Right after the announcement that Erykah Badu is to be the new model for Givenchy, we find another black singer, Rihanna, named the new face of Balmain. A tantalising pic from the New York photo shoot shows her in a black-and-white hounds tooth jacket over a very revealing black and white blouse. Another shot has her posing more modestly in a black leather jacket with quilted sleeves.
She is also shown in an off-the shoulders knitted top in denim blue, with chunky horizontal gold chains. Matched to high-waisted jeans belted with a buckle gold lion’s head on a black and white checkerboard, the effect is vivid, dramatic – like the artist herself.
A fourth photo has her sitting cross-legged in a cute jacket printed with pink and white houndstooth pattern, with another ostentatious gold belt. The pazzazz is echoed in a pair of white lace boots with gold heels and toecaps – pure 90s kitsch.The styling was by her own personal stylist, Mel Ottenberg. Bad Gal Riri peers out with one blue eye from behind the wildly-tousled black curls, offering both mystery and challenge in a single glance.
Ostentation is obviously going to be the theme for the Spring 2014 collection, and more of it will be seen in the January fashion mags.The creative director at Balmain, Olivier Rousteing, is a real Rhianna fan and comments on her charisma in front of a camera lens. He also loves the fact that he can now see her wearing the very clothes that her image inspired.
The feeling is mutual: Rihanna adores Balmain. Last June she was seen touring their studios in Paris and dressing up in whatever she fancied, from studded black leather to a yellow crotchet top and mini-skirt.
The girl takes her fashion seriously, having worked as executive producer on fashion reality show ‘Styled To Rock.’ Rihanna has also previously fronted campaigns for MAC, River Island and Armani.
Photo credit : Instagram
