Rihanna’s Trend Setting Moments

Red hair and African prints

Ahead of  covering V Festival this weekend where key trends will no doubt be prevalent, I felt it was necessary to discuss one of the biggest style icons in the world, Rihanna.
The 23 year old will be performing at the festival and I cannot wait to see whether she wears concert costume or laid back festival attire.
Rihanna pushes the boundaries of fashion to whole new levels. She keeps us on our toes and we never know where she will go next. She transgressed from caramel locks at the beginning of her career six years ago, to a brave blonde mohawk with shaven sides in 2008. Today she sports a rainbow red that has girls all over the world rushing to the hairdressers for.
So why does she get away with just about anything? First and foremost the star is confident. I believe you can carry almost anything off with confidence. In March 2011 American Chronicle writer Arturo Tora termed her a “Rihannaissance Woman.” Off course it is a bonus to be pretty with seductive green eyes.
Let’s go back to the beginning of Rihanna’s fashion story.
In 2005 Rihanna arrived on the scene with this sweet girl look for her debut single Pon Da Replay. She wore baggy jeans falling from the hip with a simple vest top. She says management played a big role here. Nice but not cutting edge.

Pon Da Replay

The good girl look didn’t last, by the second album A Girl Like Me in 2006, she started to change. Her sultry locks dropped against more feminine dresses   for her singles Unfaithful and SOS.

A little more feminine

But, despite a couple of number ones under her belt, it wasn’t until 2007 that she really became known to the world as a trend setter with her super hit single Umbrella. It was that jet black graduated bob that set it off, something I don’t think hairstylists experienced since the “Rachel Hairdo” in the late 90s. The clue to her image revamp was in her album’s name, Good Girl Gone Bad.

Umbrella, Good Girl Gone Bad

She said in an interview that she found certain restrictions were stopping her from being herself and having fun. So it appeared the singer had an outburst starting with fashion. It’s no myth that what we wear is an expression of our individuality and any woman knows when you want to make a statement, you start with your hair. In 2008 she released Disturbia donning her daring new mohawk. For me this was a real turning point in terms of setting trends and her confidence had also seeped into her wardrobe. It had gone from black to blonde to red. It was fashion fabulous.

Rock chic leather mahem

Her character is constantly evolving with her music just like it did for Madonna and how it is now for Lady Gaga. It’s more than just the music, it’s a whole package , a brand. Since her album Rated R, we have seen her style change twice to three times a year, that’s pretty unique. Either that or she is living up to the world’s expectations of her.

Today, with her album Loud, she has a hot red hairdo in an array of styles.

Stunning red ringlets with a blood red chiffon dress

Rihanna has an edgy tone with a glamour meets rock twist, but she definitely can’t be put into a box. She is working hard to maintain her element of surprise.
Here are some of the performer’s other fantastic fashion choices. Enjoy and let me know if you think you can predict what she will wear at the festival.

Never afraid of clashing colours and patterns, her confidence makes it work

All in black with leather leggings, boots and a touch of red – nice

Love this, mustard yellow blazer with an animal print underlay, sexy rock

Stephane Rolland’s ivory cream number, the star can do glamourous too

Showing off those lovely long legs

Chilled in jeans, glasses and red lipstick. Oh and look at those starry boots

Always working the blazer with funky footwear

Hot RED in her video S & M

Strapless number with lots of chains, another signature piece for Rihanna – there’s that blonde

Wow this sweeping hairstyle framing her oval shaped face, finished with a fuchsia pink lipstick is one sexy look

Party like a rockstar

Stunning red ringlets with a blood red chiffon dress

Corsets show off Rihanna’s bone structure and accentuate her figure

Back to her roots in true carnival style, Barbados 2011

Umbrella, Good Girl Gone Bad

A little more feminine

Pon Da Replay

Rock chic leather mahem

Riahanna with red hair and African prints

 

 

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