I have had Rihanna’s ANTi album on repeat since its release. I often joke that Rihanna is my spirit guide; this sentiment intensifies as I grow older. There are many things that can be said about this album. I even came across a tweet that compared the album to a mixtape. I am of the opinion that this particular piece of work was rushed.
With that being said, when I listen to it, the one word that comes to mind is “bravado.” I think it is safe to say that Rihanna has reached a point in her career where she has ample room to roam and experiment as she pleases; to err, to peak, to plummet and restore.
This is not a post about Rihanna but rather a reflection on notes I have taken from her unapologetic nature. It has taken me 10 odd years to understand that there is no benchmark when it comes to the type of woman I “should” be. In fact, it has become far more pertinent for me to focus on the kind of human being I would like to become. It is so easy to fall into the trap of living a life fuelled by perception, so much so that the process of becoming is often overlooked.
There is this constant unrelenting pressure to arrive at a destination that is presently unknown; to have answers to questions that have yet to be asked. The world essentially implores you to be prepared, to pull off everything seamlessly and with all the finesse that Sean Connery possesses.
Unfortunately, this is not a Bond movie. Life is a series of troughs and crests. There is something so intimate about one’s own trajectory. While it may seem desirable to borrow bits from the lives of others at times, it is paramount to face your own reality. We, as individuals, are a sum of all parts. Our mistakes are of our own brand. Our triumphs are of our own design. No one is infallible.
It is so easy to wait for someone else to tell you who you are. However, it is far more rewarding to define that for yourself. You set the pace, the beat and the tone. There has never been a greater time to own who you are than the now. There’s an ineffable beauty that stems from one’s ability to embrace their flaws and own their shortcomings.
Style is very similar to this life journey in that you are constantly becoming and refining as you go. I am constantly undergoing some sort of stylistic flux. Finding new silhouettes and developing a new aesthetic is always thrilling. I think it is imperative to award yourself the opportunity to try new things and mess around until you find your desired fit. At the end of the day it is all about that bravado – own it.
THE BEFITTING ROOM 