This is Rihanna’s second Vogue cover this year, following her stint as the face of US Vogue’s April Shape Issue. I like Rihanna—I think her style is fun and she sings songs that make me either feel things or want to dance—but this latest cover is a dud.
The asymmetrical top on her Armani is trying too hard, as is the bottoms-up angle of the shot. Neither are flattering, and the background is a bore. From the styling to the photography to the layout, I think the creative team is probably most responsible for the shortcomings here, but it’s not like Rihanna’s stilted pose is doing this shot any favors.
