Mary J. Blige — and Her Credit Card — Were Once Rejected by Boutique Cashier: 'Didn't Want to Take Our Money'

Mar. 15, 2025

Mary J. Blige in 2023.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

In the new docuseriesIn Vogue: The 90s, Blige, 53, and stylistMisa Hyltonrecall a jaw-dropping experience that unfolded in a shopping boutique back in the early ’90s when they were both starting out.

“Mary J Blige is the first artist I ever styled,” Hylton says in episode 5, which is titled “Hip Hop Takes Fashion.” “When we met, we automatically got each other, We understood each other. We loved the same fashion. We loved hip hop. We loved style. So at this time, the early ’90s, we were making money, and we were able to shop and able to buy things that are more expensive and more luxury.”

Blige adds: “I’ve been in a lot of stores with Misa. We were shopping so much because we never had a lot. Once we were able to shop and get the things we wanted, we were blowing our credit cards to smithereens.”

Mary J. Blige in the ’90s.Anthony Barboza/Getty

Anthony Barboza/Getty

Unfortunately, for the then rising queen of Hip-Hop R&B and her stylist, having a lot of money didn’t always mean having immediate access to the finer things.

“We went to a boutique and we were shopping,” Hylton continues. “When it’s time to pay, the sales associate keeps telling us. ‘The card’s declining.’ They keep trying.”

“We call the credit card company. The card’s not declining. It’s actually not even being rung. Like, ‘Oh, okay. You don’t want us to buy these items.’ It’s because we were young and we were Black, and they could not figure out how we were spending this much money. They didn’t even realize who Mary J. Blige was yet, and so you see how luxury fashion brands didn’t really value us or didn’t respect us. They didn’t see their brands on us.”

Mary J. Blige and Misa Hylton in 2019.Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Blige, who has since gone on to sell millions of records and winnine Grammys, sums up the incident succinctly. “They were rejecting us,” she says, adding. “They were treating us like little street kids. They didn’t want to — they probably didn’t want to take our business. They weren’t treating us the way they treat us now. Absolutely not.”

“It took a lot to be able to get intoVogue, Elliott says. “The strength of showing three Black women in this particular article — that was a huge deal.”

In Vogue: The ‘90sis now streaming on Hulu.

source: people.com