Skip to main content
X
Rihanna
Rihanna Stephane Feugere/WWD

Rihanna 

Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on Feb. 20, 1998, is a singer, businesswoman and fashion icon. Signed to Def Jam at 16 years old in 2004, when Jay-Z was the then-president of the record label, the Bajan talent first captivated audiences with her edgy pop-themed music, including the Grammy-winning single “Umbrella,” the ballad “Diamonds” and the hit “Don’t Stop the Music.”  

She's also long captivated fans with her style, mixing streetwear elements with high fashion. She has even collaborated with major fashion players, including Dior, Manolo Blahnik, Armani, Chopard and Puma on collections.  

She won the Fashion Icon award at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards wearing a completely sheer, sparkling Adam Selman dress covered in Swarovski crystals. That same year, she assumed the role of creative director of Puma, releasing the sub-brand Fenty x Puma a year later, which offered a platform suede creeper sneaker.  

Her power in the fashion industry hit new heights in 2019 when she announced her Fenty fashion line with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which marked the first time a Black woman headed a brand under the company. (The fashion house was paused in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic.)  

The line came two years after she debuted Fenty Beauty — one of the most successful celebrity beauty launches — which also sits within LVMH, as part of Kendo, the company's beauty incubator. 

Fenty launched at Sephora with 40 shades of Pro Filt'r foundation meant to suit a wide range of skin tones. The launch altered the landscape of the beauty industry, and prompted many brands to launch deeper complexion shades. In December 2018, Fenty Beauty won the WWD Beauty Inc Award for Digital Innovator of the Year. 

Rihanna championed inclusivity again with the 2018 launch of Savage x Fenty, a lingerie and loungewear brand that recentered the idea of intimatewear on the female gaze. Rihanna held her inaugural Savage x Fenty fashion show during New York Fashion Week in 2018, with models of all different sizes and dancers wearing sneakers. Since 2019, she has partnered with Amazon Prime Video to livestream the shows on the platform.  

In 2023, Rihanna returned to Puma as the creative director of Fenty x Puma. 

Rihanna

2017 Cannes Film Festival: Chopard and Rihanna Celebrate Hook Up in Cannes

The "Diamonds" singer attended an intimate dinner hosted by the jeweler at the Martinez hotel during the 2017…

Met Museum Responds to Celebs Smoking at the Costume Institute Gala

Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, Stella McCartney and others were pictured on social media puffing cigarettes at…

Rihanna, Miranda Kerr, Charlize Theron Turn Out for Dior Cruise 2018 Show and After Party

Nick Jonas, Jhené Aiko, Big Sean, Kate Bosworth, Dylan and Hopper Penn and Rashida Jones were among those who…

Rihanna Partners With Donna Karan, The New School’s Parsons School of Design

The collaboration will benefit Haitian artisans and the singer's Clara Lionel Foundation.

Contact High for Comme

Elbow-rubbing amongst smoke clouds at Rihanna's Met Gala after party at 1 Oak, with Leonardo DiCaprio…

Rei Kawakubo Hosts Party after Met Gala

Pharrell Williams, Caroline Kennedy and Björk were among the guests Monday night.

The 5 Biggest Lawsuits in Fashion

Fashion may seem glamorous, but it's really a business rife with legal issues and pitfalls.

These Artists’ Music Videos Impact Beauty and Style Trends, Says New Study

A new Vevo white paper suggests that music videos have a high impact on beauty and style trends.

Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Leonardo DiCaprio Party at Neon Carnival

Joan Smalls, Alexander Wang, G-Eazy, The Weeknd, Taylor Hill, Vin Diesel and Diddy also hit Neon Carnival…

Puma Says Forever 21’s Rihanna Design Knock-Offs Threaten Entire Business

The athleticwear brand is pushing hard to get alleged copies of Rihanna's Fenty shoe designs off the market.

François-Henri Pinault Exits Puma’s Board of Directors

Parent company Kering attributed to the move to a streamlining of the decision-making process.

Adele, Beyoncé Nominated for Top Artist at 2017 Billboard Music Awards

The full list of nominees is here.

Pratt Lines up ’47 for Deconstruct/Reconstruct Course, Recruits Rochambeau and Aluna Francis to Help Judge Students’ Work

Rochambeau is also creating a capsule collection with the rapper, artist and performer Yung Jake for the Made…

WWD Law Review: Puma and Fenty and Kylie and Kylee

This week's legal action saw Puma go after Forever 21 in a case involving the Fenty line, while Kylie Jenner…

EXCLUSIVE: Chopard Taps Rihanna for Collaboration

A high jewelry line codesigned by the Barbadian singer and Chopard's Caroline Scheufele will be unveiled at…