Riri's a girl gone bad

Rihanna may be considered the style icon of her generation, but that title hasn't been sitting well with me of late.

Sure, she's designed collections for British high street brand River Island and released her own line of lipstick with MAC Cosmetics.

Everything she puts on gets talked about, and one must commend her chameleonic approach to her performance outfits every time she hits the stage.

But the 25-year-old Barbadian pop star's outfits for her Diamonds World Tour isn't shining bright in my books.

Now favouring a monochrome wardrobe that's a mix of couture, streetwear and sportswear, Rihanna has jettisoned sex appeal in favour of contrived swagger.

And we still have to address the atrocity that is her hair.

The fake-looking curly honey blonde weave - with black roots purposely on show - ranks alongside her Ronald McDonald-red wig, circa 2011, as her most hideous do ever.

1 Rihanna's get-up at the Mawazine music festival in Rabat, Morocco, in May put the "love" in my love-hate relationship with her latest fashion choices.

Her white oversized Miu Miu coat over black midriff-baring top and leggings, black Gianvito Rossi knee-high boots and vintage Versace clear sunglasses is an overall clean and cool look.

2 When it comes to this extravagant custom Givenchy black and gold stage costume, the piece de resistance from her tour, gaudy doesn't even begin to describe it.

The combination of massive embroidered hooded cloak, matching printed high-waisted shorts, leather bralet studded with gold star accents and thigh-high lace-up boots is just plain overkill.

3 Okay, this is something new from her, but not necessarily improved.

Rihanna performed at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark earlier this month in a bizarre, try-hard black and white striped ensemble - featuring a hat with attached scarf and oversized baseball shirt - from Kokon To Zai's menswear collection.

If this is statement dressing, her message seems to be "Yes, I'm losing it".

4 She appeared at the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival in Monaco two weeks ago togged in a white satin Balmain pleated and flared tuxedo halter dress and black satin Manolo Blahnik over-the-knee boots that's straight out of Tackyville.

Putting so much shiny fabric together is never a good idea, and her sweaty body just makes it worse.

Sartorially speaking, Rihanna's a good girl gone bad all right.


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