Rihanna is considered one of the most vanguard artists of recent years, daring to go avant-garde on the red carpet at the Met Gala while others like A-listers play safely with dresses. prom and put their money where their mouth is. When it comes to providing more options for women of color, through its brand Fenty Beauty.
However, for almost 15 years, we have seen Rihanna in the spotlight – originally as one of Jay-Z’s muses – we have seen her grow in her music and sense of style. Going from a laid-back island girl to the daring fashion phenomenon we know and love today didn’t happen overnight! With her street styles and red carpet looks, Rihanna has become her own brand of beauty icons.
20. Is it an explosion of the past?
A 2005 Rihanna at an event for Teen People! The late magazine was the hottest in teenage pop culture, and Rihanna, a young airwoman, fitted in perfectly with this laid-back look. The boyfriend jeans, the Converse sneakers, the belly chain and the halter top were all very long.
19. This beehive look: 2005
Here we have Rihanna’s debut in pop hip hop on the red carpet, but that’s pretty much the woman’s only hint of what she would become. For the 2005 World Music Awards, the singer played with neutral makeup, a simple ponytail and this doubly shiny bohemian dress.
18. This elegant bob: 2007
Okay, we have a little taste of the iconic style in in preparation, thanks to this edgy bob that showed Rihanna how to get a little fierce with her beauty look.
Roberto Cavalli’s green, backless dress for the 2007 Grammys was a sharp look that made the Caribbean singer appear on many of the event’s “best dressed” lists.
17. This big bang: 2007
Rihanna seemed much more willing to play with her hair and makeup before embarking on fashion, as we can see here in that fuchsia lip and that blunt bob with bangs.
The rest of the Dolce & Gabbana look is pretty basic, though, although we appreciate the subtle nod to “bad girl Riri” thanks to the details.
16. This street style: 2008
Dressing is conducive to attending an event like the Kid’s Choice Awards, which is why Rihanna opted for a more relaxed – albeit still edgy – look for the day in 2008.
The ruffled pixie cut was a great match for the polka dot H&M. Corset top and Stella McCartney jeans, giving the singer a “cool older sister” atmosphere.
15. These puffed sleeves: 2009
The look of the 2009 Met Gala seen here was the start of Rihanna’s reign over the avant-garde event.
The theme was “The model as a muse: embodying fashion”, and Rihanna defied convention by opting for this Dolce & Gabbana costume with baggy shoulders over a more traditional dress. Fashion critics were divided, but a style icon was born.
14. This laser cut look: 2009
The half-shaved head, the winged red eyeliner and the laser-cut Marchesa dress all made up a must-see outfit when Rihanna walked the red carpet for the 2009 American Music Awards .
The look was structural and complex, and few could have held the look as well as she did.
13. These wings: 2010
Another sculptural and structural look of the singer came in the form of this Alexandre Vauthier jumpsuit that Rihanna wore at the 2010 Echo Awards.
The look was extravagant and avant-garde and not to everyone’s taste, especially when paired with the blunt copper fringe and matching green eye. But we doubt that Rihanna cares what others think!
12. This holiday look: 2010
Equally sweet and sassy, Rihanna was shaking her red locks for the next two years – which is perfect, considering the wonderful way they complimented this outfit she wore at a Christmas event in 2010.
The corset – the mini-dress topped and the hair accessorized by a bandana were fun and relaxed, but with all the attitude that the singer usually embodies.
11. This striped combo: 2011
When Rihanna finds a trend she likes, she often sticks to it for a while, and she was definitely a fan of the sheer dress for a few years in the early 2010s!
For the 2011 Grammys, Rihanna put on this Jean Paul Gauthier look which alternated sparkling white layers with transparent panels. She also lightened red hair.
10. This pin-up look: 2011
“Bad girl Riri” indeed! For a 2011 performance on Today, Rihanna showed a lot of attitude and a little skin. These high waisted booty shorts and crop top set were definitely daring for daytime television, but they are perfect for the sassy singer.
When paired with fishnet tights and a victory hairstyle, we have an icon.
9. This Emerald List: 2012
For some artists, a new blonde hairstyle and minimal makeup can wash them, but on Rihanna, the look simply leaves her radiant.
During London Fashion Week in 2012, the singer rocked this emerald dress by Armani and paired it with golden accessories for a luxurious and perfect look for London.
8. The combination of pajamas: 2012
A little more experimental with her style, Rihanna was comfortable and relaxed for the Tokyo premiere of her film Battleship in 2012. The Pucci print was strong and daring and not for the faint of heart.
While other less adventurous celebrities may have stuck on an elegant dress for the evening, Rihanna opted for a defeated polish.
7. This dress embellishes with crystals: 2014
When we attend the CFDA Fashion Awards, we should be a little more daring – and none was as daring as Rihanna!
The singer appeared in her most cheeky look of all time: a personalized Adam Selman fishnet dress with gloves and a matching scarf, all embellished with a total of 216,000 Swarovski crystals. A fur stole provided the singer with minimal cover.
6. This loofah shower: 2015
Over time, Rihanna has opted for brighter colors and more extravagant silhouettes in her fashions. One such example was this bright pink Giambattista Valli Couture confection for the 2015 Grammys.
While Harper’s Bazaar called the look an “empire-cut tulle dream,” E! News called it “cupcake couture” – and not favorably.
5. This cape: 2015
Another Met Gala look, Rihanna made waves of fashion when she arrived on the red carpet in this stunning yellow cape from designer Guo Pei.
The outfit took two years to create and, due to its massive size, made sure that the singer had all the lenses of the photographers on her – and no one in her immediate vicinity could hinder the shooting.
4. This giant heart: 2016
As we’ve seen throughout this style development, Rihanna takes more fashion risks than most. One such example was a daily street look for the star, who rocked this plush jacket on the way to a party at the 1Oak nightclub in New York.
The Saint Laurent fox fur design costs $ 22,000, according to the Huffington Post.
2. This set for the Pope: 2018
The last Met Gala look we had to mention comes from 2018, where Rihanna perfectly embodied the theme of the night, “Celestial bodies: fashion and Catholic imagination”.
The look was a royal nod to the pope, thanks to the OTT John Galliano suit and the sparkling Judith Lieber clutch. No one has a killer look like our RiRi!
1. This pink handkerchief: 2019
Rihanna’s new, more complete figure has led the Internet to endearingly call Barbadian beauty “Thiccanna” and we can see exactly what that means in this look of her own creation, worn this year.
The pink drawstring dress is part of her own Fenty fashion line, proving that she creates to her tastes – and nothing else.
