Ashanti has gone through many phases when it comes to her style, and her secret weapon along the way has been her stylist, Tim B. The two first met during a 2019 editorial shoot, but their professional partnership began in earnest in 2022 when Ashanti called Tim B. two days before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“We always say it was just bound to happen, because I don’t feel like we were looking for each other. We just happened to like each other, and we just continued to work together,” Tim B. told Footwear News over a Zoom call.

Since then, Tim B. has been responsible for many of Ashanti’s notable looks, with a particular emphasis on shoes that suit her needs as a performer. The pair has created some memorable looks together, including her recent performance at the 2025 BET Awards, where she arrived in a black Alexandre Vauthier dress paired with Tom Ford‘s Padlock sandals, which have become her go-to choice for events.

“There’s no reason you need to have 1,000 pairs of strapless sandals. For what? These [Tom Ford’s Padlock sandals] are $1,200 pairs of sandals. They’re not cheap. So what, you want to wear them one time? Those things don’t matter to me. Like, yeah, you can be an artist and be a multimillionaire, but why spend money? A strappy sandal is a strappy sandal. It doesn’t make sense to buy the same shoe over and over,” the stylist said.

This practical approach is partly influenced by Ashanti’s history of foot surgery, which makes comfort a priority. “That’s what works for her. Sometimes she’s like, ‘Oh, let me go grab the Tom Ford.’ I’m like, ‘They work. What, do you want me to just be spending your money, crazy, just buying all these sandals? It doesn’t make sense to me. And I love them,’” her said.

The stylist and his muse went viral when she arrived at a party for Fat Joe in 2021 wearing a barely there blue dress that clung to her frame and the Tom Ford heels in gold. “I was kind of mad, because after all the things we’ve done, this is what goes insanely viral? This dress? And then come to find out, it was a swimsuit cover up,” he said.

Another staple in Ashanti’s wardrobe is the over-the-knee boot, particularly from designer Jennifer Le. Ashanti wore a bold pair of Jennifer Le boots for a recent ensemble, and the boots have become a signature for her on stage. Tim B. said, “People think that’s me coming in and doing all these things. But when you look back at her shows, she has had a leotard on and boots. That’s her, sexy, that’s what makes her feel comfortable. She dances on stage, so it’s just easier for the artist.”

The comfort and durability of these boots are key, especially since Ashanti performs in them repeatedly: “There is a pair of black knee-high boots that [Jennifer Le] gave us in the beginning, and that was in 2019. I looked at the shoes the other day, and they’re still in great shape, and Ashanti performs in these. There’s been times where she performed while it was raining, she wears them over and over, because they’re so comfortable for her.”

Ashanti’s footwear collection is broad and also includes classic Air Jordan 1s, and designer sneakers such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Her sneaker choices reflect her roots as a self-described tomboy. Tim B. said, “She loves Jordans. She loves Dunks, Jordans, Air Force 1s, and then she loves her designer sneakers, like Louis Vuitton and Chanel.” Nelly, Ashanti’s husband, often contributes to her sneaker collection, ensuring she has a variety of options.

Tim B.’s styling philosophy is to balance Ashanti’s comfort and personal style with budget considerations. He often purchases shoes rather than borrowing them, but manages costs by selecting versatile pieces that can be worn in different ways. “When I was younger, I would say you can’t wear the same thing twice. But why not? You can wear things in a different type of way. And it just shows how creative you are.”

Tim has been by Ashanti’s side for years, and through different eras of her style: from wearing a bikini on a remote island in the Caribbean to hitting the stage on tour, and now as a wife to Nelly and a mother to their son. Their close relationship has helped him create a vision for her that makes sense for where she is right now. “When I go into work with my clients, I try get to really get to know them,” he says. “You can follow certain trends, but then you adjust them to their tastes and their style.”

Ashanti was a self-proclaimed tomboy from Long Island, N.Y., before blossoming into one of R&B’s most glamorous singers. Now, with her new Peacock reality show “Nelly and Ashanti: We Belong Together,” which premiered on June 26, fans can also get a close-up look at what Ashanti’s style is like when she lets her hair down.