So, I decided I was gonna go as Rihanna for Halloween this year. You know, she’s always got these killer looks, and I figured, hey, I can probably throw something together. Sounded easy enough at the time, but let me tell you, the journey from “idea” to “actual outfit” was a trip.
First off, picking which Rihanna. The woman has a million iconic moments! I spent a good while just scrolling, trying to find something that screamed “Rihanna” but also wouldn’t require me to, like, sell a kidney to afford the materials. Or, you know, something I wouldn’t freeze in because Halloween nights here can get pretty nippy.
The Hunt Begins
I landed on trying to recreate one of her more casual but still super cool street style looks. You know, something with a bit of an edge, maybe some denim, a cool top. I thought, “Okay, this should be doable.” I even sketched it out roughly on a piece of scrap paper. Looked great on paper, real simple.
Then I actually started looking for the pieces. That’s where the fun, and by fun, I mean mild frustration, kicked in. I needed a specific type of oversized, distressed denim jacket. Went to a couple of thrift stores first. Found a lot of denim, sure, but nothing quite right. It was either too small, too clean, or just… not the vibe. I even considered buying a new one and trying to distress it myself. Watched a couple of videos on it. Seemed like a lot of work and a high chance of me just ruining a perfectly good jacket.
DIY Dreams vs. Reality
I remember last year I tried to make this elaborate fairy wing contraption. Saw it online, looked magical. Mine ended up looking like a moth had a fight with a glue gun. So, I was a bit wary of going too deep into DIY territory this time around with the jacket. I just kept thinking about those sad, droopy wings.
So, back to the stores. I must have visited five different places. Online was even worse – pictures can be so deceiving, right? And the prices for anything that looked remotely close were just wild. I was starting to think maybe “Rihanna’s essence” was more achievable than a direct copy.
- Scoured my own closet for hidden gems.
- Texted a few friends to see if they had anything I could borrow.
- Seriously considered just wearing all black and calling it “Bad Gal Riri.”
Pulling It All Together
Okay, so the perfect jacket remained elusive. I found an older denim jacket I already owned. It wasn’t oversized, but it had potential. I unpicked some seams to make it a bit looser, roughed up the edges with some sandpaper. Not exactly high fashion, but it started to have a bit of character.
For the rest, I managed to find a cool band tee that felt right. Paired it with some ripped black jeans I already had. The key, I figured, was in the accessories and the attitude. I layered on a bunch of silver necklaces, found some chunky rings. Popped on some big sunglasses, even though it was gonna be dark. It’s about the look, right?
Makeup was the next challenge. I’m no pro, but I watched a few Rihanna makeup tutorials. Tried to get that Fenty Beauty glow. My eyeliner game is still a work in progress, but I put in the effort. A bold lip color helped pull it all together, I think.
Finally, I put the whole thing on. Stood in front of the mirror. Was I a carbon copy of Rihanna? Nope. But did it feel like a cool, Rihanna-inspired Halloween costume? Yeah, actually, it kinda did. It felt like my version of it, cobbled together with a bit of effort and a lot of improvisation.
And you know what? It was fun. The process of hunting and figuring things out, even when it was a bit annoying, was part of the adventure. And when a couple of people at the party actually said, “Hey, are you Rihanna?” – that felt pretty good. So, mission accomplished, more or less. Already thinking about what slightly-too-ambitious costume I’m gonna tackle next year.
