Shopping
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Shopping: Flossie Saunders
Fashion
Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik’s collaboration is a flirty mix of denim and crystals on serious spikes
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Tattooed, beautiful and oozing sass and sexuality, Rihanna isn’t just a musical megastar, WWD recently named her the most marketable celebrity on earth. LVMH has paid her $10m to create a make-up range for 2017. She was the first black face of Dior, has been creative director of Puma womenswear since 2014 and signed a rumoured $25m promo deal with Samsung.
But not all her collaborations are about money: the six-piece collection of denim shoes she co-designed with Manolo Blahnik was all about satisfying her love of heels. Design meetings were squeezed in between tour rehearsals and studio dates on her intimidating global itinerary. “I flew to see him. He flew to see me,” she says. Of course, every shoe has a sinuous spike heel, and she describes the look she was after as “a cross between dancehall queen and cowgirl”.
Rihanna loves Blahnik. “I adore him! There’s something pure and innocent and honest about him, almost like a child,” she says. “His spirit is very free, and when he talks about shoes, he’s the most passionate I’ve ever seen.”
She’s right. When I meet Blahnik to preview the collection, he picks up a version of the denim sandals Rihanna gave to Michelle Obama and sends it flying across the room. A bundle of nervous energy, he’s in a tizz because his showroom is not looking as perfect as he’d like it. The only thing that will calm him down is to talk about Rihanna.
“She did something so ravishing with her neck,” he says, speaking of the first time they met. “She’s got something more than external beauty: it’s the movements of that body. In the flesh, she’s more beautiful. Her skin is sensational and she smells divine.”
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Working with Rihanna pushed Blahnik out of his comfort zone.
He’s not a fan of jeans and had never worked with denim before. “But I thought, why not?” The embroideries, made by hand in India, are inspired by Rihanna’s tattoos. “I told her, when you get old, they will fade,” scolds Blahnik. “I said that to David Beckham, too.”
The septuagenarian shoe maestro’s meeting with the 28-year-old superstar was unexpected: Rihanna called him, not the other way round. “It was a strange collaboration,” he says. “But one of my favourite things is to interpret talent. She’s not a celebrity, she’s an artist.” What’s more, the pair hit it off so well, they’re set to collaborate again later this year. If the shoe fits...
Denim Desserts by Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik are available from the Burlington Arcade shop, London W1, from Thursday
Words: Claudia Croft
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Beauty: get the glow
Big news. I recently went outside without a coat on for the first time this year. The sun was so strong, I rolled up my sleeves, but my arms were pasty and dull. Now, it’s not quite time to worry about a head-to-toe tan, but you may want to warm up the bits on show. For lower legs, try the roll-on This Works Perfect Legs Sculpt & Shine (£28). It gives an instant, soft-focus sheen. Tackle elbows, arms and hands by using a mitt to buff in Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant Skin HD Finish (£29.50). And don’t forget your décolletage: slap on Dove DermaSpa Summer Revived body lotion (£7) instead of your usual moisturiser. That, with a dusting of any matt bronzer on your collarbone, will see you through to summer. Here’s hoping it arrives soon.
Question time
Do I really need an eye cream?
Yes and no (sorry). “In theory, you can add an extra layer of your usual face cream,” says Dr Frances Prenna Jones, a cosmetic anti-ageing doctor, who says Vaseline does the trick. “But if you want to tackle problems such as dark circles or sun damage, a facial moisturiser won’t cut it. You’ll need a more concentrated formula.”
Back to Beauty School: make-up bag bargains
A fellow commuter asked me the other day where my eyeshadow was from. I proudly announced that it was a £6.50 Barry M Natural Glow 2 shadow and primer palette.
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Three more great products that don’t cost a bomb
A long-lasting nude lipstick As long as you’ve prepped your lips with a balm, Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 42 (£5.50) is a warm, creamy hue that stays put.
A flattering blush Tap L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blush Trio (£8) lightly onto the apples of your cheeks. The three different shades promise a natural-looking pop of colour.
A gel-effect kohl If you love a classic cat flick, but you don’t have a steady hand, the Maybelline Master Drama eyeliner (£4.50) is intense, like a liquid, and easy to apply, like a pencil.
Party
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Queens of the desert
All aboard a British Airways A380 to Los Angeles for Coachella, the annual two-weekend frolic in the desert that we Brits have taken to like fish to water. Festival favourite Hunter made the crossover from the UK festie scene, with its bombers being spotted on Suki Waterhouse, Ellie Goulding and Jamie Chung. Leading the Brit charge was Poppy Delevingne, who hosted her own pool party with the etailer Shopbop. Her tips for festival newbies? “Wear sunscreen, stay hydrated and don’t forget your sense of humour,” she told us. Her house-party rules? “Speakers the size of Pluto, and sunshiny, happy people. Oh, and cheeseburgers. Endless cheeseburgers, so everyone can keep their energy up.” We did ask what her favourite festival moment had been, but “it’s all been a little hazy, to be honest”, she told us. Next stop? “Glastonbury. I can’t wait for the mud.” See you there, babes.
Overheard
‘Every time I meet Bianca Jagger, I have to reintroduce myself. I can’t remember how many times we’ve met’ — Patrick Cox at Annabel’s
Driven wild
You’re not a supermodel until you stop traffic — or something like that — as Jourdan Dunn discovered when she co-hosted a party to celebrate the opening of the new Kate Spade store. Peering from behind the glass at the throng of fans gathered outside, she decided to take the leap. “I’m just going to go out there,” she said, before one hapless PR tried to intervene and hold back the crowds, narrowly missing being thrown into the path of an approaching taxi. Yikes.
Global ambition
The Americans flew into town recently, with the Council of Fashion Designers of America hosting a cocktail reception to showcase the latest talent from across the pond. Diane von Furstenberg hosted a talk with the British designer Mary Katrantzou. What did DVF think of all the recent changes in fashion? “I think change is good,” she told us. Any advice for new designers? “Start small — but think global.” You heard it from the top.
Words: Michael Hennegan
#Instawoman
Cherry Healey
The TV presenter, 35, has just published her first book, Letters to My Fanny, a memoir about girls’ issues. She lives in London with her two children, Coco, 6, and Bear, 2
@cherryhealey
Books
As a working mum, I really miss reading books — mostly nonfiction — so I keep them in the loo. A paragraph is better than nothing, even if takes me five years to finish a book.
Style
Tights are the most underrated item of clothing. I might wear a simple outfit with opaques in the day, but carry a fun pair for the evening and, boom, your outfit becomes playful and sexy.
Being open
I grew up with three very silly brothers. It seems as if boys are allowed to talk about everything — poo, farts, masturbation — so being open feels like second nature now. But there’s a fine line between being liberated and being attention-seeking; hopefully I veer towards the former.