Few items have the retro appeal of the sweater set. The classic combination of a cardigan plus a tank or short-sleeved top has been prevalent since the 1940s and remains a comfortable wardrobe staple today. Still, even perennially popular items can use an update, and yesterday in Manhattan, Rihanna revived the concept. Spotted out on the town after a meeting, the star wore a cream cashmere wrap sweater from Michael Kors’s Fall 2019 Collection. An asymmetrical piece with mock sleeves that tie around the waist or shoulders, it offered a playful twist on a wardrobe staple. Paired with a matching bodysuit, light-wash jeans from Balenciaga, and Rihanna’s new favorite Bottega Veneta mules in a new colorway, it was casual yet modern.
Of course, you don’t need a wealth of new designer gear to emulate Rihanna. The key to her success here was an adjustment of proportions; rather than going for the traditional prim silhouette, Rihanna opted for a form-fitting bodysuit with spaghetti straps. By divorcing the look from its preppy, buttoned-up associations, she made it feel fresh and worthy of music’s best-dressed.