Of Course Rihanna Is Already Wearing 2023’s Most Divisive Shoe

Rihanna has kept a relatively low profile since welcoming a little boy with A$AP Rocky back in May, but it seems the Fenty mogul is finally coming out of hibernation – much to the delight of celebrity style watchers everywhere. Earlier this week, Rih delivered yet another masterclass in date-night style while visiting the Nolita restaurant Emilio’s Ballato, wearing an LBD underneath a white Raf Simons shirt (a bold choice when dining at a historic red-sauce joint). Adding a touch of glamour to her insouciantly cool look? Some crystal-embellished satin pumps courtesy of The Attico.

It’s her footwear during another Manhattan outing on Friday, though, that’s destined to go viral. In spite of the sweltering August temperatures in NYC, the recently anointed billionaire strutted down the pavement in thigh-high Y/Project boots, a shoe that appeared in various colorways and materials on the brand’s spring/summer 2023 runway. “We always try to invite our customers to enjoy the garments and play with them,” creative director Glenn Martens told Vogue of the presentation’s many provocative silhouettes. “It’s a bit like Gothic cathedrals, a Flemish vibe… like Bruges.”