HGB Style Files Review: Rihanna for River Island

We all know and love Rihanna for her style as well as her music. She is a modern day fashion icon who can probably make a garbage bag look like a million bucks. She is innovative and a trendsetter. She is not afraid of taking risks and going against the grain. So when she revealed she was doing a collaboration line River Island people thought that their fashion prayers have been answered. Rihanna will be one of the few entertainers, besides Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani, to get it right.

A few of our favorite looks from Rihanna

Her collection Rihanna for River Island had the social media world buzzing for days. Many critics slammed Rihanna’s collection. The title of the Daily Beasts post is “The Horror! The Horror! Rihanna’s Porny Debut at #LFW” Now I think the journalist Tom Sykes took his critique to the extreme, but it is his critique and he has a right to his opinion.

Here are the full images of the collection via River Island

My Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of the line. It does consist of a lot of basics that I can get at Forever 21 or American Apparel. I was hoping her collection would be more fashion forward and trend setting. I think that for the target population and #RihannaNavy they will eat this up, but I wanted more. This collection is a reflection of Rihanna’s style, past and present, and when it comes to debuting collections it should not just be a replica of what you have worn or are currently wearing. It should showcase where you want to take your style.

Rihanna is known for her high splits, crop tops, and some what grungy style. She is also known for adding a feminine touch with lady like skirts and floral prints. This is what was showcased in the collection. There wasn’t anything refreshing, but I would not go as far as the Daily Beast by calling it hideous, slutty, and porny. It does push the envelope when it comes to baring skin like mixing the bra and a pencil skirt, the net/mesh dress, and sheer material. I can say that her collection is actually a collection because it is cohesive, unlike Kanye West’s first collection, but the best way that I can describe it is Basic Rihanna.

A few of the pieces that I do love are the floral print bralet top with the floral print shorts, the floral print cropped pants, the skater skirt, the striped shorts and blaze, and also the hooded over-sized jumpsuit. I wouldn’t call the collection a total miss but if you want to look like Rihanna on March 5th your wishes will be granted. I just hope that for those who do purchase items from this collection are fit! I did not say skinny, I personally think the models here are a little too thin and the clothes would be more flattering if the models were a bit bigger, but you can be a size 14 and fit. I’m talking Ciara Abs, J. Lo thighs, Angela Bassett or Halle Berry arms, Beyonce legs or Kelly Rowland’s everything, you get my drift right lol.

I’m sure this won’t be Rihanna’s last collection so we will see what she brings to the table next season.