Rihanna Channels The Last Empress In a Gorgeous Gold Coat at the Met Gala

We know how much Rihanna loves to make an entrance. Let’s just take a moment to reflect: There was that totally sheer, Swarovski crystal coated number she wore to collect her Fashion Icon award at last year’s CFDA awards; the pink voluminous Giambattista Valli couture dress that took up the entire red carpet at the Grammys, and pretty much every outfit she’s worn between, before, and after said events. So for fashion’s version of the Oscars (aka the Met Ball), of course she was going to upstage the hoi polloi.

The fashion chameleon stayed on theme, choosing to wear a golden yellow cape by a Chinese designer over a custom Stella McCartney bustier and Cartier diamonds and emeralds for her arrival. Gou Pei, considered the Alexander McQueen of China for her elaborate creations, made the elaborate cape. Its color holds significant meaning in China; the earth tone is considered good luck and was the official color of the emperor in Imperial China (in fact, only the emperor was allowed to wear yellow). Guo’s clothes have been considered to rival those of the Paris couturiers, and tomorrow she’ll release a special limited-edition collaboration with M.A.C Cosmetics.

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It took three people to fluff Rihanna’s gilded cape for the perfect photo op. Good thing she was the last to arrive. Long live Emperor Rihanna!

More from Yahoo! Style:
Rihanna’s Stylist Had to “Stalk PR” for That Dress
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