20 Of Rihanna’s Most Outré Style Moments Through The Years
As far as fashion is concerned, Rihanna has always been ahead of the curve – able to dabble in trends in a genuinely fearless manner. Wackiness, in many ways, is central to her style influence.
By day, she wears tracksuit-stiletto combos, gargantuan puffer jackets, and killer thigh-high boots. By night, she’s usually in similarly casual gear when off-duty, with the added touch of some vintage jewellery or a designer coat.
Rih’s red-carpet looks command attention, too, though. In the Noughties, she rocked low-rise trousers, crop tops, and plentiful diamanté. In 2015, she made headlines with a sunshine-yellow Guo Pei gown at the Met Gala, and her 2017 Comme des Garçons dress and 2018 John Galliano headpiece similarly broke the internet.
As party season gets underway, revisit Rihanna’s most head-turning looks, below.
The fuzzy heart coat
Rih was one of the first out the gate in Saint Laurent’s fuzzy heart coat back in 2016, shown at the maison’s autumn/winter 2016 showcase.
The naked dress
Many stars have braved the naked dress – Rihanna included. She commanded attention in a sparkling Swarovski crystal-encrusted look by Adam Selman at the CFDA Awards in 2014.
The avant-garde Met look
Comme des Garçons was behind the eccentric look that she wore to the Met Gala in 2017.
That sunshine-yellow dress
The vibrant gown that Rih wore to the Met Gala in 2015 will go down in history as one of the best looks the event has ever witnessed.
Take a bow
Rihanna attended her Diamond Ball – a bash that she throws every year – wearing Alexis Mabille couture and Chopard jewels in 2018.
All-over frills
The Adam Selman gown that Rih wore to the CFDAs in 2014 is perhaps her most famous naked dress, but it wasn’t the first. In 2011, she took to the red carpet in a frilled semi-sheer gown by Jean Paul Gaultier couture.
Festival sparkle
Forget wellies: Rihanna attended Coachella in 2017 wearing a shimmering Gucci catsuit, worn underneath denim cut-offs and a tank top. Even her festival sunglasses were extra: they were decorated with myriad pearls.
The wear-anywhere dressing gown
Rihanna walked the New York streets in a Ralph Lauren dressing gown, sheer socks and slippers in 2016. Mood.
Lace sunglasses
She probably couldn’t see, but Rihanna looked chic in the lace sunglasses that she wore to an event in 2009.
Pretty in puffy pink
Rih embodied her inner princess at the Grammys in 2015, when she wore a frou frou tulle gown designed by Giambattista Valli.
Decked out in Burberry check
Rihanna put her own twist on Burberry’s heritage check pattern in 2017: she wore a cap and matching coat emblazoned with the brand’s signature Nova print.
Keeping it cool
Hoods on the red carpet? Rih says yes. She wore a look from Fenty X Puma to attend her debut autumn/winter 2016 show.
Regal Rih
John Galliano created the singer’s shimmering look for the 2018 Met.
Noughties low-risers
Rih mastered the low-rise jeans trend the first time around – wearing a white pair with an encrusted waistcoat and body jewellery to the MTV VMAs in 2005.
Double denim
Rih is a staunch supporter of the Canadian tuxedo. She took Y/Projects’s thigh-high denim boots for a spin in 2017, paired with layered denim pieces.
Head-to-toe camo
Rih is never one to do things by halves. For an outing in 2017, she sported a camo Vetements X Canada Goose parka, matching trousers and a hoodie.
Acid brights
Judging by the amount of green in Rih’s wardrobe, we can only assume that it’s one of her favourite colours. For a performance in 2015, she wore emerald pieces from Versace’s autumn/winter 2015 collection.
Smart in a tux
At the Met in 2009, Rih forewent a gown in favour of a tuxedo.
Oversized suiting – the Rih way
No one nails louche suiting quite like Rihanna. She wore a custom camel suit by Matthew Adams Dolan to the Parsons benefit in 2017.
A vision in couture
Rih picked a velvet gown from Givenchy’s autumn/winter 2019 couture collection to wear to her annual Diamond Ball in 2019.
