In a time when we are preparing ourselves for a subdued season of fashion, Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty brought back the high voltage energy we’ve been missing. After the viral success of the first show at New York Fashion Week in September 2019, Rihanna wanted to take Vol. 2 to the next level. However, with the pandemic showing no signs of abating, the show was filmed as a feature movie that was streamed on Amazon Prime.
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Set like a music festival, we were taken through a number of sets with different themes where a star-studded cast modelled and performed. The show opened with New Zealand-based choreographer and model, Parris Geobel. Spanish singer Rosalia performed in a black lace lingerie set biker shorts. Model and actress Cara Delevingne returned, sporting black lingerie embellished by Rihanna’s hand drawn illustrations. Bella Hadid was queen bee in a black bra and thong, and sexy black latex gloves and thigh-high socks. Other performances came from Rappers Big Sean and Christian Bombs, who modelled pieces from Savage x Fenty’s new men’s line, Latin singer Bad Bunny, and Miguel. Other cameos included Paris Hilton, who modelled a baby pink look that was true to her Barbie doll media persona, and Erika Jayne of the Real House of Beverly Hills, unabashedly sporting a barely-there thong and pasties.
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Tabria Majors, Aleali May, Paris Hilton, and Memphis Murphy (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
The collection was, as always, unapologetically sexy. In between performances, Rihanna candidly discussed the topic of sexuality and that even by today’s liberal standards, this is still considered too racy in mainstream media. The collection and performances were aimed to express raw sensuality to empower women.
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Jaida Essence Hall, Abby Champion, Demi Moore, and Alva Claire (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Rosalía (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Ever since Savage x Fenty burst onto the scene in 2019, it has had a profound influence on the inclusivity and diversity discourse in fashion and pop culture. “We didn’t know that we would have the response that we did”, Rihanna said of the first Savage x Fenty show, “I want to have representation...where women aren’t usually projected as sexy, but they are.” From day one, Rihanna has made inclusivity a core value of the brand, and this was driven home at every moment during the show. The cast was diverse in race, gender and age. An appearance by Lizzo, who has always advocated body positivity, was a perfect vessel of these values. As was Demi Moore, who, at age 56 proves that age has nothing to do with sex appeal.
The best part? Savage X Fenty is not only affordable, it also has a broad range of colour, size and style offerings for everyone, no matter size, age or race.