30 of Rihanna’s Boldest Style Moments Throughout the Years
As far as fashion is concerned, Rihanna has always been ahead of the curve—able to dabble in trends in a genuinely fearless manner. Risk-taking is central to her style influence, and what better time to revisit her epic wardrobe than today, on her 38th birthday?
Off-duty, Rihanna is a true fashion girl. By day, she's in tracksuit-stiletto combos, gargantuan puffer jackets, and killer thigh-high boots. By night, she’s often wearing similarly casual gear, with the added touch of some vintage jewelry (or lots of diamonds) and a designer coat. Uniting her day-to-night dressing? A sense of fun and excitement: Don’t ever expect the star to wear discrete everyday basics.
Rih’s red carpet looks command attention, too, though. In the noughties, she rocked low-rise trousers, crop tops, and plentiful diamanté. In 2015, she made headlines with a sunshine-yellow Guo Pei gown at the Met Gala, and her 2017 Comme des Garçons dress and 2018 John Galliano headpiece also broke the internet.
More recently, she attended the 2024 Fashion Awards in London—with A$AP Rocky by her side—sporting a a Christian Lacroix fall 2002 couture mini dress with the matching oversized fuzzy hat, naturally. At the 2025 Met Gala, she announced her pregnancy in a corseted Marc Jacobs suit, complete with yet another dramatic chapeau.
In honor of her birthday, revisit Rihanna’s most head-turning looks, below.
Robert Kamau1/30The fuzzy heart coat
Rih was one of the first out the gate in Saint Laurent’s fuzzy heart coat back in 2016, shown at the maison’s fall 2016 showcase.
Gilbert Carrasquillo2/30The naked dress
Many stars have braved the naked dress—Rihanna included. She commanded attention in a sparkling Swarovski crystal-encrusted look by Adam Selman at the CFDA Awards in 2014.
Anadolu Agency3/30The avant-garde Met look
Comme des Garçons was behind the eccentric look that she wore to the Met Gala in 2017.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY4/30That sunshine-yellow dress
The vibrant gown that she wore to the Met Gala in 2015 will go down in history as one of the best looks the event has ever witnessed.
ANGELA WEISS5/30Take a bow
Rihanna attended her Diamond Ball—a bash that she throws every year—wearing Alexis Mabille couture and Chopard jewels in 2018.
Frank Trapper6/30All-over frills
The Adam Selman gown that Rih wore to the CFDAs in 2014 is perhaps her most famous naked dress, but it wasn’t the first. In 2011, she took to the red carpet in a frilled semi-sheer gown by Jean Paul Gaultier couture.
NCP/Star Max7/30The wear-anywhere dressing gown
Rihanna walked the New York streets in a Ralph Lauren dressing gown, sheer socks and slippers in 2016. Mood.
Jerritt Clark8/30Lace sunglasses
She probably couldn’t see, but Rihanna looked chic in the lace sunglasses that she wore to an event in 2009.
VALERIE MACON9/30Pretty in puffy pink
Rih embodied her inner princess at the Grammys in 2015, when she wore a frou frou tulle gown designed by Giambattista Valli.
Johnny Nunez10/30Decked out in Burberry check
Rihanna put her own twist on Burberry’s heritage check pattern in 2017: she wore a cap and matching coat emblazoned with the brand’s signature Nova print.
Kris Connor11/30Keeping it cool
Hoods on the red carpet? Rih says yes. She wore a look from Fenty X Puma to attend her debut fall 2016 show.
Kevin Mazur/MG1812/30Regal Rih
John Galliano created the singer’s shimmering look for the 2018 Met.
Dimitrios Kambouris13/30Noughties low-risers
She mastered the low-rise jeans trend the first time around—wearing a white pair with an encrusted waistcoat and body jewelry to the MTV VMAs in 2005.
Pierre Suu14/30Double denim
Rih is a staunch supporter of the Canadian tuxedo. She took Y/Projects’s thigh-high denim boots for a spin in 2017, paired with layered denim pieces.
Robert Kamau15/30Head-to-toe camo
Rihanna is never one to do things by halves. For an outing in 2017, she sported a camo Vetements X Canada Goose parka, matching trousers and a hoodie.
Kevin Winter16/30Acid brights
Judging by the amount of green in Rih’s wardrobe, we can only assume that it’s one of her favourite colours. For a performance in 2015, she wore emerald pieces from Versace’s fall 2015 collectsion.
Patrick McMullan17/30Smart in a tux
At the Met in 2009, Rih forewent a gown in favour of a tuxedo.
Jimi Celeste18/30Oversized suiting—the Rih way
No one nails louche suiting quite like Rihanna. She wore a custom camel suit by Matthew Adams Dolan to the Parsons benefit in 2017.
Steven Ferdman19/30A vision in couture
Rih picked a velvet gown from Givenchy’s fall 2019 couture collectsion to wear to her annual Diamond Ball in 2019.
Photo: Getty Images20/30Dark glamour
The singer and entrepreneur shut down the red carpet in a dramatic black Balenciaga overcoat, with a matching hat by Stephen Jones Millinery.
Photo: Getty Images21/30Freeing the baby bump
The star attended Dior's fall 2022 presentation in Paris in a sheer babydoll dres that exposed her baby bump.
Photo: Getty Images22/30Super Bowl style
Rihanna delivered an epic Super Bowl halftime show in 2023 by rocking a custom red multi-layered look by Loewe.
Photo: Getty Images23/30A vision in white
At the 2023 Met Gala, Rihanna hit the Met steps in an intricate white floral cape by Valentino, complete with a sweeping gown and—of course—her signature diamonds.
Photo: Getty Images24/30Dripping in (faux) fur
In 2023, the superstar treated the streets of New York City as her runway, by dripping herself in faux fur pieces from Loewe.
Photo: Getty Images25/30Baggy suiting
Rihanna hit a Fenty event in 2024 rocking an oversized Peter Do suit. Proof that tailoring can be cool.
Photo: Getty Images26/30Rocking the robe dress
The star attended the Alaïa show in New York City wearing a custom off-the-shoulder look by the label, complete with a sweeping train.
Photo: Getty Images27/30Rocking the fuzzy hat
Attending with A$AP Rocky by her side, Rihanna hit the Fashion Awards in London wearing a Christian Lacroix fall 2002 couture mini dress—with the matching fuzzy hat, naturally.
Photo: Getty Images28/30Maternity corsetry
At the 2025 Met Gala, Rihanna donned custom Marc Jacobs tailoring—an unexpected take on maternity style, right down to the sleek corset and dramstic chapeau.
Photo: Getty Images29/30Rocker-glam
In Saint Laurent, Rihanna reinvented the slip dress, pairing a full-skirted style with an edgy leather moto jacket. Nobody can do rocker-chic quite like Rihanna.
Photo: Getty Images30/30Bold in Balenciaga
At the 2025 Gotham Awards, Rihanna wore a striking look from Pierpaolo Piccioli's debut collectsion for Balenciaga. The pink gown with a sweeping train had a funky matching cap to go with it—because with Rihanna, every accessory is always considered.
