Rihanna has expertly portrayed a wide range of fantastic styles. Some could describe her as a peacock dresser, but she is also quite deliberate and planned in her personal style. Throughout that cycle, she manages to maintain her mystique, leaving her audience and supporters in a perpetual state of hunger—we are always wanting, even demanding, more.
What’s beautiful about Rihanna is that she empowers people via her clothes and style, as if we could all have the same level of confidence in how we portray ourselves to the world as she does.
She has revealed herself to be one of the most powerful fashion forces of our age, from her early fashion collaborations to being the first Black woman to design for LVMH. To commemorate this, we’ve produced a list of her most influential ensembles.
1. Gramercy Hotel 2009
Around this time, exaggerated shoulders were all the rage, and Rihanna went all out without seeming costumey or too of the moment. This costume, which has a black and white Gareth Pugh jacket with a corset-like bodice, broad shoulders, matching white gloves, a black short skirt, and Louboutin shoes, reflects that.
2. MET Gala 2009
Rihanna wore this Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo with biker gloves and platform shoes to her first MET Gala in 2009, the topic of which was “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion.” The pop star’s fondness for menswear can be seen here, as well as her blossoming pompadour. It was a risk not to wear a dress to the MET Gala. However, Rihanna’s style, paired with her hair, gave her an edge and set her apart.
3. Airport Look
Rihanna became a walking billboard for streetwear companies such as Trapstar, Crooks & Castles, Married to the Mob, Supreme, Vision Streetwear, and others in the early 2010s. That period is embodied in this outfit. She’s dressed in a Trapstar hoodie and T-shirt, as well as a personalized Opening Ceremony OC Patch Varsity Jacket and Nike Air Yeezy 2s.
