Boss Lady

Pop star Rihanna celebrates fearlessness, confidence and inclusivity. And now, she’s charting a new path with her very own clothing line that’s bound to shake things up.

On the final night of New York Fashion Week, last September, after a 90-minute-late Marc Jacobs show at the Park Avenue Armory (normally the finale of the week), when a lot of editors had hot-footed it to JFK, the only place I wanted to go was back to my hotel. But there was an underwear presentation that I hauled myself to, in the name of a story for Grazia. The panties better be worth it, I thought, on the way to Brooklyn Navy Yard.

It was Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty debut. And, yes, the trek was worth it. At the Garden of Eden-themed show, any thoughts of my pillow disappeared among the uplifting, invigorating energy of seeing models of all shapes and sizes, including a nine-month pregnant Slick Woods, grooving like goddesses in silky robes, leopard-print pants and sheer bodysuits. A lingerie show can usually be a guaranteed way to make the ‘real’ woman feel bad about her body, but this felt like a celebration of our bodies in all their wildly different glory. There were actual jiggling boobs. And, tummies with rolls. And arms with muscles. The message was “You’re gorgeous as you are. Come in, girl. Have fun. Everyone’s welcome.” It was less a breath of fresh air, more a gale-force wind.

So, it comes as no surprise to me that Rihanna has ‘conquering the fashion world’ in her sights. She’s now making her play for a position as one of the most powerful women in fashion when, in Paris, she gave the world its first look at her new fashion line, Fenty, created with behemoth luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Talk about a power couple.