History is Robyn Rihanna Fenty’s notepad (I imagine a leather-bound Fenty Homeware specimen). Given rare full creative freedom by the LVMH group, Rihanna (or ‘Mademoiselle’, as she’s nicknamed by her Paris team) created the house of FENTY and took the reins with aplomb - in kick-and-stab stiletto sandals planted firmly on the ground. Still sipping Haterade? In the words of Miss New York: “Look at the material.” Eight chart-topping albums, countless sell-out fashion collabs, FENTY Beauty making half a billion dollars in one year, artistry combined with savvy entrepreneurial fearlessness. “This is my one shot and I only get one time to do it and it can’t be wrong”, Ms Fenty told The New York Times, adding: “I will not back down from being a woman, from being Black, from having an opinion. I’m running a company and that’s exactly what I came here to do.” I love this song! Let’s get into it.


The Vision

The first woman to create a label from scratch under the LVMH logo-emblazoned umbrella and the first Black woman to head a luxury fashion house at an LVMH maison, heading the group’s first newly created brand since Lacroix in ‘87. “I hope men and women just wear it because they love it,” Rihanna told Vogue. The designs are spearheaded by Rihanna and Fenty style director / long-term collaborator Jahleel Weaver. The demand will be high but supply won’t be seasonal. Using a Supreme-like straight-to-consumer monthly drop system, FENTY will forego the traditional fashion show plus six-month wait approach. It’s all very historic, but is it any good? Why yes.

The Style

‘5-19’ is the name of the debut drop of FENTY ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories. Bold lines, structural cinched boning and exaggerated silhouettes (the face-enveloping shades and boxy blazer looks) in muted tones from peachy blush to beige and white or strong indigo Japanese denim assert a confident first look. The mac coat and corset t-shirts are sure to make the rounds on IG. Wearable but uncompromisingly sensual and created with diverse body types in mind. “I’m a curvy girl, if I can’t wear my stuff then it just won’t work. I need to see how it looks on my hips, on my thighs, on my stomach”, Rihanna shared at the launch preview. Just don’t wait for more of the same stuff, because each drop is centred around a new and differing mood. If you want it, get it now.

The Lookbook
Click the arrows to scroll through the 18 outfits in the first FENTY lookbook.

FENTY For Men (Gender = A Social Construct)

These clothes are made for all, as proven by Edward Enninful being one of the first FENTY shoppers - as well as Jahleel Weaver wearing that already-classic all-denim look. If you like it, you get it.


The Launch

The first online release is slated for May 29 2019. If you’re in the vicinity of Paris however, you can get first dibs in a brick-and-mortar pop-up opening Friday May 24, exactly fourteen years after the debut of ‘Pon De Replay’. Emotions!

The Store

From the left side of an island to the right bank of Paris. In an azure-walled pop-up store right near the Place des Vosges, Paris-based shoppers can get the first FENTY from May 24 till June 2. Follow the lead of preview visitors Kris Van Assche, Olivier Rousteing, Paloma Elsesser, Edward Enninful, Glenn Martens, Telfar Clemens and many more. Set your GPS:

Rue de Turenne 10
Paris, France
May 24 – June 2 2019
11 AM – 8 PM


What The People Are Saying
Overall, bank accounts are shaking and people are living.


The Prices & Sizes
FENTY’s here, but at what cost? Tops start at $200, footwear is set to range from $600 to $700, sunglasses start at $420, jewellery from $350 to $600 and outerwear from $1,100 to $1,500. Sizes go up to a French 46 (US size 14).

Keep an eye on fenty.com to shop and receive updates.


Header image: (c) Glen Luchford for FENTY