Mary J. Blige's Favorite Fashion Accessory: Designer Sunglasses

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Mary J. Blige is famous for her voice, but the nine-time Grammy Award winner has another passion—sunglasses. “I have probably 1000 pairs of sunglasses,” Blige said at the Annual Gotham Magazine Gala on Thursday. “If you look back at my history you’ll see me with glasses, lots of shades from Chanel to Christian Dior to Gucci.” The singer recently debuted a new line of eyewear called Melodies by MJB, which she is promoting while on tour. “Sunglasses are an extension of me, just like the fragrance I did is an extension of me,” she says. “I only do things that I know, that I’ve done for years.” And though the singer loves shades, she doesn’t want any for the holidays. “I don’t want anybody to give me gifts,” Blige says. “I’m really not gonna be big on gifts this year. I’m gonna give gifts, but … it’s a hard time to try to get something out of people right now.” — Nadine Shabeeb