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
Five Minutes With Lady Mary Charteris: The London Transplant Shares Her L.A. Secrets
Aristocratic rocker Lady Mary Charteris on her new Los Angeles home, how it compares with London, her…
Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik Collection Crashes Brand’s Web Site
The limited-edition footwear collaboration, which launched earlier this week, has forced the project's…
The Story Behind Manolo Blahnik and Rihanna’s Newfound Friendship
The pair will introduce their much-buzzed-about collaboration at Blahnik stores in London, New York and Hong…
WWD Recommends
Rihanna Helps Drive Puma Net Up 4% in Q1
The German sporting-goods maker grew in all regions and categories, most notably footwear, with total sales…
Rihanna Sandal Designs for Puma to Be Released Friday
The Fenty fur slide will retail for $80.
Rihanna Surprises Coachella — and Taylor Swift — With Performance
Rihanna made a surprise appearance during Calvin Harris' Coachella performance, as documented by Taylor…
Celebs’ New Beauty Push: Color Cosmetics
Victoria Beckham and Rihanna signed deals with Estée Lauder and LVMH's Kendo, respectively, to launch makeup…
Neon Carnival Brings Out Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry at Coachella 2016
Levi's Neon Carnival attracts a slew of celebs including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Leonardo…
Thierry Lasry to Open Paris Flagship
The 540-square-foot space is located in the Paris neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
LVMH Signs Rihanna to Create a Makeup Brand
Kendo division to launch a Rihanna brand in the fall of 2017.
Rihanna Documentary is in the Works From Peter Berg
Rihanna is coming to the screen: the superstar will be the subject of a documentary directed by her…
The Weeknd Drops Out of Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ Tour
The Weeknd has announced he is pulling out of Rihanna's "Anti" European tour.
Rihanna & Manolo Blahnik <em>Sing the Blues</em> in Their First Collaboration
Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik are redefining what it means to be a rhinestone cowboy. The duo collaborated on…
Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik Put an Opulent Spin on Denim
Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik are redefining what it means to be a rhinestone cowboy. The duo collaborated on…
What a Pair: Manolo Blahnik, Rihanna Team on Shoe Collection
Denim-driven collection will debut on May 5.