It could sound dramatic, however the Monday in January when these photographs had been launched, those of Rihanna’s child bump draped in jewels and peeking out of a neon pink 1996 Chanel puffer, felt like the primary time that the world collectively skilled pleasure in two years. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky’s being pregnant announcement got here at a time once we wanted it most, a dose of lighthearted, celebrity-fueled pleasure to brighten one of many bleakest winters in latest reminiscence.
For days, Instagram feeds had been merely an limitless stream of the similar footage of the beautiful couple, snapped by photographer Diggzy. Twitter was abuzz with hypothesis about when the infant will likely be born, whether or not it is going to be a boy or a lady, and isn’t it chilly in there, absolutely uncovered to the weather on a snowy New York Metropolis day?
Because the announcement, RiRi has continued to make headlines each week for her show-stopping maternity model. The Savage X Fenty founder’s being pregnant drip is the present that retains on giving. Anytime she arrives at an occasion or leaves a classy restaurant, these few ft of sidewalk between the door and the Uber turn into essentially the most thrilling vogue present on the town.
Each look Rihanna has worn previously month has been an unabashed celebration of being pregnant, fertility, and life. She has opted for vivid colours and glittering items that take being pregnant glow to a brand new stage.
Take, for instance, the head-to-toe diamanté Attico set she wore to a Fenty Magnificence occasion on Feb. 11. Lime inexperienced strands of sequins making up the chicly shredded high criss-crossed her child bump. On the underside, she wore ombré purple pants in the identical metallic fringe materials. Between the backless halter model of the shirt and the strappy black stilettos, the Y2K-inspired outfit may very well be transported straight from her “Pon De Replay” period.
Most notably, the “Umbrella” singer doesn't draw back from teeny tiny tops and sheer attire that put her stomach on full show. When she wears a jacket, she intentionally leaves the underside half unbuttoned. She even provides the bump equipment of its personal — gold physique chains and strings of diamonds. However actually, the bump is an adjunct in and of itself.
Certainly one of her first post-reveal appears to be like included a Fendi tie-front crop high, precariously mounted on the high of her bump and evoking Raquel Welch’s fur bikini in One Million Years BC. She paired it with a divine denim-and-leopard patchwork coat and a camouflage trucker hat. One other bump-accentuating outfit consisted of a barely-there lace-up Jean Paul Gaultier high, split-hem Attico leggings, and a cropped bomber jacket. In head-to-toe black and dripping with diamond jewellery, she lives as much as her Dangerous Gal moniker.
Simply since Jan. 31, Rihanna has merely worn too many unbelievable types to interrupt down in a single article—a peach-colored leather-based minidress, a black latex bralette underneath a lavender Muppets-esque coat, a logo-emblazoned Gucci slip, and a customized, hearth engine purple Alaïa trench coat, to call just a few. Principally, this youngster goes to come out of the womb in couture.
At this week’s Dior Autumn Winter 2022 runway present, the 34-year-old model icon arrived fashionably late in a head-turning lingerie look. She layered an ultra-sheer lace chemise over an identical bra and underwear set. A black trench positioned simply so to point out off her shoulders, a swipe of darkish lipstick, and tall black boots added a Dominatrix edge. Whether or not it was due to the impeccably styled outfit or the truth that she mouthed off to a fan who identified her tardiness (“No shit.”), Rihanna but once more managed to spark an web frenzy simply by exhibiting up.
The rationale why Rihanna has been killing the maternity vogue recreation (apart from the truth that she’s, properly, Rihanna) is that she is dressing the identical as she all the time has. Traditionally, being pregnant has tended to have the sartorial impact of rain on a parade. With some exceptions, even essentially the most fashion-inclined pregnant ladies typically abandon their babydoll attire, classic denims, and–God forbid–midriff-baring crop tops for tent-like mumus and elastic waistbands.
After all, consolation performs no small function right here, and that’s a wonderfully legitimate purpose to make wardrobe adjustments. However there's a couple of approach to be snug. For some folks, consolation is probably not sporting the softest, stretchiest pants, however feeling horny and empowered and female. Sadly, most maternity garments nonetheless ship the identical decades-old, societally bolstered message that ladies ought to conceal their altering our bodies, ideally with as a lot beige-hued material as potential.
Rihanna’s anti-maternity put on is so spectacular not solely as a result of is it a fur-trimmed center finger to the concept that a lady’s pregnant physique must be lined, however as a result of it additionally goes one step additional by exhibiting that being pregnant is horny. That it's empowering. And most significantly, that a lady doesn't have to alter who she is—or the garments that make her really feel nice—to be a mom.