Rihanna in The Archives: A Look Back at Her Evolution
If any celebrity has managed to seamlessly blend streetwear and luxury, it's Rihanna . Since her debut, she has been shaking things up and redefining the boundaries between urban culture and haute couture.
One day in Air Jordans and an oversized hoodie, the next in a sculptural dress, she embodies a free, instinctive style that's always ahead of its time. No matter the current trend, Rihanna has often mastered it before anyone else.
A look back at his stylistic evolution, where street luxury has become his favorite playground.
2005 - 2009: First steps, between pop and street influences
Before becoming a fashion icon, Rihanna still followed the trends of the time. In her early days, her style oscillated between Y2K R&B , pop inspirations and early nods to streetwear.
2005: The era of low-rise jeans and crop tops
Her early appearances were marked by colorful outfits, XXL accessories and cuts typical of the early 2000s.
2007: The “Good Girl Gone Bad” turn
Rihanna is abandoning her image as a young pop star for something sharper and more assertive. Her style follows suit: the boyish haircut makes its debut, black leather becomes a staple, and pointed ankle boots become a signature.
Streetwear subsequently began to take center stage in her wardrobe. Rihanna experimented with bomber jackets, oversized hoodies, and high-top sneakers, all while maintaining a chic and sophisticated look.
2008 - 2009: Evolution towards streetwear
Rihanna has definitively left behind her image as a demure pop star. Her style has become more assertive, with a strong hip-hop and rock influence. Oversized blazers have become staples in her wardrobe, paired with textured leathers, knee-high boots, or iconic sneakers.
While other stars opted for extravagant dresses, Rihanna arrived at the 2009 Met Gala in a black satin Dolce&Gabbana suit, oversized shoulders, leather gloves and black pumps.
2010 - 2014: Transition to Luxury Street
Between 2010 and 2014, Rihanna underwent a radical stylistic shift. Gone were the ultra-tight skinny jeans and overly sleek cuts; she adopted looser volumes and a wardrobe more inspired by streetwear.
In 2012, she was seen playing with structured silhouettes wearing a flowing printed blazer in the style of a dress, an approach that was both casual and sophisticated.
But it was especially in 2013 that she affirmed her affinity for a more raw, urban-inspired style. On the NBA sidelines, she mixed an oversized graphic t-shirt, a camouflage bucket hat, and statement jewelry. An aesthetic reminiscent of the 90s, somewhere between hip-hop and effortless chic.
Then came 2014, when the fusion of streetwear and luxury reached a new level. Rihanna paired baggy leather cargo pants with an asymmetrical top adorned with gold chains. She thus established a bolder vision of glamour, more rooted in the street.
2015 - 2017: The Fenty x Puma Era
Her wardrobe from this period was based on a precise balance between bold and relaxed style. On one hand, hoodies with extra-long sleeves worn as dresses; on the other, flowing shirts paired with baggy jeans and ultra-luxurious accessories, like her monogrammed Louis Vuitton bag. She was also one of the first to make fur-lined slides a fashion accessory in their own right.
But it's with Fenty x Puma that she truly changed the game. Her collaboration wasn't limited to just a line of sneakers; it completely shaped a universe where sportswear met the exuberance of the runway. The " Creeper ," released in 2016, became an instant phenomenon and ended up on the feet of the biggest celebrities. Rihanna even transformed the Fenty x Puma runway into a veritable playground for streetwear, showcasing oversized silhouettes, reimagined hoodies, and details inspired by retro sportswear.
Aside from fashion shows and social events, her street style continues to surprise. Rihanna alternates between ultra-structured monochrome outfits and more relaxed combinations, such as an oversized black hoodie worn with a lace mini-skirt and sandals.
This period marks a turning point: more than a fashion icon, Rihanna becomes a reference who inspires both major events and the streets.
2018 - 2020: The Era of Controlled Luxury Streetwear
From 2018 onwards, Rihanna stopped following trends, she created them. Building on the success of Fenty x Puma , she expanded her empire by launching Fenty under LVMH in 2019, becoming the first Black woman to head a luxury brand within the group. Her personal style reflects this rise: more confident, more structured, more sophisticated.
She no longer simply mixes streetwear and luxury; she makes it a way of life. She pushes oversized silhouettes to the extreme, reinterprets sportswear with couture touches, and imposes her own balance between casualness and sophistication.
The key pieces of this period? Ultra-fluid, baggy silk trousers paired with fitted tops, like her pink bodysuit and Puma x Fenty technical trousers. She proves that you can be comfortable without sacrificing visual impact. Another striking example: her oversized embroidered coat, worn with a simple Céline t-shirt, merging eccentricity and minimalism.
The contrast between functional pieces and ultra-luxurious elements became her signature. She alternated between loose cuts and refined accessories, juggling a raw style with meticulous finishes. This vision had a lasting influence on fashion, where streetwear codes became permanently integrated into the world of luxury.
2021-2023: The Golden Age of Luxury Maternity Street
While Rihanna has always been ahead of the trends, she completely redefined the codes of maternity wear in 2022. Where many would have played it discreet, she imposed an ultra-fashionable and uncompromising vision, confirming that her influence goes far beyond the catwalks and ephemeral trends.
From the moment she announced her first pregnancy in January 2022, she transformed maternity fashion into a platform for stylistic expression. Her signature look? Baggy jeans, an oversized coat, and extravagant jewelry, like her iconic open pink Chanel puffer jacket, revealing her baby bump adorned with necklaces set with precious stones. A silhouette that instantly went viral and laid the foundation for a bold and impeccably styled approach to maternity fashion.
Another fashion coup? His mix of 90s nostalgia and cutting-edge pieces. A cropped striped polo shirt in an old-school style, loose-fitting, well-worn denim, a mini Louis Vuitton bag, all accessorized with oversized sunglasses and gold jewelry. A confident return to 90s streetwear essentials, but always with his personal twist.
With this period, Rihanna proves once again that she doesn't follow trends, she sets them. Whether it's transforming pregnancy into a true fashion manifesto or pushing the boundaries of luxury streetwear, she continues to reaffirm her status as an icon, without ever losing her stylistic DNA.
2023-2025: Deconstructed luxuries and revisited codes
In February 2023, during her highly anticipated performance at Super Bowl LVII , Rihanna not only marked her return to the stage after several years' absence, but she also dramatically revealed her second pregnancy. Dressed in an all-red outfit, she paired a Loewe jumpsuit with a long, custom-made Alaïa puffer jacket, complemented by MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon Cross Low sneakers.
In 2024, her appearance at Paris Fashion Week in a head-to-toe black Dior Haute Couture look, combining a quilted jacket with a structured cap and a personalized Lady Dior bag, demonstrated Rihanna's ability to balance exuberance and precision. Every piece is carefully considered, every detail reinforces her status as a timeless icon.
But her approach to luxury isn't limited to the catwalk. On the street, she plays with unexpected elements: this look, where she combines a satin kimono, a graphic t-shirt, loose-fitting ripped jeans, and designer pumps, is a testament to that. Gucci and a small black Dior bag.
Rihanna has redefined the codes of street luxury with her own unique ease, blending boldness, nonchalance, and mastery of silhouettes. From her R&B-influenced beginnings to the ultra-stylish outfits she sports today, her stylistic evolution is a testament to her undeniable influence on contemporary fashion.
And she's not the only one to have left her mark on the history of style.
See you next week in The Archives to decipher the wardrobe of another icon.
See you next week in The Archives to decipher the wardrobe of another icon.
