Leave it to Rihanna to finally find a good use for a hologram. Our good girl gone bad stunned guests Thursday night at the Brooklyn, N.Y., launch of her Savage x Fenty lingerie line with larger-than-life holograms of herself modeling pieces of her highly anticipated collection, which went on sale to the public at midnight Friday (unless you were a lucky launch guest and got to shop a few hours early).
Rihanna arrived wearing a black babydoll dress and black thigh-high stockings, strategically covering her own Ruffle Open Cup Bra ($24) and bottoms from her Cami and Shorty Set ($69). According to fashion bible Women’s Wear Daily, after making a beeline for the bar (our kind of girl), RiRi greeted the excited crowd:
I hope you’re enjoying the evening so far. ... We put this together especially for you guys ’cause this is a project we’ve been working on for a few years now, believe it or not. We’ve been working on it with the most amazing partners, TechStyle. … TechStyle, the only thing they care about is the customer and it’s really the reason I decided to partner with them to create this brand Savage x Fenty because the only thing I really care about is the customer, too, my fans.
So, assuming you weren’t up at midnight stalking the Savage x Fenty site, what can fans of Rihanna expect from her newest venture?
Affordability
Savage x Fenty dropped at an excellent price point; nothing in the inaugural 90-item collection costs more than $99, including the more fantasy-themed items and those designed for fuller figures, which are traditionally much more expensive.
Inclusion
As we previously reported, much like Fenty Beauty, Savage x Fenty has (almost) every body in mind. The line launched in 36 sizes, ranging from 32A–44DD in bras and XS–3X in undies and sleepwear, and several shades of “nude.” While that may not be great news for women (like myself) who wear above a DD cup, it is impressive for a launch.
That said, don’t expect every bra style to be available up to a 44DD; about half of the collection only extends to a 38D, while the other half starts at 38DD. But there are still plenty of stellar options for fuller cups, including a Mesh and Lace Bra ($49), a Wireless Lace Bralette ($34) and the super-sleek T-shirt Bras ($44) Rihanna is reported to be so fond of (and models in the video below), according to The Cut:
“I’m obsessed with the T-shirt bra,” she said. “The fit is amazing and it’s so light. Almost like you aren’t wearing anything at all.”
But what is perhaps most refreshing is the variety of bodies featured on the Savage x Fenty site, which range from typical lingerie models (size 2) to curvy size 14-16 figures—and on the whole, they appear not to be retouched. As Rihanna explained in a press release:
It was important to me to push the boundaries, but also create a line that women can see themselves in. I want to make people look and feel good, and have fun playing around with different styles.
Versatility
Speaking of inclusion, Rihanna has clearly thought of every type of personality with this line, from simple to, well, savage. Lingerie is divided into four edge-escalating categories: On the Reg (body-toned basics), U Cute (pastel-colored feminine details), Damn (satiny, lacy and sexy) and Black Widow (burlesque-style details like cutouts), for any type of intimacy you might be in the mood for. We’ve even heard rumors of handcuffs, though we’ve yet to see them on the Savage x Fenty site.
Undies range from thongs to full briefs, and there is also an array of rompers, teddies and slips available in satins, sheers and lace. But if you had your eye on the Rihanna-endorsed black corset seen above, sadly, it’s already sold out.
Thankfully, the production team at Savage x Fenty planned ahead; as of press time, there’s still plenty left to get your hands on, though much of it won’t be ready to ship until early June. But with prices and selection like this, it’d be foolish not to cop at least one piece from this first collection, which, from the looks of things, is going to be a major part of Rihanna’s growing empire. Just think of it as an empowering little bit of retail therapy, as Rihanna suggested to Vogue in her June cover story:
Savage is really about taking complete ownership of how you feel and the choices you make. As women, we’re looked at as the needy ones, the naggy ones, the ones who are going to be heartbroken in a relationship. Savage is just the reverse.