Since Rihanna announced her pregnancy in her own very Rihanna way, she has set the maternity-wear market on its ear. She has had a parade of sexy, bump-baring looks from city streets to red carpets. The photos above is from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Ulta Launch in Los Angeles over the weekend. She wore a stretchy, silver, long-sleeved crisscrossed crop top and a long sparkly straight skirt. She accessorized with a diamond belly chain, earrings, rings and chunky bangles. Plus, some silver eyeliner to tie it all together. I love it. There’s something about the belly chain that’s not sitting well with me, though. I love the idea of it. I think if it had been a uniformed pattern of jewels all around, it would have been great. But since it has front detail, it feels like it should drape more. But then it would conflict with the skirt. That’s my only quibble, though. The rest of her styling is great. And, of course, Rihanna works the whole thing:
Page Six did a nice break down of Rihanna’s maternity looks and her approach. They included some quotes from her Refinery29 interview in which she said she wanted to buck the idea that women should hide their pregnancy and, “hide your sexy, and that you’re not sexy right now [but] you’ll get back there.” I never thought of it but that is kind of the message, isn’t it? Now I love how Rihanna’s reinterpretation of the Mod Mama even more. Because it’s true, pregnant women don’t stop feeling sexy, not all of them. But it was hard finding clothes that made me feel sexy. And I think Rihanna’s right, all messaging is really about hiding yourself until you get back to a non-pregnant version of yourself. Screw that.
Looking at Rihanna’s bump and thinking about this approach to maternity style, it makes me think of people deciding to shave their heads. The success of baldness tends to rely on the shape of the head, which we don’t know until the hair is gone. Baby bumps can be a little mysterious too, like will they be pert and round or oval and vertical? Or oval and horizontal? Do they ride high or low? I dressed my bumps differently because they were shaped differently (don’t tell my son, but my daughter made for a cuter bump.) I hope maternity wear people are taking note of Rihanna’s approach and people’s reaction to it. Holly Robison Peete had a really cute maternity line, but she’s discontinued it. I still wear one of her sweaters. Maybe Rihanna will do a maternity line next. Or even just maternity jewelry with a matching makeup line.
Photo credit: Instagram
More power to her if she feels comfortable in non-maternity type clothes. I was the size of a house and welcomed that built-in expander in the shirts and pants!
Yeah, it’s easy to love the bump at 6 or 7 months when it’s a cute little accessory. Another couple months down the line, all I cared about was finding a pair of shoes I could still fit my feet into during the snowiest winter in decades. I am one of those folks who loved being pregnant, but sooner or later, unsexy comes for all of us. Although I’m sure it will come MUCH later for Rhianna!
True! Hopefully she’ll demand that her designers create sexy maternity catsuits with built in back and belly support. And wide shoes that are still cute with extra support for fat feet.
Probably not, but if anyone can do it, she can 🙂
Ugh, remember those last few weeks? Feet swollen and spilling out over the tops of shoes. I loved pregnancy, but the end is uncomfortable and deeply un sexy!
Yep. If people have a problem with her or other women doing things like this, they should just channel that miserable, femmephobic codger energy into building a time machine. She looks fab.
I’m sure she’s dressed like this on purpose, to send a message. So she’s not accused later of “NOT” being pregnant or faking her pregnancy. There will be all sort of conspiracy theories because as you know black women like Beyonce and Meghan can’t get pregnant … you know what I mean 😉
I mean, I think she looks great but I just personally think I’d be cold. Especially the outfit she wore in New York at winter …. Burr.
I was always hot when I was pregnant so maybe this feels good for her. And I love what she’s doing here. I was planning to be a sexy pregnant mama but I was so tired and cranky and miserable most of the time I just went for comfort.
My pregnancy style was stretchy jeans, yoga and workout pants, tall-size shirts for the extra length and flip flops, when I could.
I had both my kids at the end of summer so I went through 2 summers swollen and hot. So I was grateful I could just wear flip flops and tank tops. Don’t think I could pull off Riri’s look but I frigging LOVE it. She looks exactly like how I imagined she’d do a pregnancy.
I think the article said she was in Los Angeles, and it’s quite warm here right now. High 70’s during the day. And everywhere has heat lamps for the evening cause we Angelenos don’t know how to deal with anything below 60 degrees.
Rihanna is a very beautifull woman, pregnant or otherwise, I stan. And I love her sassiness too.
She looks great, and happy.
I also hope she revolutionizes post-pregnancy sexiness!! I felt the most “un-sexy” when I went back to work 12 weeks postpartum and people regularly asked when I was due. Even when I wore shapewear. I’m hoping we can celebrate our post-pregnancy curves, too! And Rihanna is simply beautiful – I hope she’s enjoying it!
Yep, I was all good, cute bump and feeling sexy until the waddle set in. At that point, nothing but comfort and cozy, and help getting in and out of chairs.
Riri is so excited about this pregnancy and I am excited for her.
I’m sure if every woman looked like Rhianna while pregnant, there would be no need for a maternity clothes market. 😜
Rihanna trying to reinvent pregnancy fashion. Im not into it but hey, if she likes it, thats all that matters.
Her hair and makeup is soooo cute. I want one of those gift bags!
I absolutely love the pregnancy looks RiRi is bringing! She’s owning it. I really do hope her visibility helps shift the convo away from ‘hide your sexy’ while pregnant. Can’t wait to see what she wears next.
She looks like she is enjoying every minute of being pregnant. I love it.
She looks super cute, but also, I hope she’s comfortable and not just looking cute for us to gawk at and admire. I recall when I was this pregnant, none of those outfits would have been comfortable, as there is no tummy or back support. My back and stomach hurt just looking at her.
I grew out of 2 sets of maternity clothes. Byt he 8th month was not interested in investing any more money on clothes. I was wearing moo moos and flip flops because that is all my swollen feet would fit into. I remember my tummy itching non stop. And having a big dark line down the center of my stomach. Tits went from an A cup to D. I gained 40 pounds all in my stomach and looked like I was going to topple over. I would not have been able to rock her look.
I’m really curious if she’ll continue to have a midriff-baring style right after having the baby. If she did that would be totally badass in my book. Because I’ll be honest, I don’t find it revolutionary to show off a cute pregnant belly that doesn’t have a single stretch mark.
I love the notion of embracing a pregnancy your own way! I literally ghosted a longtime friend who despised Meghan for touching her baby bump. I just couldn’t fathom the hate and mockery of a woman who was so excited about being pregnant. In the 21st century viva la difference. Women contend with enough without the petty pile on.