September 29, 2016 |
Rihanna. Riri. Badgal Riri. And now, Fenty. Well, kind of, because Fenty is, and has always been, for that matter, Rihanna’s surname, and is now her chosen moniker in her collaboration with Puma, Fenty x Puma. But what the fuck are we talking about? You knew all that already. You’ve seen, wanted and possibly done unmentionable acts in order to get your hands on a pair those fluffy sliders. Clearly, then, excitement was high for her first show in Paris, not least from us, seeing as, if you didn’t know already, we are wildly obsessed with the Bajan beauty. So I mean, finding ourself with a few feet of her at the intimate presentation at Hotel Salomon de Rothschild, after being plied with XXL gold bottles of champagne, was, well, an exercise in restraint. Apparently it’s not the done thing to embrace the designer mid show. But, the collection. Could we call it a bit Marie Antoinette? Well, Marie Antoinette meets mid-90s r’n’b starlet? There were corsets, some layered over big, baggy hoodies, silky slip dresses, a jumpsuit that morphed into a negligee on top. A bit like an explosion in a lingerie department. In the best poss way, obviously. A slathering of pearls, large diamond encrusted jewellery, lace-y fans. Dec-a-dence. And to finish? Rihanna herself, brandishing a fan that read Puma. What else? Queen Rih. Let them eat cake.
Photographs by Jason Lloyd-Evans
