With this being my last post of 2017, I thought why not write about someone whose hustle and work ethic is beyond admirable, she’s drop dead gorgeous, and I’m convinced there’s nothing this woman can’t do, which inspires me beyond measure. Rihanna, BadgalRiri, or Robyn, whichever name you want to call her, has done so much in 2017 without even dropping an album. I’m honestly still playing ANTI, her eighth studio album which was released almost two years ago and her best album to date (not up for debate). I’m a Rihanna stan. I can admit that without hesitation. This year I was blessed enough to intern for one of Ri’s stylist, Mel Ottenberg. When I got asked to intern for him, I was ecstatic because he’s one of the best stylists out and he always makes sure Ri is flawless, head-to-toe. Some of her accomplishments I will talk about in this post, I happened to beyond the scenes for. Rihanna did so much this year that I wasn’t able to include it all but here are some very memorable moments.
Harvard Humanitarian Award
In February, Rihanna received Harvard’s Humanitarian Award. She’s done charity work with over twenty different organizations in Malawi with young children, in her hometown of Barbados, and much more. She looked absolutely stunning! A slicked-back ponytail is always a go-to for me; you can never, ever go wrong with that hairstyle. She wore a dress and boots from Monse’s Fall 2017 collection.
Magazine Covers
(Top to Bottom: Paper Magazine March, Harper’s Bazaar’s 150th Anniversary March, Vogue Arabia November, Vogue Paris December, Dazed & Confused, and Elle Magazine October)
Features
Visuals mean everything to me. Kendrick Lamar has mastered that because each and every video he released from his DAMN. album has been a sight to see! Seeing Rihanna’s name on the tracklist instantly had me excited to hear and see what greatness these two amazing artists would bring us. I can sing/rap Rihanna’s whole verse in Loyalty, with no pauses or breaks. It’s hands down one of my favorite songs and verses of the year. She’s just so badass, which is very regular, in this video and I love it.
You’d be lying if you said you didn’t hear this song at every single party during the summer. “Wild Thoughts” was definitely the summertime anthem. A sample, a remake of Santana’s “Maria Maria” that was executed very well. The lyrics are catchy and the video, extremely sexy! You have no choice but to whine and grind when it comes on.
This feature caught me by surprise but I was pleased when I listened. If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’m a diehard N.E.R.D. stan. Nobody compares to them in my eyes. After a seven-year hiatus, hearing “Lemon” as their first single had me excited for the album. Rihanna came with the heat on this one; giving us a side of her we don’t see, her rapping and spitting bars.
Met Gala 2017
Nobody killed the Met Gala the way Ri did! Let’s be very clear, every year a theme is given for the Met Gala and it bothers me when people don’t follow it. Have fun with it! This years theme was Comme Des Garcons and Rihanna wore a piece from Comme’s Fall 2016 collection and a pair of lace-up DSquared2 studded sandals. I was still interning for Mel Ottenberg at the time and I remember seeing this before the Gala thinking, people are going to go nuts when they see this; that’s exactly what happened. I don’t think anyone else’s outfit was talked about more than hers. As usual, she came with the fire and shut it down.
Chopard & Manolo Blahnik Collab
Rihanna had two big collaborations this year, one with Manolo Blahnik and the other with Chopard. Shoes are one of my guilty pleasures. I have boxes upon boxes of sandals, stilettos, platforms, and more in my room. Each sandal in Ri’s collaboration with Manolo was studded with beautiful jewels and gems while including very vibrant colors. Her thigh-high denim boots with a studded trim were also a part of this collection. Ri’s collaboration with Chopard was showcased while she was at Cannes. With such a variety of pieces, the jewelry is simply stunning.
Fenty Puma SS18
This Fenty x Puma SS18 collection was one of my top five favorites from NYFW. The Motorcross theme made so much sense from the runway to the actual clothing. There were so many pieces that were realistic, edgy, badass, sexy, fun, and I need it all as a part of my wardrobe. She included models of all ethnicities and body types. From the fiery oranges to olives, to vibrant purples, this collection was exactly what NYFW needed.
Fenty Beauty
I saved this for last for a reason. Let me just start by saying I’m not a huge make-up person. I’ve used foundation from BareMinerals before and loved it but when Fenty Beauty dropped back in September, I ran to the mall because of course, I had to support. I bought myself the Pro Filt’r foundation (390) and got my mom the Trophy Wife highlighter. Without any exaggerations, I probably won’t ever use another foundation again in my life. It’s so light, with a lot of coverage. Rihanna was literally able to cater to every single woman of colors skintone, which no one has been able to achieve. Trophy Wife, I ended up having to go out and get it for myself. It shines so bright and is heavily pigmented. From her Galaxy Holiday collection to her 14 shades of Mattemoiselle lipsticks that were just released the day after Christmas, Rihanna is doing the damn thing with Fenty Beauty. Women are going crazy and constantly making sure Sephora’s across the country are selling out of each product.
Seeing everything Rihanna has accomplished this year is a big inspiration and hopefully gives women, including myself, the courage to keep pushing forward and going hard for whatever it is we are passionate about. Don’t limit yourself or put yourself in a box, put yourself out there and use your creativity to its fullest potential!
