Rihanna’s rule-breaking maternity style
For 20 years, Rihanna has been rewriting the playbook—whether in music, beauty, or fashion. And as she steps into her third decade in the industry, she has rewritten another chapter entirely: maternity style. While most celebrities slip into empire waists and safe silhouettes, Bad Gal RiRi made her growing belly the centerpiece of her wardrobe. Transparent fabrics, sequins, lingerie-as-outerwear. Pregnancy, for her, became the ultimate runway.
If there is one thing Rihanna refuses to do, it is play it safe. And pregnancy is certainly not a reason to start. Here are the looks that prove she has turned bump dressing into its own fashion movement.
1. The Super Bowl reveal
Seven years after her last live performance, Rihanna returned to the stage at the 2023 Super Bowl. And she did not just sing, she announced. Draped in a blazing red Loewe jumpsuit, zipped just enough to reveal a silk jersey bodysuit, she layered the look with a dramatic Alaïa puffer coat that swept the floor. The effect was part superhero and part style revolution.
2. The Met Gala bloom
At the Met Gala honoring Karl Lagerfeld, Rihanna arrived wrapped in an ivory Valentino cape, blooming with oversized camellias, Lagerfeld’s beloved bloom.
When she shed the cocoon, a curve-skimming white gown appeared styled with quirky sunglasses and fingerless gloves. It was high drama and high glamour, proof that for Rihanna, maternity fashion could be couture fantasy without ever hiding her form.
3. Sultry for date night
At a 2022 Oscars after-party, she walked in wearing Valentino Haute Couture with a sheer organza turtleneck, bandeau bra, and elbow-length gloves. A sequined skirt caught the light, letting the patent Jimmy Choos and diamond-studded earrings by Wilfredo Rosado equally sparkle, too. It was sleek, sultry, and unapologetically body-conscious.
4. Neon glow
Rihanna shimmered in a jeweled shredded green halter top from The Attico’s Spring 2022 collection, paired with ombré trousers, black sandals, and diamonds from Chopard, Verdura, and Messika. The look was playful, futuristic, and belly-baring. She reminded us that maternity style doesn’t have to hold back—it can be bold and fun, too.
5. Harlem photo shoot reveal
It all began in Harlem. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky confirmed their happy news with a sidewalk-stroll-turned-fashion-moment. She wore a vintage Chanel puffer in hot pink—left open to reveal her belly—teamed with low-slung jeans and a cascade of body jewelry. It was raw, romantic, and the ultimate declaration that this bump was never meant to be hidden.
6. Smurfs in Brussels
Promoting her role as Smurfette in Brussels, Rihanna stepped out in custom Chanel. Layers of sheer baby-blue chiffon dripping with crystals and feathers floated over her frame, anchored by a silk skirt embroidered at the hem. It was whimsical and ethereal but still true to her ethos. Pregnancy is not about concealing the bump, it is about celebrating it.
7. Off-duty cool
Rihanna showed that off-duty maternity wear could be anything but ordinary. She knotted a tiny crop top over her bump and paired it with slouchy denim, then threw on a patchwork coat spliced with leopard and denim.
She accessorized with gold body chains, a tie-dyed Dior saddle bag slung at her hip, and Tom Ford heels buckled over her jeans for a cheeky finish. Who else could make casual feel this subversively chic?
