Style lessons we can learn from Rihanna

Whether rocking stylish sweats or runway-ready looks, Rihanna always shines “bright like a diamond.” While she’s been on a six-year break from releasing new music, the pop phenom and Fenty Beauty mogul regularly makes headlines—and pushes the sartorial envelope—with her fashion-forward outfits. She further cemented her style icon status during her recent pregnancy, putting her own often skin-baring spin on maternity dressing.

Although the billionaire “bad gal” is known for sporting designer duds on the regular, you don’t have to have an A-lister budget to copy her adventurous sense of style. So while we cross our fingers for a new album someday, we’ll be crossing some Rihanna-inspired pieces off our shopping lists.

Wear underthings uncovered

The “Diamonds” singer is no stranger to skin-baring looks—her Savage x Fenty label’s offerings include pajama bottoms with a cutout bottom, after all. The lingerie mogul regularly makes undergarments part of her everyday outfits, whether sporting a bra as a top or completing her outfit with a touch of peekaboo lace.

While our reviewers didn’t love the membership pricing of Savage x Fenty, there are plenty of similarly size-inclusive brands selling showstopping designs sans subscription. Consider Parade pieces like the Strappy Longline Bra, a silky mesh style available in eight colors with size options for cup sizes A to F. We’ve tried the underwear company's Instagram-famous styles and love the stylish-yet-soft fabrics.

$38 at Parade

For lacy looks too cute to keep covered, try a corset top like the By Anthropologie Lace Bustier Top which comes in 11 colors in women’s sizes XS to XL. Pair it with jeans and a blazer to put a sexy spin on a classic look. Or, for a pricier piece from a brand Rihanna herself has worn, consider the Danielle Guizio Satin Lace Up Bustier Top at Revolve, which comes in black and white in women’s sizes XS to L. The celebrity-loved label has also been sported by Zendaya, Ariana Grande, and Gigi Hadid.

$68 at Anthropologie $182 at Revolve

Options on the sportier side also abound, such as the Airbrush Mesh Tank Top from Alo Yoga, an athleisure brand we’ve tested. The versatile top, available in four colors, features subtle, sheer paneling. Shop it in women’s sizes XS to L.

$74 at Alo Yoga

Rock faux fur accents

One thing’s fur sure: Rihanna loves faux fur, whether donning a fluffy coat or topping off looks with a fuzzy pink hat. For a dupe of the over-$400 Emma Brewin hat she sported on several occasions last summer, try the New Look faux fur bucket hat from ASOS. It’s sold in one size in a similar shade to Rihanna’s soft (and soft pink) style.

$26 at ASOS

Let the fur fly further with a look like the Pointelle Faux Fur Trim Cardigan, a cozy cardigan with feather accents. Shop it in black in women’s sizes XS to XL.

$89 at Urban Outfitters

Opt for oversized classics

No pants, no problem, at least according to Rihanna, who frequently sports oversized blazers and shirts, oftentimes forgoing bottoms entirely. While the large crystal-covered Alexander Wang button-up she sported this spring comes with a similarly oversized price tag, you can rock the shirt dress look for less with pieces like the ASOS double cloth oversized dress. Like Rihanna’s styles, the bright pink design is long enough that it can stand on its own.

$48 at ASOS

Accessorize your pants-optional look with the “Umbrella” singer’s go-to hat, the Embroidered Logo Baseball Cap from R13. She’s worn the laidback cap on countless occasions, including with more upscale outfits.

$125 at Nordstrom

Don hardy fabrics like leather and denim

Ri-Ri regularly adds extra edge to her outfits with leather, from business casual blazers to eye-catching leather jackets. Wear two Rihanna-inspired trends at once with the Faux-Fur Trimmed Jacket from H&M, a faux leather look complete with fake fur-adorned sleeves and collar. It comes in black and olive green in women’s sizes XXS to XL.

$43 at H&M

For a more classic piece, similar to the brown leather look she donned with sheer pants in 2021, consider the UO Jules Fur Leather Blazer. It comes in the same neutral shade that pairs with a wide range of ensembles. Shop it in brown, black, or olive in women’s sizes XS to XL.

$99 at Urban Outfitters

Another fabric Rihanna loves to “Work?” Denim. In addition to sporting a series of head-to-toe denim looks over the years, she regularly pairs her outfits with distressed jeans. While her designer denim is often upwards of $1,000 (she once even wore $15,000–plus feathered jeans), rock a similar look with the baggy, ripped Good 90s jeans from Good American. They come in women’s sizes 00 to 30 in a light blue wash. We’ve tested the brand and appreciate its quality and style.

$155 at Good American

Maternity fashion doesn’t have to mean frumpy

Rihanna and beau A$AP Rocky found love in a stylish place. When pregnant with their first child, the pop star hardly abandoned her signature style. After announcing her pregnancy with a stylish stroll in a pink puffer coat, she continued to revolutionize maternity wear, stepping out in a sheer nightgown, cut-out catsuits, and plenty of bump-baring crop tops.

Rihanna’s son, born in May 2022, can even say he’s been in Vogue already, as she posed for the fashion glossy’s cover while pregnant. The musician-turned-mogul, who said she wouldn’t be buying maternity clothes, offered a powerful style lesson inside the fashion-filled spread. "I’m hoping that we were able to redefine what’s considered ‘decent’ for pregnant women,” she told the magazine. “My body is doing incredible things right now, and I’m not going to be ashamed of that. This time should feel celebratory. Because why should you be hiding your pregnancy?”

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.