Rihanna's Technicolor Dreamcoats
Can you believe Rihanna’s only been around for a decade? Her music and her presence are an integral part of modern pop culture, and her image iconic. That doesn’t mean it’s defined, however. The Barbados-born singer’s look has been in constant flux since her first hit single “SOS.” Not so much in a Madonna-different-incarnations way, but she’s clearly a woman trying to define her personal brand style without leaving her personal brand behind.
The version of Rihanna that we have now—with three Vogue covers, a CFDA Fashion Icon Award, a starring role in a Disney movie, and a forthcoming album that appears to defy genre lines—is a Rihanna that doesn’t need to try anymore. Her throne is secure; she’s guaranteed a spot in the pantheon of great mononymous popstars alongside Madonna and Beyonce.
And while she very well can’t walk around wearing a crown and holding a scepter (actually, she could, she’s Rihanna), she’s chosen the next most important piece to become the centerpiece of her style: the royal robe. Whether it’s winter or summer, a black tie affair or a casual occasion, she is consistently seen in a coat. A once strictly utilitarian piece— am cold therefore I wear a coat—has been transformed into a signifier of power: she is there for you, but she could leave at any time. She might be wearing short shorts and a crop top, a slinky slip dress, or nothing at all under that coat—but she’ll decide if and when she’ll let you see. Draped carelessly off her shoulder, it obscures the rest of her silhouette; she chooses which parts of her body to put on display, which parts of her you can fetishize. A long minimal jacket worn over a slim shift dress means she is ready for business, a colorful fur worn over a hooded sweatshirt and jeans means she doesn’t want you to forget her acquisition power. No status bag, no designer dress, no 6” platform heels could ever transmit these same messages.
Rihanna’s coats are the ultimate vision of a woman in control.
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