RIHANNA'S FIRST FENTY PERFUME ISN'T JUST A SCENT, IT'S AN EXPERIENCE//RIHANNA AND A$AP ROCKY SPOTTED FILMING A MUSIC VIDEO IN THE BRONX

UPDATE (August 2, 2021): Rihanna‘s Fenty Beauty has officially announced its very first fragrance. The unisex scent, simply titled Fenty Eau de Parfum, captures Rih’s essence — an intriguing prospect for fans and perfume enthusiasts alike.

Created in collaboration between Rihanna and perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the scent is “spicy and sweet all at once,” per a press release. Taking inspiration from the singer’s favorite places (Bridgetown, Barbados; Grasse and Paris, France; New York City and Los Angeles), notes of magnolia and musk are combined with fruity and floral accords including tangerine, blueberry, rose and geranium.

“It’s an experience, it’s a memory, encapsulated into a fragrance,” Rih herself said of the scent. “One smell, you’ll never forget it.” The artist extended her personal touch to the packaging, too. An amber-brown bottle reflects the icon’s favorite color, as well as her distinct aesthetic that merges vintage and modern, masculine and feminine. “Brown is my favorite color. Brown is who I am. Brown is what I come from. If I’m going to make a fragrance that represents me, even the body language of the bottle needs to marry that,” she explained.

Fenty Eau de Parfum will retail for $120 USD and release on August 10 at the Fenty Beauty website.

Fenty Beauty

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ORIGINAL STORY (July 28, 2021): Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is finally venturing into the world of fragrances. The Barbadian musician and designer took to Instagram to tease her brand’s new product with the caption, “#FentyParfum Coming Soon.”

Fenty Beauty also announced the upcoming launch with a sneak peek of what the perfume bottle looks like. Based on the short Instagram clip, the packaging arrives in a see-through sunset orange bottle engraved with the Fenty logo. “Something sensual, confident yet sexy. Coming your way very soon…,” the label said.

Keep your eyes peeled here as we wait for more details to surface about the Fenty Parfum.

Walking the streets of the Bronx, the couple stunned in different outfits while engaging in PDA in front of the camera. As seen in the behind-the-scenes images above, Rocky sported Look 16 from Stefan Cooke‘s Fall/Winter 2021 collection, while Ri-Ri was dressed in earthy tones put together by her stylist Matthew Henson. In another setup, the artists sat on the fire escape of an apartment dolled up in neon furry silhouettes.

Details on whose song they were filming for have not been disclosed yet. However, chances are that they were working on Rocky’s music video as he revealed back in May that he was 90 percent finished with his new album, tentatively titled All Smiles.

FRESH KICKS:

Louis Vuitton has created a brand new sneaker called Charlie. The upcoming unisex silhouette arrives in a low- and high-top version dressed in the same white colorway.

As part of its sustainability efforts, the fashion house has produced the shoes with 90 percent recycled and bio-sourced materials. The upper is made out of smooth and grained synthetic fabric composed of recycled polyester and a layer of corn-based plastic called Biopolioli. Meanwhile, the sole is crafted from 94 percent recycled rubber and the laces are made with ECONYL, a 100 percent recycled nylon. Finally, the inside sole and lining boast recycled polyurethane and recycled polyester.

Both iterations are protected with a felt made with TENCEL (branded fibers sourced from renewable wood) and are packaged in a recycled cardboard box. Take a closer look at the pairs above.

Ranging from sizes 34 to 47 EU, the Charlie will be available on November 12 via Louis Vuitton’s website.The shoe arrives in a “Fossil” theme throughout, with the ivory shade splashed across the synthetic and fabric upper. While maintaining the original silhouette, the design is updated with woven details along the upper, providing extra ventilation. Swoosh branding is stamped onto the sides, as the midsole provides contrast in crisp white. The design is rounded out with a translucent Air unit and gum outsole.

Currently available in regions like Hong Kong for $180 USD, the woven Air Max 97 LX is expected to receive a wider release soon.The slip-on slides are dressed mostly in a crisp “Cloud White” hue, while the heel is covered with a pop of “Green,” just like the tennis kicks. Elsewhere, perforated Three Stripes can be found on the synthetic upper printed with adidas’s logo in gold. Rounding out the cozy footwear style are the synthetic outsoles and the label’s branding towards the heel. Take a closer look at the piece above.

The adidas Originals Adilette “Cloud White/Green” retails for £38 GBP (approximately $52 USD) and is now available via adidas UK.Titled Dunk High Rebel, the silhouette arrives in a sacai-like design featuring a double-stacked midsole, two collar flaps, two different sized Swooshes and a two-toned mudguard. In terms of color, the sneaker boasts shades of pastel pink, purple, orange, yellow and green across the upper, while the midsoles and outsoles are dressed in white and beige. Take a closer look at the footwear style above.

Priced at $120 USD, the Nike Dunk High Rebel will release on August 10 via online retailers like Asphalt Gold.The upcoming release comes with a black tension band and bi-stable hinge that allows hands-free wear. The upper is dressed in a striking orange-red hue, with a black Swoosh peeping through the mesh outer layer. The design is rounded out with a white midsole with black, pink and red grips on the outsole.

Take a closer look above. Nike has yet to announce an official release date, but the GO FlyEase “Red/Black” will retail for $120 USD, hopefully with more stock available.Unlike many other partnerships that have maintained the original silhouette, the footwear brand’s Classic Clog is reworked with an entirely new look. Taking inspiration from his very own fingerprint motif, Bembury has added texture to the white foam upper with oval-shaped cutouts throughout. Black is added to the straps and heels for contrast, while Crocs and Bembury’s logos are embossed at the rear. The front of the design sports a semi-translucent material to round out the style.

DJ AND DESIGNER VASHTIE ON HOW MOTHERHOOD HAS TRANSFORMED HER STYLE

Since establishing her brand Violette in 2008, DJ and designer Vashtie has been a key contributor to cultivating Downtown Manhattan‘s fashion scene. Growing up, Vashtie was inspired by the style of her favorite musicians like Aaliyah, The Notorious B.I.G. and Kurt Cobain, but everything changed when she moved to the Big Apple in 1999. Her aesthetic became heavily influenced by the streets’ emerging trends. Most recently, her new lifestyle as a mother has once again altered the way she dresses on a daily basis.

In continuation of HBXWM‘s Female Series, we spoke to Vashtie about the evolution of her style, as well as the new habits she’s picked up since becoming a mom. Read on for our conversation and head to HBXWM to shop Vashtie’s outfits, including pieces from Prada, Burberry, Nanushkaand more.

Jack Waterlot

Tell us about your style. How has it evolved since you became a mom?

I am such a creature of habit and routine. My style has always been of a tomboy nature, mostly because it’s how I dressed when I was a kid, and it’s comfortable. I love wearing vintage T-shirts, baggy jeans and sneakers. Of course, when I DJ or do more on-camera work, I play up my style. On a casual day, I’m very relaxed and comfortable. Becoming a mom has really left my style unchanged, but it has increased my interest in “serving a look.” I think it’s because I really want my kid to be able to look back at old photos of me and say, “Wow, my mom really had great style,” and not see me wearing the same old comfy outfits all the time.

What are some staple pieces you always keep in your rotation?

White Nike Air Force 1s, black Carhartt pants, dark blue Dickies and a few good oversized vintage tees.

Jack Waterlot

You’ve been focusing a lot on health and wellness. What has inspired you to explore this topic?

I began a vegetarian diet while I was in junior high and at the time, it was for my love of animals. I eventually became vegan and started to feel the difference when I ate fresh vegetables and fruits as opposed to processed food. I thought I felt fine before I went vegan, and when I did go vegan, I experienced a lightness and clarity that I can’t quite explain.

I grew up eating fast food, tons of candy and drinking a lot of soda. Now, I start my day with lemon water and celery juice. It took some time but I cannot imagine eating any other way. We only have one body and taking preventative measures now is so important for anti-aging and wellness.

I think I started to explore this topic more as I got older, because I was interested in taking every step to improve myself for life and work. To me, being great at all the things I want to succeed in meant getting my mind, body and soul to be healthy.

Jack Waterlot

What are some of the biggest changes you’ve made to your lifestyle?

I’m fully vegan and try to eat gluten-free. I only buy organic produce to avoid pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and genetic modifications. I also eat a ton of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. I’ve also been following Anthony William, also known as the Medical Medium, for many years now and sticking to his protocols. By following his information, I’ve also healed myself of hypothyroidism.

What was your experience like being pregnant during the pandemic?

I was pregnant right when the pandemic began, which made for an interesting time. It was scary because no one knew what was going on and the experts kept updating the public with new, and oftentimes, conflicting facts. I knew that I needed to keep myself safe for the baby, so my husband and I stayed indoors, quarantined and never saw friends or family. It was also a sad time because of not being able to see friends and family, but being safe was the main priority. Now, we are starting to see everyone and they are finally meeting our baby. I guess all we can do is make up for lost time and celebrate as much as we can.

Jack Waterlot

What advice would you give to new moms? What has been your biggest learning experience?

No exaggeration — you are doing superhero work! It’s a rollercoaster ride, but just know that it’s all temporary. The hard times won’t last, but the good times also become memories very quickly. Time will fly by, so make sure to soak in all the moments. Be good to yourself, because you can’t take care of another person if you are not whole. Sleep whenever you can — the difference between a rough day with no sleep and just a rough day is monumental.

My biggest learning experience is to let go. I’ve always been the type of person to “will” things to happen, but with a baby, you sometimes have to accept that certain things may or may not happen — and that is okay. You do what you can and celebrate the wins of that day.

How has music influenced your personal style?

New and evolving musicians had a huge impact on my style as a kid. Artists like Nas, Aaliyah, Kurt Cobain, The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep and Weiland really shaped me when I was growing up. However, I currently don’t find inspiration for my personal style through music as much. Maybe it’s because I live in New York City and get to see emerging styles on the street. Where I live, Two Bridges/Chinatown, is super exciting because the young people here have such a diverse and interesting style, and it’s definitely inspiring me.

Jack Waterlot

How have you seen the streetwear scene evolve over the past few years? 

I feel like it’s evolved exponentially. It went from being a small space of few pioneering brands and designers with diehard fans, to a never-ending list of brands being born every day and full of trend-hungry consumers. I’m excited that the world has fully recognized the power of streetwear, and I love that it’s growing.

What changes would you still like to see?

I’d love to see streetwear really become more eco-friendly and earth-conscious. It would be nice to see sneaker brands utilizing non-animal skins, and clothing brands to embrace recycled fabrics.

What are you most excited about this year?

I’m most excited to see friends and family and watch the world open back up, but most importantly, continue to see us as people evolve. The pandemic was a major shift for all of us and I think as much as we want things to go back to “normal,” we have created a better vision of what “normal” means. I feel like as a whole, we are starting to understand how our thoughts, words and actions impact others and that we need to be involved in our communities, whether it’s to speak for the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding representation, supporting the LGBTQIA+community, ending animal cruelty and suffering, or stopping anti-Asian hate. Our lives are not singular on this planet.

INTERVIEWER

 

TORA NORTHMAN

PHOTOGRAPHER

 

JACK WATERLOT

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT

 

SHANE ROONEY

MAKE-UP

 

DOTTI

HAIR STYLIST

 

ROLANDO BEAUCHAMP

STYLIST

 

JEAN CHUNG

STYLE ASSISTANT

 

CHARLIE KANE

MODEL

 

VASHTIE