65 photos that show how Rihanna's style has evolved through the years
- Rihanna's fashion has evolved since she made her debut in 2005.
- Her early style was simple yet chic, often opting for subtle dresses or more casual ensembles.
- She's since become a staple in the industry with her own brands, Fenty and Savage X Fenty.
In one of her earliest public appearances, Rihanna wore a crop top and low-rise boyfriend jeans at the Teen People Listening Lounge in July 2005.
She paired the cropped top and jeans with pink Converse.
At the MTV VMAs in August 2005, she wore another crop top and fitted white jeans.
The ensemble was topped off with a glitter vest and body jewelry.
At an MTV TRL appearance in March 2006, Rihanna wore a sweet halter dress with stars.
She paired the dress with a pair of light-green heels.
At Condé Nast's Third Annual Fashion Rocks Concert in September 2006, Rihanna shimmered in this metallic dress.
The gorgeous dress was designed by Zac Posen.
She wore this low-cut dress when she took home some of her first big awards at the Billboard Music Awards in December 2006.
She won female artist of the year, as well as female hot 100 artist of the year and pop 100 artist of the year.
She took on her next major awards show in February 2007 when she arrived at the Grammys in a green, backless Roberto Cavalli gown.
The gown had one shoulder and a cutout on the bodice.
At her first-ever Met Gala in May 2007, she donned black gloves with her white dress.
The Georges Chakra design featured silver embellishments.
Her hot-pink dress stole the show when she accepted her video of the year award at the September 2007 MTV VMAs.
The Armani Privé dress was one of the best looks of the night.
At the February 2008 Grammy Awards, she wore a blue dress when she won an award for best rap/sung collaboration for "Umbrella."
She went with a design by Zac Posen that featured a feathered skirt.
For the February 2008 Brit Awards, she went short again, this time in a metallic mini.
The Dolce & Gabbana dress had a bow detail at the waist.
She lit up the red carpet in a playful yellow gown at the BET Awards in June 2008.
The ruffled design was by Giambattista Valli.
Then she took the stage in an asymmetrical Zac Posen dress at the American Music Awards in November 2008.
She received her first American Music Award of the night for favorite female soul/R&B artist and also won favorite female pop/rock artist.
Her puffy sleeves rocked the fashion world at the Met Gala in May 2009, where they celebrated "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion."
Her Dolce & Gabbana suit came complete with a bow tie.
Rihanna accepted her Glamour Woman of the Year award in an intricate white gown by Stephane Rolland in November 2009.
The gown had an interesting ruffled design.
In November 2009, Rihanna hit the American Music Awards in a frilly, laser-cut black-and-white gown.
She paired the Marchesa gown with some white heels for a nice contrast.
In January 2010, she wore a white Elie Saab to the Grammy Awards.
She won awards for best rap/sung collaboration and best rap song wearing the white dress, which had a textured bodice and draping on the skirt.
Rihanna sported a green jumpsuit with extravagant, flowing wings at the Echo Awards in October 2010.
The eccentric design was by Alexandre Vauthier.
Then for the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2010, Rihanna went back to what was clearly a favorite color — white.
The detailed Marchesa gown helped her new red hair pop.
She put on a garnet-colored Elie Saab dress for the American Music Awards in November 2010 as well.
She opened the show with her hit songs "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)," "What's My Name?," and "Only Girl (In the World)."
She stunned at the Grammys in this striped gown by Jean Paul Gaultier in February 2011.
The white gown sat off of her shoulders, and it included stripes of sheer fabric that exposed Rihanna's skin.
She also debuted her new lighter auburn locks.
At the Met Gala in May 2011, Rihanna showed up with a long red braid and another semi-sheer gown.
The flowing gown was designed by Stella McCartney.
For the February 2012 Grammy Awards, she went for a plunging Armani gown.
She picked up an award for best music video.
At the American Music Awards in November 2013, she opted for a sleek two-piece set.
The ensemble was designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.
RiRi showed off her casual side at a Roc Nation Brunch in January 2014.
She paired the Altuzarra ensemble with simple accessories.
She shocked the world when she wore her sheerest gown yet at the CFDA Fashion Awards in June 2014.
She made quite the entrance in the custom Adam Selman fishnet dress, complete with gloves and a headscarf that were all hand-embellished with over 216,000 Swarovski crystals, according to Just Jared.
She wore Stella McCartney again at the 2014 Met Gala, which celebrated "Charles James: Beyond Fashion."
It was another impressive Met Gala look.
Rihanna went bold again for amfAR Inspiration in Los Angeles where she wore this revealing Tom Ford creation in October 2014.
She accessorized this design with some oversized rings.
For her first-ever Diamond Ball, the host went for elegance in a silky red gown by Zac Posen in December 2014.
She paired it with a large red gem pendant decked out with diamonds.
She made a statement in a pink Giambattista Valli gown at the Grammy Awards in February 2015.
It made headlines for days and became the topic of hundreds of memes.
She went all out again that May at the 2015 Met Gala. Her stunning yellow cape by Guo Pei took two years to create.
The gorgeous dress consumed the red carpet, catching the attention of every photographer around.
She decided to go for a classy look yet again for her 2nd Annual Diamond Ball in December 2016.
Dior designed her gold dress and coordinating cape.
She accepted the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV VMAs in August 2016 in an Alexandre Vauthier haute couture collared gown with a grommet belt.
The ceremony was a busy one for Rihanna — not only did Drake declare his love for her, but she also performed a medley of her greatest hits.
She then took to the Grammy Awards red carpet in a sparkly orange crop top and a billowing black skirt in February 2017.
The eye-catching ensemble was designed by Armani Privé.
Rihanna wore a dark-navy wool coat by Dior while attending the brand's Paris Fashion Week show in March 2017.
She also went with some oversized sunglasses for a dramatic touch.
She then stepped out in this avant-garde sculptural dress by Comme des Garçons for the Met Gala in May 2017.
She also paired the dress with one of her most colorful makeup looks.
Later in May 2017, she took a risk with this oversized tan pantsuit by Matthew Adams Dolan while attending the 69th Annual Parsons Benefit.
She went with some white pumps to add a touch of bright color.
For the premiere of "Valerian" in July 2017, the singer opted for this pale-pink Giambattista Valli Couture dress.
The dress featured a flowing train and puffy sleeves.
Also in July 2017, the "Valerian" actress wore another Giambattista Valli Couture design to the movie's London premiere — this time in a stunning shade of red.
The gown had an off-the-shoulder neckline and tiered skirt.
She also went with a dark-red lip.
Rihanna celebrated the release of Fenty Beauty in September 2017 by attending a launch event wearing a lilac tulle dress by Molly Goddard.
She added some strappy sandals to complete the look.
She wore this sparkly fuchsia gown by Adam Selman during her performance of "Wild Thoughts" for the Grammy Awards in February 2018.
She even placed a matching flower in her hair.
Rihanna caused a stir at the Met Gala in May 2018 by arriving in a Pope-inspired ensemble.
Her extremely on-theme outfit and jewel-encrusted robe were designed by Margiela. She finished the outfit with matching Christian Louboutin heels.
For the New York premiere of "Ocean's 8" in June 2018, she wore a ruffled design by Givenchy.
The metallic dress featured layers of tiered ruffles and pleats. She paired it with Manolo Blahnik sandals.
She then attended the London premiere of "Ocean's 8" in a head-turning gold dress in June 2018.
She paired her Poiret design with a matching clutch and a topknot bun hairstyle.
Rihanna wore a sheer lace Alexis Mabille jumpsuit to her fourth annual Diamond Ball in September 2018.
The jumpsuit featured an off-white skirt with a giant bow design at the top.
She then channeled her inner Barbie for a Fenty Beauty event in September 2018.
She wore a ruffled hot-pink design by Calvin Klein to celebrate the one-year anniversary of her successful cosmetics line.
Rihanna wore head-to-toe pink again for a Fenty event in June 2019.
She paired her pink midi dress with turquoise-toned jewelry.
For her Savage X Fenty fashion show in September 2019, she opted for a sparkly mint dress.
Rihanna wore a one-sleeved sequin dress that featured a turtleneck, an asymmetrical hemline, and a front slit.
Rihanna went for a modern glam look at the Diamond Ball in September 2019.
She wore a Givenchy Haute Couture gown that included a sheer white cage skirt at the hem.
In October 2019, Rihanna put her wild side on display at the launch of her first visual autobiography.
She wore a leopard-print dress from Saint Laurent's Spring 2020 collection.
In October 2019, she brought the heeled flip-flops trend back.
Rihanna wore an Alex Perry strapless dress, Fenty T-Heel square sandals, and a white handbag.
Rihanna wore a more sultry look to the "Queen & Slim" premiere in November 2019.
She paired her John Galliano evening dress with Manolo Blahnik sandals, a Jimmy Choo handbag, and lots of jewelry.
She went for head-to-toe mint again at the Fashion Awards in December 2019.
Rihanna paired her Fenty mint-green minidress with a sheer shawl attached by rows of gemstones, and matching heels.
To celebrate Fenty's new clothing collection in February 2020, Rihanna wore a neon coat and a matching dress from her own brand.
She attended the event wearing a $960 sweater dress with a $1,660 trench coat.
Rihanna added another pop of color with a pair of metallic boots, also from Fenty, which retailed for $670.
At the NAACP Image Awards in February 2020, Rihanna wore a purple Givenchy gown with a textured hem.
The long-sleeve dress, which Rihanna wore while receiving the President's Awards at the event, had an asymmetrical hem created by layers of ruffles.
Pleats built into the ruffles created more volume in the dress.
Rihanna wore an all-black ensemble to a press event for the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 in October 2020.
For her own show, Rihanna paired an exposed bra with a black blazer that acted as a dress.
A belt cinched her waist, and she paired the look with fishnet tights.
She arrived — fashionably late — at the Met Gala in a Balenciaga coat dress in September 2021.
The collar of the puffy dress curled around Rihanna's shoulders, curving around the front.
The gown had a mermaid skirt, and she paired it with a matching beanie that was offset by a crystal headpiece.
Later that night, Rihanna changed into a more revealing Balenciaga ensemble for her Met Gala after-party.
For the after-party, Rihanna paired a black T-shirt with a coordinating, sheer skirt.
The transparent skirt matched the sheer, black headpiece she wore.
At the Savage X Fenty Vol 3. show in September 2021, Rihanna blended casual and high-fashion with a minidress.
The designer's neon-green minidress was covered in silver sparkles. She paired it with a coordinating jacket that had an oversized collar and drawstring detailing.
After she announced her pregnancy, Rihanna wore a sparkly two-piece from The Attico in February 2022.
Attending a Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin event in LA, Rihanna debuted her nontraditional maternity style with a halter top and pants made of strands of sparkly fabric.
The outfit created an ombré effect, as the green top gave way to pink pants that got darker towards the bottom.
For a Gucci show at Milan Fashion Week in February 2022, Rihanna rocked a crop top and coordinating pants.
She paired a black, latex top with low-waisted silk pants, exposing her pregnant belly.
A headdress and a fuzzy purple coat completed the Gucci look.
Rihanna wore an entirely sheer ensemble for a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week in March 2022.
She arrived at the Dior show wearing a black bra and thong, which she paired with a black, lace skirt.
A black coat and knee-high boots completed the daring look.
In March 2022, Rihanna arrived at the launch of Fenty Beauty at ULTA Beauty in a coordinating silver set from Coperni.
The ensemble was custom-designed by Coperni, according to Vogue.
The wrap-around crop top had long sleeves, while the floor-length skirt was covered in sparkles. A chain wrapped around Rihanna's belly.
Rihanna wore a sparkly denim dress at the premiere of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" in October 2022.
According to The Zoe Report, Rihanna arrived at the premiere in a strapless Rick Owens dress made of denim.
The gray denim was covered in a layer of sequins. A diagonal peplum curved around Rihanna's waist, and she paired the gown with gray gloves.
She exuded Old Hollywood elegance at the Golden Globes in January 2023.
Rihanna's custom Schiaparelli dress had a strapless neckline and a tea-length hem, according to Esquire.
Ruching added dimension to the gown, and Rihanna paired the dress with a velvet cape that wrapped around her arms.
Rihanna arrived at a press conference ahead of the Super Bowl in a crocodile-print dress in February 2023.
For the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Press Conference, Rihanna wore a dress from Alaïa, according to PopSugar.
The silver dress had an asymmetrical hemline that pointed in the center. Rihanna paired the dress with a black leather jacket and heels that laced all the way up her legs.
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