors or people having TLC’s picture up in their office as [inspiration], that is awesome. When we started achieving that goal, we were like, ‘Yes, I think we’ve done it.’

Accessories are such a staple of your wardrobes. Chains, necklaces … what’s the one accessory every woman needs to own?

Chilli: Diamond studs, hands down. Tiffany’s diamond studs. Only Tiffany.

T-Boz: I feel naked without earrings. I’ll pass out twice. It feels like I’m missing a body part. Earrings, for sure.

The Tiffany Hardwear collection that we’re all celebrating is inspired by fierce femininity. It’s about rebellion and being your truest self. What’s the most rebellious thing you’ve ever done?

T-Boz: Do we have enough time?

So, what do you think about the new collection?

T-Boz: I love this. The earrings are bomb, and the chains? I love chains. I would wear [this necklace] on my pants, too. See how I wear jewelry on my pants. People don’t think of that, but you just hook it to your belt loops.

Chilli: You can wear it different ways! [Chilli begins demonstrating.] You can wear it as such, if you don’t want it to be a choker. You can show them how it can be a belt. Bam, Tiffany Hardwear can be used in different ways. If you want to hire me, I’m available on weekends.

You’re hired! Ok so anything else you want to add?

T-Boz: BUY THE ALBUM! You can even order it now, girl. You’ll get two singles right now, which is “Haters” and “Way Back.” So see, we even come with a little music right now.