While most pregnant women tend to dress more conservatively and cover up their baby bump, A-lister and award-winning singer Rihanna did the exact opposite and embraced her pregnancy by showing off her growing midriff.
While Rihanna has previously been known to wear bold and risqué fashions in the public eye, her maternity wear was even more controversial, as they showed off her baby bump, when other starlets like to hide their pregnancy.
In an interview with Vogue, Rihanna was quoted as saying that, “I’m hoping that we were able to redefine what’s considered ‘decent’ for pregnant women.” She goes on to say that, “My body is doing incredible things right now, and I’m not going to be ashamed of that. This time should feel celebratory. Because why should you be hiding your pregnancy?”
Now a new mother to a baby boy, Rihanna’s more risqué fashion choices during her pregnancy have been noted in the public eye, and there are mixed feelings about her maternity look that are mainly coming from social media. The majority of reactions have remained positive, and there is talk that Rihanna is changing how people see and approach maternity fashion.
Not only did Rihanna wear provocative and figure-hugging attire, but she also accessorized her baby bump with jewelry for the full effect. Here is a breakdown of some of her more iconic maternity looks.
In March 2022, Rihanna was spotted wearing a black see-through dress and black boots that were accessorized with layered necklaces, while attending the Dior AW22 show during the Paris Fashion week. This particular look emphasized Rihanna’s pregnancy due to the transparent material used for the body of the dress. The black lace lingerie underneath made the dress appear more like a nightgown than formal wear, and yet this style gives a more hip look then the traditional attire soon-to-be moms often wear, such as loose and baggy dresses. This can be seen in the choice she made to wear a dress that zeroes in on her baby bump and flaunts it glamourously.
At the Oscars Gold Party, Rihanna wore a black gown by Valentino that consisted of a sheer top, a black bandeau, and a floor-length skirt covered with sequins. This daring look again highlighted her pregnancy, as the transparent top showcased her large baby bump. While the dress itself is very risqué in style, the sheer material covering the baby bump gave a romantic and delicate feel to the controversial outfit, which was worn with white sneakers for the full effect.
Also this year, Rihanna wore a black criss-cross top that revealed her torso and cleavage while donning a black bomber jacket, black leggings, jewel-encrusted heels, and black sunglasses for the full effect. This iconic look is both bold and very untraditional for maternity wear, and yet it stays true to the style of the rock star.
Rihanna is changing the way people see maternity wear, and is inspiring other mothers-to-be to try some of the same fashions she has been wearing. The way Rihanna dressed while pregnant shows an individual who is still retaining a more form-fitting style that does not resemble floating curtains that other expecting celebrity mothers have worn in the past, like Princess Diana. And the interesting part is that she did everything she could to showcase her baby bump, from wearing sheer lace gowns to crop tops and jewelry that fell or pointed towards her belly.
“When I found out I was pregnant, I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I’m going to go shopping in no maternity aisle.’” Rihanna told Vogue. “I’m sorry — it’s too much fun to get dressed up. I’m not going to let that part disappear because my body is changing.”
Whether or not people agree with her fashion choices during her pregnancy, one cannot help but admire her ability to stay true to herself, no matter what stage of life she is in — and that indeed takes courage, and makes being comfortable in your own skin take on a whole new meaning in the fashion industry.
Rachel is working towards a BA with a concentration in English and Theatre. She has been employed at The Cascade since Fall 2021 as a Staff Writer and a Jr. News Editor. Currently, she is the sectional News Editor and enjoys meeting and interviewing people as well as taking long walks in nature. Rachel also likes to stay up to date on the latest trends and informs students through her fashion column entitled Campus Fashion.
