There really are no rules in the world of beauty—you’re free to self-express as you please. But if there was a command, it would be to always look to Rihanna as a beholder of the no-rules rule: She can do no wrong.
On Wednesday, December 4, Miss Robyn Rihanna Fenty attended the Footwear News Achievement Awards (that’s essentially the Oscars for shoes, FYI) in New York. And yet, her shoes—while certainly something special—were the least interesting thing about her look. The most interesting? Her bangs. Blunt, choppy bangs that cut all the way across her forehead.
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Now that she’s back to her dark hair, the texture of the bangs was even more pronounced against her forehead. People often think heavy when they think blunt, but this fringe was thin. Styled just so by hairstylist Naphia White, it had visible gaps, the largest of which fell above her left eyebrow. You know how some people shave a line in their eyebrow? An eyebrow slit, if you will? This reminds me of that, but a little easier to tackle for one night only.
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The bangs weren’t the only exciting part of the hairstyle, either. The Fenty Beauty mogul matched them with a gigantic spiky updo that seemed to take inspiration from both the early aughts and Cindy Lou Who.
As for the rest of her look, the “Love on the Brain” singer’s makeup artist Priscilla Ono chose a light, nude shadow to pair with heavy feathered lashes. A touch of warm blush and an expertly lined glossy lip—brown liner, pink gloss was the color combo du jour—finished the deal. (All products were Fenty, naturally).
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Styled by Jahleel Weaver, she accessorized with diamonds and pearls and wore a custom white Alaïa dress with a popped collar.
And if you’re wondering, because it is a fair question, her shoes were custom Manolo Blahnik: stark white sandals with straps that criss-crossed up her calves. So good… but the bangs stay winning.