FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA AW16 COLLECTION

The first ever FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA collection made its debut at NWFW. Just like the collection’s namesake creative director, the first season driven by Rihanna is nothing short of unexpected with a full collection of footwear, apparel and accessories for both women and men.

Rihanna drew inspiration from today’s Japanese street culture and tradition for this first full season collection since partnering with PUMA in December 2014. Mixing that cultural influence with gothic overtones and exaggerated volumes and proportions, the fashion icon challenged the traditional male and female silhouettes and blurred the lines between genders that are often times too rigid for her fashion tastes. This is exactly the kind of collection we at Talk Casuals have been waiting for and who better to bring it than Rihanna!

The bold AW16 collection keeps to a basic colour palette which we're pleased about. It's bold and very different from what we have seen from PUMA before, but Rihanna is taking them in a new direction and we are so excited about it. I feel she really does embody what they stand for, pushing sportswear fashion forward. The collection is nothing short of impressive.
Rihanna introduced styles such as a ground-sweeping Kimono Robe, Tear Away Tricot Track Suits, an attitude punched Lace-Up Jersey Corset, dresses and bodysuits. In her first collection, she played with shapes creating exaggerated long sleeve tops and jackets and voluminous hoodies and crew necks. Many apparel silhouettes play with laces, running up and down the pieces for an added edge. Outerwear styles, like the Velvet Bomber Jacket, serve both the fashion hungry and the function-needy. Each piece embodies a sexiness with a tough-as-nails attitude, both of those you'd find under 'Rihanna' in the dictionary.

“This collection is not only a representation of who I am and how I dress, but also pushes the boundaries of what I wanted to create with PUMA. I wanted to take PUMA to a new place with something unpredictable and unexpected. It's Japanese street culture with a haunting twist. I played with texture and silhouettes and all of the fabrics are luxurious. I reinterpreted the traditional in my way. I'm looking forward to sharing the collection with the fashion community and fans.” - PUMA Brand Ambassador and Women’s Creative Director, Rihanna.

A PUMA collection is never complete without footwear. As a follow up to her beloved PUMA Creeper launch, one of my favourite trainers in my current rotation, the AW16 collection ranges from show-stomping boots to sporty heels to trainers. An exaggerated over-the-knee Eskiva boot laced up on some of fashion’s top models turned heads on the runway.

Consumers can catch some of the shows footwear styles this Spring/Summer season including her first official modern and futuristic training shoe, the FENTY Trainer which hits stores worldwide on February 26th. Rihanna’s anxiously anticipated Fur Slide (an absolute essential for my collection)will launch in April and the infamous PUMA Creeper returns in May with new colours. I am beyond excited.

If that wasn't enough, the PUMA by Rihanna Accessories range features an over-the-top Bomber Jacket Bag, the Fur Waistbag fit with two pockets for you and your boo and fashionable durags, caps and headwear, chokers and veiled sweatband all to perfect the look.

The AW16 PUMA by RIHANNA collection, under her FENTY label,  will be available from the beginning September 2016. I need my hands on that velvet bomber!

What are your thoughts?