RIHANNA: Fashion Icon of 2009

While there are some who would go without her music, there is no denying the evolving Rihanna's claim to fashion originality. She screams bondage with her choice of leather and lace ensembles which all have us paying close attention. Even though there are times where we can't understand what she was thinking, we have to respect the courage she has for stepping out the way she does.

Now I don't want to get into her love life but I know for certain that I am not the only one who noticed the change in her style since the unfortunate night. On CelebrityClothingLine.Com's Ten Fashion Icons of 2009 list, their writer pointed out "...Seeing how she revamped her image after the Chris Brown incident, Rihanna seems to want to scream to the world: 'I'm one tough lady!' But does it really work.....Or does it just make her look like...Prince?" This is actually a good point! All the things Prince went through in life channeled the uniqueness inside of himself. Thus giving us the ultimate androgynous Prince we know and love. So can Rihanna do the same? I believe she already has. Her style does remind me a lot of Prince but most recently she has got in touch with her inner Marilyn Manson (if that makes sense.) Her provocative way of showing her legs and bikini line are becoming a regular fit. She's definitely not afraid to wear something so tight it shows the print of God's Fortune Cookie.

Lets take a look at the above picture (2009). A very interesting outfit with a lot of leather & skin. It leaves about a tablespoon to the imagination. Look hard enough and you see the line of her vagina, the tattoo on her hip, and any other goodies you might have your eye on. But the look on her face says "Go ahead." Still you have to give her her just due. Probably the only other people in the media I can think of that might indulge in this wardrobe are Lady GaGa & Marilyn Manson. Let me know if I am missing anyone else.

Well carrying on to another outfit, we actually have to take a step back to pre-abuse Rihanna. This was a more tame, calm, colorful, & classy Rihanna. Well at least before "Good Girl Gone Bad". Her songs were more about dancing & love than bitching & hate.

This photo (2008) shows her more sunshine kid style. A simple dress, bangles, and Dries Van Noten heels show the more innocent Rihanna. Still the "Shut Up & Drive" artist but a lot more humble as far as clothing goes. Nichole Mercurio, Citizen Journalist, gets the point of Rihanna's fashion very well. "Rihanna may not have the same ideas that mainstream fashion editors do (or play by their accepted rules) but that's what being a fashion icon is all about." My point exactly. Would she genuinely be a fashion icon if she did, in fact, dress like any other R&B/Pop artist? Would we pay attention to the fact that her style has evolved over the years? Would she still be around if she didn't make any changes? We're quick to judge her choice of clothing but we have to understand that sex sells & so does personality.

Out of all the things I see when it comes to Rihanna, she never really feels the need to explain herself. She's real either way it goes and she is who she is at the end of the day. And, fortunately for us, we may never really know who Robin Fenty is. It might be a safe bet to say that outside of the person she is inside, she is a devil in the eyes of fashion. And for fashion, we love nothing more than a rebel. If we pay attention to the way she presents herself, she is trying to tell us something through the fabric on her skin, the color in her hair, the heels that grace her feet and the glances of her hazel eyes. If we as a fashion world listen, we might learn something new.