So as some of you may know, on October 2nd, 2020, Rihanna released her second Savage x Fenty Show on Amazon Prime. So, as someone who loves Rihanna and fashion shows, I was like “Okay, of course I’m going to watch this and write an article about it.” And just to start, I want to say what an experience this show was; it had everything- great performances, amazing styling, a stellar cast of models, and insight into Rihanna, the creator’s, thought process and creative insights. Most importantly though, in my opinion, was the celebration of individual confidence and sexuality.
A Show of Performance
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This lingerie fashion show was unlike any lingerie fashion show I have ever seen, or any fashion show I’ve ever seen for that matter. To start, the show itself did not feel like your typical walk down the runway and pose show, but rather a performance showcase in which the performers just so happened to be wearing Savage x Fenty lingerie. Not only did Rihanna have models from just the fashion industry, meaning “typical” models such as Irina Shayk or Bella Hadid, she also had models from the entertainment industry, such as Paris Hilton and Demi Moore, and from the music industry, such as Lizzo and Big Sean, which further added to feeling of this not being your typical fashion show, but rather a performance where the costumes were Savage x Fenty lingerie. I must admit, at first I was thrown off a bit and felt unsure whether or not I would enjoy this format, but after about five minutes I was enthralled by the performance and how it showcased the way the fabric of the lingerie moved on and with the wearers’ bodies. Furthermore, I found the dance numbers that were scattered throughout the show to be very captivating in how it was a departure from other lingerie shows I have seen in how it made the show feel more lively and exciting.
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The Styling
The styling in the show is another thing that really struck me, especially the makeup and hair. The makeup in the first segment of the show and the garden segment looked very high fashion and artsy in a way that reminded me of a designer fashion week show rather than a lingerie fashion show, where makeup is usually more of a natural, sexy glam. In addition to this, I loved how the models had different hairstyles rather than different variations of the same hairstyles, since this added to the element of individuality that the show focused on.
The Creator’s Vision
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I loved how between each segment there were interviews with the models and performers, but mostly with Rihanna regarding her creative vision. She discussed how since the lingerie line’s conception, inclusivity was always something she had in mind, without even giving it much thought, which was visible throughout the show, where models and performers were of different body types and diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, she discussed how her vision was also focused on individual sexuality and confidence, which I feel is a very important message to be sending through a lingerie brand. She discussed how this sexuality that is presented is about the individual wearer for themselves, rather than this sexuality being expressed for someone else, which also goes hand in hand with someone’s confidence, since when you are doing something for yourself because you are the one who likes it and it makes you feel good, first and foremost, you feel more in charge of yourself and more confident. She discussed how when choosing fabrics, she focuses on how it will feel on the skin, which is also a big part of the lingerie being for the wearer rather than someone else, because you might look good, but if you’re uncomfortable in what you’re wearing, it can be very hard to feel good, let alone sexy or confident. Additionally, this accounting for comfort is something that further adds to the line being for the wearer first, rather than it being for the wearer for someone else.
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Confidence and Sexuality
Something that really struck me as different about this show in comparison to other lingerie shows that I have seen was the raw, confident display of sexuality. Since the lingerie is designed with the first thought being the person wearing it, all of the displays of sexuality in show, usually in the form of sensual dancing, felt very individually confident, like “I’m expressing my sexuality and my confidence for myself, because I know I look good” rather than it being for someone else’s viewing pleasure. Lizzo was a great casting choice for this reason, since as a performer she oozes confidence and is a huge advocate for self-love and self-confidence, which made her a natural fit for this show, since her segment was full of confidence and expression of sexuality for oneself. Furthermore, Rihanna included quite a few drag queens in her show, such as Gigi Goode and Shea Coulée, which is something that I also found to be great because they modeled amazingly and was also another welcome departure from the typical model that is seen wearing lingerie, which is not reflective of everyone who wears lingerie. On that note, I just loved how everyone had their chance to look and be sexy and confident, regardless of whether or not they fit into the fashion industry’s conventional standards of beauty, which is something that I found to be very powerful and huge for the industry. I also appreciated how there were men also modeling in the show and expressing themselves in addition to women, which I felt was different from the typical lingerie shows that I’ve seen, which felt very much dominated by the male gaze and for the intention of pleasing men, whereas this show was all about you, the wearer.
Final Words
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Overall, I felt that this show should be a format that is more utilized by the fashion industry; I think all shows should be about how the clothes make the wearer feel, rather than being primarily focused on what the clothes look like, since at the end of the day, you’re the one wearing the clothes, not the other way around, and what you’re wearing should make you feel confident, or sexy, or whatever way you want. Rihanna definitely has a large influence in the creative world, so one can hope that other brands will take note and do their fashion shows in a similar format, which really puts the “show” in fashion show, since above all, this was a performance. Furthermore, I also hope other brands will take note of how Rihanna casted her show with different people from different areas of life, since I felt that this was more representative of the different people that will be wearing the clothes that are being shown; representation is always discussed as being important, both on TV and in politics, so why should fashion be any different?
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