Ri Ri For River Island: Rihanna Launches Fashion Line At London Fashion Week

Last year Kanye West showcased his first fashion collection at Paris Fashion Week. The reception was mixed at best (“Rap with a capital ‘c’” is how one journalist put it). So when it was announced that fellow music industry darling Rihanna was to debut her collaboration with high-street retailer River Island at London Fashion Week, it was met with a healthy amount of scepticism — this despite Ri Ri’s own excited tweets in the lead up (“My designs will walk the catwalks of London Fashion Week in days!! It’s gonna be MAJAH”).

Rihanna’s show last night certainly added A-list glitz — and bling — to the Fashion Week circuit, but some insiders bemoaned the star for stealing the spotlight from up-and-coming British talent Thomas Tait, whose show was happening at the same time down the road. After all, it took Victoria Beckham (who, at the time of Rihanna’s show, was, coincidentally, in London town and on the judging panel of a Woolmark Prize event), the better part of a decade to transform herself from Posh Spice into a designer with real credibility.

The whole shebang did seem more like a concert than a fashion show. A scrub of paparazzi jostled outside the venue while hip-hop beats pulsated throughout. There was a stage in lieu of a runway. And, much to the annoyance of reporters comatose with exhaustion after running around in heels all day, things didn’t kick off until 50 minutes after the scheduled start time.

When it did start, to the blare of Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean’s ‘Clique’, fierce faced models strutted between a series of nightclub podiums. The clothes struck a balance between sexy and sporty, urban and utilitarian. There were hooded jumpsuits, grey marl jersey skirts split at the thigh and mullet (long at the back, short at the front) spaghetti strap dresses. There was a heavy dose of nineties nostalgia too — many a toned midriff was on show and there was lots of denim, including a pair of dungarees. Accessories included backwards caps and hoop earrings. Rihanna’s signature shirt tied around waist look also made it into the collection.