Whether on the red carpet or onstage, Rihanna turns everything she does into a major fashion moment, and her performance at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards was no exception. The “Wild Thoughts” singer performed her 2017 smash hit alongside collaborator DJ Khaled and more than a dozen backup dancers wearing a pink, glittery dress. And as it turns out, the look is officially the ~sparkliest~ thing she’s ever worn.
Rih’s stylist, Mel Ottenberg, took to Instagram to thank Adam Selman, the creative genius behind the next-level look. “@badgalriri tonight in custom @adamselman 275,000 crystals and a lot of love,” he wrote. “Thank you Adam and my other ride or dies too without you i’m nothing.”
As you may remember, Selman was also responsible for Rihanna’s legendary crystallized “naked dress” at the 2014 CFDA Awards. At the time, the designer told Elle that the dress required over 230,000 crystals — and a whole lot of manpower — to create. “We had people crystaling ’round the clock until 3pm the day of the event. It took 20 people to get it done,” he said. “A lot of them didn’t sleep! It was an amazing accomplishment and team effort. The effect was surprisingly lightweight and liquid.” In the end, it took 20 people seven days to complete the dress and matching headpiece.
Last night’s sparkly number required even more Kira Kira–worthy glitz, with nearly 50,000 (!!!) more gems than the 2014 version. She accessorized the fringe-y, fuchsia look with flowing curls and a hibiscus in her hair. Combined with the intense choreography that brought her all over the stage, she looked like an IRL version of the dancer emoji.
In addition to slaying the fashion game, Rihanna also took home the award for “Best Rap Song/Performance” for her collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, “LOYALTY.” To accept the award, she rocked an off-the-shoulder, chocolate-colored patent leather trench coat — complete with matching boots and gloves — by designer Alexandre Vauthier.
By Zoë Weiner
