Rihanna Fashion

Rihanna is a Caribbean-born singer who has gained worldwide fame for her music as well as for her style. Though she had moderate success as a young performer, her stardom really took off when she dyed her hair black and cut it very short - a divergence from standard long popstar locks. Rihanna also drastically changed her wardrobe and stage costume to be darker and edgier. The change in style immediately set Rihanna apart from the crowd, paving the way for her musical success and current status as style icon.

At 5'10" Rihanna has model height. Accordingly, the fashion world has embraced her and loves to feature her on magazine covers and on the pages of photo editorials. Her fashion magazine cover credits include Elle and Glamour magazines. She has been a mainstay during the past few fashion week seasons, often seen in an honored first row seat and wearing a piece from the show being viewed.

When she was 15 years old Rihanna and two of her schoolmates formed a singing group. The trio had the good fortune of meeting and auditioning for record producer Evan Rogers while he was on vacation in Barbados. "The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist," Rogers said of the audition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna Soon the young singer was on her way to record a demo in the United States - without the other two girls. The demo made it's way to Def Jam, who's then president Jay-Z quickly signed Rihanna to a recording contract.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna

Rihanna's break came with her first single "Pon de Replay" which peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts.http://www.zimbio.com/Rihanna,+Pon+de+Replay/articles/232/Rihanna+Biography But the singer didn't achieve superstar status until her 2007 hit "Umbrella" which was written by fellow Def Jam artist Ne-Yo. The single was from Rihanna's third album "Good Girl Gone Bad" - which also marked a drastic change in the artist's personal and stage style. The young performer went from long golden hair (as worn my most popstars of the year, after the style of superstar Beyonce) to a short black hair style that caused a big stir and produce many copycats. In addition her wardrobe for stage and promotional photographs left behind the cutesy midriffs and jeans for black leather, spikes, and tattoos. Rihanna's hit song and her new look made her a star to watch and designers were clamouring to dress her for red carpet events.

Although 2009 was marred by controversy for Rihanna when she was involved in a domestic violence incident with then boyfriend Chris Brown, it was also a year of triumph. One of Rihanna biggest fashion coups was starring in a 20+ page editorial for Vogue Italia in the Fall of 2009. The spread was shot by famed photographer Steve Klein and appeared as it's own mini publication in the September issue of the magazine. Traditionally, September is the most important month for fashion magazines, as it opens the fall season.

Word that Rihanna was to launch her own clothing line has been circulating since 2007. While at a Gucci runway show in Milan in 2008 she confirmed the rumors, but as of early 2010 no line has yet been produced or previewed.“I can’t say when it will be released, but it’s definitely going to happen,” she told Women's Wear Dailyhttp://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/09/rihannas_clothing_line_is_defi.html

"Beyonce just put the level of female entertainment all the way up there. She does acting, she has a beautiful voice and that's really the person I look up to... that type of entertainer."http://www.rihannanet.com/rihanna-quotes.htm

"People think, because we're young, we aren't complex, but that's not true. We deal with life and love and broken hearts in the same way a woman a few years older might."http://www.rihannanet.com/rihanna-quotes.htm

"Success for me isn't a destination it's a journey. Everybody's working to get to the top but where is the top? It's all about working harder and getting better and moving up and up."http://www.quotemonk.com/authors/rihanna/index.htm

"Cardio is the key. I have a personal trainer who travels with me if we have a big event coming up. I work out every day but I need a trainer to motivate me.. I don’t find it much fun working out on my own."http://www.quotemonk.com/authors/rihanna/index.htm

• 2003: Auditioned for Evan Rogers in Barbados

• 2004: Moved to United States to record Demo

• 2005: Signed to Def Jam Records

• 2005: Debut Album "Music of the Sun" Released

• 2006: On tour with the Pussycat Dolls

• 2007: 3rd Album "Gone Girl Gone Bad" Released

• 2008: "Umbrella" reached #1 on the charts in several countries and wins Grammy

• 2009: Stars in Couture Supplement for Vogue Italia