Rihanna is a fashion icon. She broadened the scope of inclusive in fashion with her Savage x Fenty brand and made history as LVMH’s first Black woman designer in 2019, to name a few of her groundbreaking contributions to fashion. Her career is worthy of every accolade, but her style is more personal. It represents the 35-year-old Barbadian musician’s ability to break convention with her wardrobe, and convey empowering and freeing messages through her clothing.
She upgraded the naked-dress trend in Adam Selman at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards, where she was recognized as fashion icon award winner. When she wore a strategically unbuttoned pink Chanel puffer coat to announce her first pregnancy with partner A$AP Rocky, she changed the way we think of maternity fashion, making it feel sexier and bolder than ever before. What’s most exciting about Rihanna’s style is that she’s a rule breaker. She rarely subscribes to traditional modes of thinking when it comes to dressing, pairing heart-shaped fox fur coats with shorts or slip dresses with floor-length pants.
Rihanna’s singular sense of style is fully on display at the Met Gala. One of the most exciting stars to walk the red carpet every year, the “Lift Me Up” singer shows that she is a true student of fashion by studying the theme and choosing her outfit with intention and thoughtful consideration. In 2015, she blew everyone away in a custom gold embroidered gown by Guo Pei for the Met Gala’s “China: Through The Looking Glass” theme. When she chaired the ball in 2018, she nailed the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” theme in a custom John Galliano dress replete with a hat to resemble the Pope.
While she works with renowned stylist Jahleel Weaver to dream up many of her outfits, there is no denying Rihanna’s input as both a collaborator and artist. And her résumé reflects her prowess: in the past, she was named creative director of Puma in 2014; fronted campaigns for Armani, Balmain, and Dior; and developed collections with Manolo Blahnik, Chopard, and Amina Muaddi.
Ahead, scroll through time and count down Rihanna’s best fashion moments to date.
Getty | Jackson LeeRihanna in New York City, 2023
Wearing a Dries van Noten coat and a Bottega Veneta oversize clutch.
Getty | Raymond HallRihanna at “Good Morning America,” 2015
Wearing Pascal Millet.
Getty | Raymond HallRihanna at Club Up and Down in NYC, 2016
Wearing a sheer green fringe and beaded look for the MTV VMAs afterparty.
Getty | Steve GranitzRihanna at the 2017 Grammys
Wearing an orange Armani Privé crop top complete with a full, ruffled skirt in moody black.
Getty | Robert KamauRihanna in NYC, 2016
Wearing a Versace dress and Stella McCartney platforms.
Getty | D DipasupilRihanna at the 2016 MTV VMAs
Wearing Alexandre Vaulthier.
Getty | Dimitrios KambourisRihanna at the 2014 CFDA Awards
Wearing a sheer Adam Selman dress covered in 230,000 Swarovski crystals.
Getty | NCP/Star MaxRihanna in NYC, 2016
Wearing a Ralph Lauren robe and slides.
Getty | Gary GershoffRihanna at the 2016 FN Achievement Awards
Wearing Vetements x Juicy Couture.
Getty | Alo CeballosRihanna in NYC, 2016
Wearing an Adam Selman dress and Stella McCartney platforms.
Getty | GVK/Bauer-GriffinRihanna at LAX, 2014
Wearing a DKNY sweatshirt dress.
Getty | NCP/Star MaxRihanna in NYC, 2015
Wearing Fleamadonna pajamas and a Fenty necklace.
Getty | Michael LoccisanoRihanna at The New York Edition, 2015
Wearing a white slip dress over black flares.
Getty | Alessio BotticelliRihanna in NYC, 2015
Wearing a Hyein Seo T-shirt, Le Specs sunglasses, and Prada boots.
Getty | NCP/Star MaxRihanna in NYC, 2015
Wearing a Raf Simons graffiti trench coat.
Getty | Axelle/Bauer-GriffinRihanna at the 2015 Met Gala
Wearing a Guo Pei robe.
Getty | Jon KopaloffRihanna at the 2014 amfAR Gala
Wearing a Tom Ford dress with nipple pasties.
Getty | Noel VasquezRihanna at a Lakers Game, 2016
Wearing a Dior anorak, Citizens of Humanity jeans, and Dior bag.
Getty | thecelebrityfinder/Bauer-GriffinRihanna in LA, 2023
Wearing a cropped Loewe polo, Agolde jeans, Gucci sunglasses, Louis Vuitton bag, Timberland boots, and jewelry from Y/Project, Le Vian, Popular Jewelry, and Annoushka.
Getty | Kevin MazurRihanna at the 2023 Oscars
Wearing an Alaïa dress with Moussaieff Jewellers earrings and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.
Getty | ABCRihanna Performing “Lift Me Up” at the 2023 Oscars
Wearing a Maison Margiela by John Galliano outfit with De Beers jewelry.
Getty | Robert GauthierRihanna Backstage at the 2023 Oscars
Wearing a Bottega Veneta look with Area x Sergio Rossi strappy sandals and a Briony Raymond anklet.
Getty | Kevin MazurRihanna Performing at the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show
Wearing a Loewe utility jumpsuit with MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon sneakers, earrings from Messika, and a timepiece from Jacob & Co.
Getty | Axelle/Bauer-GriffinRihanna at the 2022 “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever” Premiere
Wearing a Rick Owens dress, custom Giuseppe Zanotti mules, and Reza jewelry.
Getty | Rich FuryRihanna at a Fenty Beauty Event in LA, 2022
Wearing an Attico set with Chopard earrings, a Verdura bracelet, and Manolo Blahnik sandals.
Getty | Vittorio Zunino CelottoRihanna at the Fall 2022 Gucci Show During Milan Fashion Week
Wearing a Gucci look with a Briony Raymond cross-pendant necklace and Amina Muaddi shoes.
Getty | Pierre SuuRihanna at a Fenty Event in Bergdorf Goodman, 2020
Wearing Fenty.
Getty | Arnold JerockiRihanna at a Gucci Afterparty During Milan Fashion Week, 2022
Wearing a vintage Gucci dress, Lang Antique necklaces, and a Gucci bag.
Getty | Jackson LeeRihanna at Kappo Masa in NYC, 2019
Wearing a beige oversize blazer over a champagne slip skirt.
Getty | Kevin MazurRihanna Celebrating Fenty Beauty at Ulta in LA, 2022
Wearing a Coperni top and sequined maxi skirt with a diamond Messika bodychain and Repossi hoops.
Getty | Han Myung-GuRihanna in Seoul, 2019
Wearing Jacquemus.
Getty | ANGELA WEISSRihanna at a Fenty Beauty Event at Sephora in Brooklyn, 2018
Wearing Calvin Klein.
Getty | Don ArnoldRihanna at a Fenty Beauty Anniversary Event in Australia, 2018
Wearing an Atelier Versace minidress with Christian Louboutin shoes and a Mark Cross bag.
Getty | ANGELA WEISSRihanna at the 2018 Diamond Ball in NYC
Wearing an Alexis Mabille jumpsuit with Chopard jewelry.
Getty | Jeff SpicerRihanna at the 2018 “Oceans 8” UK Premiere
Wearing a Poiret dress with Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, a Christian Louboutin clutch, Konstantino earrings, and rings from Eleuteri and Harry Kotlar.
Getty | Vanni BassettiRihanna at the Spring 2017 Dior Show During Paris Fashion Week
Wearing Dior.
Getty | George PimentelRihanna at the 2018 Met Gala
Wearing Margiela with Christian Louboutin heels.
Getty | GothamRihanna in NYC, 2017
Wearing Tom Ford.
Getty | Raymond HallRihanna in NYC, 2017
Wearing an oversize Gucci waist bag.
Getty | GothamRihanna in NYC, 2017
Wearing Fenty x Puma.
Getty | Marc PiaseckiRihanna in NYC, 2017
Wearing Y/Project.
Getty | Robert KamauRihanna in NYC, 2016
Wearing Saint Laurent.
Getty | Robert KamauRihanna in NYC, 2017
Wearing a Prada look and Gucci sunglasses.
Getty | James DevaneyRihanna in New York City, 2015
Wearing an LBD with strappy stiletto heels that wrapped up the thigh.
Getty | Raymond HallRihanna in NYC, 2015
Wearing a Marni dress, Versace choker, Fenty necklace, and Chanel loafers.
Getty | Niki NikolovaRihanna in London, 2013
Wearing Adidas Originals x Opening Ceremony.
Getty | Michel DufourRihanna at the Fall 2014 Chanel Show During Paris Fashion Week
Wearing Chanel.
Getty | James DevaneyRihanna in NYC, 2013
Wearing Balmain.
Getty | Niki NikolovaRihanna in London, 2010
Wearing a “She Died of Perfection” graphic T-shirt under a Stella McCartney jacket with a tulle skirt and Marni pumps.
Getty | George PimentelRihanna at JAY-Z’s Roc La Familia T-Dot Takeover, 2005
Wearing a blue cropped hoodie and white track pants.
Getty | Dominique CharriauRihanna at the Fall 2013 Chanel Haute Couture Show
Wearing Chanel.
Getty | Neil MockfordRihanna in London, 2012
Wearing Stella McCartney.
Getty | SAVRihanna in London, 2012
Wearing a Joyrich sweater dress.
Getty | Mike MarslandRihanna at Westfield Stratford City in London, 2012
Wearing an Acne striped set under a Raf Simons coat.
Getty | Alex MossRihanna in London, 2012
Wearing a prep-punk outfit with a plaid varsity jacket.
Getty | Jon KopaloffRihanna at the 2012 Roc Nation Pre-Grammy Brunch
Wearing Bottega Veneta.
Getty | Alberto E. RodriguezRihanna at CinemaCon, 2023
Wearing Y/Project fall 2023 and jewelry from Jacob & Co and Bayco.