Before Zendaya claimed the title of “Fashion Icon” at the CFDA Awards in 2021, before Doja Cat, Bella Hadid, or Julia Fox shook up the street style scene at every fashion week, all those crowns belonged to Rihanna.

If you only know Rihanna’s fame through photos of her strolling the streets in remarkable outfits and her baby bump, stepping out of a concert, a prestigious red carpet with her fiancé A$AP Rocky, or her sensational performance at the Super Bowl 2023, perhaps you haven’t fully grasped the “diamond” that Barbados has to offer. Since the two-time mother decided to temporarily pause her music career at its peak to conquer another peak of fame in the beauty world with the launch of Fenty Beauty, fans have been incessantly lamenting and longing for her return. Although she no longer appears in the media to promote albums, Rihanna and her fashion choices remain a hot topic of discussion in the entertainment and fashion industry.

Why is she always fashionably late to the most prestigious fashion shows and red carpets like the Met Gala, yet Rihanna is the most enthusiastically welcomed name? Perhaps it’s due to her significant contributions to the fashion world, from being the “muse” of famous designers to a bona fide “It-girl” or “trendsetter.” One of her contributions is her ability to captivate everyone’s attention, whether it be her fans or the flashing cameras eagerly capturing Rihanna’s every move at fashion week in 2014. The CFDA’s “Fashion Icon” award in the same year was a testament to her credibility. Looking back at Rihanna’s fashion game, the singer truly gave it her all. However, Rihanna isn’t just a rule-abiding player; instead, she creates a new game and sets her own rules for the fashion industry.

From the legendary “naked dress” to her bold and seductive interpretations of classic Chanel tweed, the sheer outfits of 2014 accurately echoed Rihanna’s straightforward acceptance speech at the CFDA Awards that year: “She can beat me, but she can’t beat my outfit.” Lanvin, Christian Dior, Comme des Garçons, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, and even Chanel—all of these iconic brands had Rihanna gracing their front rows, making the fashion weeks of that year more vibrant and exciting than ever. Not only on the red carpet but also in renowned fashion shows, Rihanna’s name gained more weight in the fashion race as she was invited by numerous famous brands to participate in their advertising campaigns. Rihanna became the face of Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaigns. In an interview with the media, Olivier Rousteing (Creative Director of Balmain) once compared Rihanna’s significance to his own life. Prior to that, Rihanna also collaborated with River Island on two fashion collections and partnered with makeup brand MAC to create a line of lipsticks bearing her unique imprint.

In the fashion landscape at that time, Rihanna—a rising fashion icon—had to compete with many other uniquely styled stars of the era, with Lady Gaga being a prominent example. While Lady Gaga made waves in the fashion world with her abstract and highly artistic appearances, Rihanna presented fashion in a more practical but still distinctive and individualistic way. And the person behind the scenes who helped Rihanna not fall short on any comparison scale was her long-time stylist, Mel Ottenberg, along with the assistance of designer Adam Selman. Before becoming the most famous stylist-star duo in the fashion industry, Mel Ottenberg had already polished Rihanna’s image with a stylish wardrobe during her “Loud” tour in 2011. At that time, every girl and fashion enthusiast went crazy for the singer. With years of experience working with major fashion magazines and renowned fashion shows, Mel Ottenberg elevated an “Island girl” from a remote island to a “Bad Gal Riri,” transforming her from a “Beyoncé copycat” into a one-of-a-kind Rihanna. Mel Ottenberg not only helped Rihanna maintain a polished image in front of the public with expensive outfits but also co-created fashion stories that were rarely told in the fashion industry. It was an intriguing blend of fashion, creativity, art, beauty, and music—a collaboration between a transformative “sorceress” and an endlessly experimenting beauty enthusiast.

Despite the increasingly crowded fashion race with the participation of reputable contenders like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Doja Cat, and Julia Fox, who caused a frenzy with her nylon dress, the legend of “looking beautiful even in just a nylon bag” about Rihanna continues to resonate strongly in the fashion world. The image of Rihanna in 2014 remains an interesting story in both the past and present, serving as a credible evidence for her timeless status as a fashion icon.

Before Zendaya claimed the title of “Fashion Icon” at the CFDA Awards in 2021, before Doja Cat, Bella Hadid, or Julia Fox shook up the street style scene at every fashion week, all those crowns belonged to Rihanna.

If you only know Rihanna’s fame through photos of her strolling the streets in remarkable outfits and her baby bump, stepping out of a concert, a prestigious red carpet with her fiancé A$AP Rocky, or her sensational performance at the Super Bowl 2023, perhaps you haven’t fully grasped the “diamond” that Barbados has to offer. Since the two-time mother decided to temporarily pause her music career at its peak to conquer another peak of fame in the beauty world with the launch of Fenty Beauty, fans have been incessantly lamenting and longing for her return. Although she no longer appears in the media to promote albums, Rihanna and her fashion choices remain a hot topic of discussion in the entertainment and fashion industry.

Why is she always fashionably late to the most prestigious fashion shows and red carpets like the Met Gala, yet Rihanna is the most enthusiastically welcomed name? Perhaps it’s due to her significant contributions to the fashion world, from being the “muse” of famous designers to a bona fide “It-girl” or “trendsetter.” One of her contributions is her ability to captivate everyone’s attention, whether it be her fans or the flashing cameras eagerly capturing Rihanna’s every move at fashion week in 2014. The CFDA’s “Fashion Icon” award in the same year was a testament to her credibility. Looking back at Rihanna’s fashion game, the singer truly gave it her all. However, Rihanna isn’t just a rule-abiding player; instead, she creates a new game and sets her own rules for the fashion industry.

From the legendary “naked dress” to her bold and seductive interpretations of classic Chanel tweed, the sheer outfits of 2014 accurately echoed Rihanna’s straightforward acceptance speech at the CFDA Awards that year: “She can beat me, but she can’t beat my outfit.” Lanvin, Christian Dior, Comme des Garçons, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, and even Chanel—all of these iconic brands had Rihanna gracing their front rows, making the fashion weeks of that year more vibrant and exciting than ever. Not only on the red carpet but also in renowned fashion shows, Rihanna’s name gained more weight in the fashion race as she was invited by numerous famous brands to participate in their advertising campaigns. Rihanna became the face of Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2014 advertising campaigns. In an interview with the media, Olivier Rousteing (Creative Director of Balmain) once compared Rihanna’s significance to his own life. Prior to that, Rihanna also collaborated with River Island on two fashion collections and partnered with makeup brand MAC to create a line of lipsticks bearing her unique imprint.

In the fashion landscape at that time, Rihanna—a rising fashion icon—had to compete with many other uniquely styled stars of the era, with Lady Gaga being a prominent example. While Lady Gaga made waves in the fashion world with her abstract and highly artistic appearances, Rihanna presented fashion in a more practical but still distinctive and individualistic way. And the person behind the scenes who helped Rihanna not fall short on any comparison scale was her long-time stylist, Mel Ottenberg, along with the assistance of designer Adam Selman. Before becoming the most famous stylist-star duo in the fashion industry, Mel Ottenberg had already polished Rihanna’s image with a stylish wardrobe during her “Loud” tour in 2011. At that time, every girl and fashion enthusiast went crazy for the singer. With years of experience working with major fashion magazines and renowned fashion shows, Mel Ottenberg elevated an “Island girl” from a remote island to a “Bad Gal Riri,” transforming her from a “Beyoncé copycat” into a one-of-a-kind Rihanna. Mel Ottenberg not only helped Rihanna maintain a polished image in front of the public with expensive outfits but also co-created fashion stories that were rarely told in the fashion industry. It was an intriguing blend of fashion, creativity, art, beauty, and music—a collaboration between a transformative “sorceress” and an endlessly experimenting beauty enthusiast.

Despite the increasingly crowded fashion race with the participation of reputable contenders like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Doja Cat, and Julia Fox, who caused a frenzy with her nylon dress, the legend of “looking beautiful even in just a nylon bag” about Rihanna continues to resonate strongly in the fashion world. The image of Rihanna in 2014 remains an interesting story in both the past and present, serving as a credible evidence for her timeless status as a fashion icon.