Image Via : Capital FM
The highly anticipated Rihanna x Fenty collection has finally dropped and it appears it’s been hiding in plain sight all along! Yes, Riri has been wearing pieces from the collection for weeks now and we had no idea. Crowds of fashionistas, editors and journalists gathered around the shop in the Marais in Paris, an area of the city renowned for its eclectic fashion and hipster bars. Here’s a close up look at the pieces, our favorites, the flops and whether the hype has lived up to the delivery.
About The Collection
Her debut fashion collection makes history as Rihanna is the first black female to head up the first new house in decades by the LMVH group. Drawing inspiration from her immigration from Barbados to America as well as her subsequent travels to London and Paris.
Overall the collection pulled together elements of oversized tailoring, bold choices and corset construction. Rihanna wanted to create a collection that allowed women to feel strong and beautiful at the same time, which for Rihanna, meant embracing her curves and also making her waist appear smaller. It’s a breath of fresh sizing too, as sizes run up to an American size 14, a larger size range than other luxury labels under the LMVH group.
Key Pieces
Images Via : Fashionista
Japanese style denim jackets, complete with cargo pockets and top stitching details were some of the most stand out pieces, alongside powerfully bold shoulders which seemed to be the cornerstone of the collection. Flared pants with slits, a Pantone Living Coral blazer and a black blazer with corset details all stood out as core pieces of the collection too. As far as making the waist look smaller, fanny packs were used to add accessories to the collection as well as working to cinch the waist at the same time. Most pieces don’t conform to the usual hour glass figure but instead work on building volume across the shoulders in a 2019 version of power dressing. Not exactly unflattering but certainly not the idealized silhouette we’re used to seeing from ready to wear. This collection isn’t for anyone worried about making a statement or standing out from the crowd, the Rihanna x Fenty debut collection needs some strong Riri vibes in order to pull these pieces off.
The color palette is great for many skin tones and also has a timeless vibe to it even though the shapes and silhouettes are far from classic and timeless. Some pieces did have a nod towards previous decades and put a twist on classic wardrobe staples like the white shirt. This collection, Riri‘ s white shirts feature ballooning voluminous sleeves as well as menswear inspired fit.
Images Via : Fashionista
One of our most favorite outfits from the collection is a taupe/tan pant suit, belted and cinched at the waist with her signature belt/fanny pack in matching color tone. We can see this being the pant suit shape of the season that every woman will want to wear. Something about the large pointed lapels and masculine shape fit of the pants looks ultra sexy and feminist while the shoulders of the blazer jacket are broad and commanding without feeling over the top or in any way costume.
Another award for best piece of the collection has to go to a grey/white version of the shirt dress, this time complete with front hem slits and a double layered neckline. We can’t get enough of the oversized pocket flaps that fall over the sleeves and the contrast between the fitted nature of the bodice and the oversized cuffed sleeves.
There’s only one piece we aren’t truly loving and that’s a sweetheart neckline top with bishop’s sleeves and a dropped shoulder. We get where Riri was trying to go with this piece, mixing the refined style of a bishop sleeve with the streetwear style of a dropped shoulder but in reality, the idea was better than the execution. Not every piece of fashion has to be sexy but it does have to be flattering, even in an oversized way. We can’t help but think if it already doesn’t flatter the model, it’s going to look all kinds of wrong on regular non models.
Images Via : Fashionista
Price Points
Prices start at around $200 USD for the most basic pieces such as T Shirts while they sky rocket up to $1500 USD for more complex outerwear and dresses. The price points have been a source of controversy since the official drop with many fans being outraged that they’d never be able to afford a collection like that, no matter how much they want to support Rihanna or adore the designs. Rihanna stuck to her guns when confronted about it though, admitting she understood that it would only be a fraction of her fans that could afford her most high end pieces but that luxury essentially means luxury and you can’t buy luxury for only thirty dollars.
Overall, it’s hard to fault this collection (with the exception of the sweetheart blouse) and it’s far more tailored and less street style than we were expecting, a pleasant surprise.
