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I can't say I'm enjoying all the posts about 2016 nostalgia. It wasn't my favorite year by any stretch of the imagination, though I do appreciate reminiscing about some of the beauty trends. But if I'm really gonna get wistful about the way things were—especially when it comes to hair and makeup—I'd prefer 2012. I strongly associate that year with the ubiquitous messy top knot and strong red lip, and Rihanna is proving that this combo deserves a comeback.
Back in November 2011, right before the top knot trend exploded, Allure said, “Everyone's doing it these days.” Truer words, am I right? “It's a style that, a few years ago, many of us reserved exclusively for the days we spent in sweatpants, our only accessory a TV remote. That's probably what makes it so cool. It feels haphazard and easy, even when paired with an elegant gown.”
And in the case of Rihanna in 2026, it looks undeniably awesome with a very mob-wife ensemble: head-to-toe tiger print in the form of a nearly ankle-length fur coat, matching heels, and a cascading fur stole. (Whether or not they're real, I cannot be sure.) She layered a gold choker under a slightly longer diamond necklace, and hid any eye look she might have been wearing under dark sunglasses.
Photo: Getty
Photo: Getty
Thankfully, she didn't hide that lip color, a bold, classic kind of red that I had in heavy rotation back in the day. (Though I wouldn't be surprised if she's wearing Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color, a product that didn't even exist in 2012.) And of course, she topped it all off (literally) with the ultimate messy bun. Tendrils hang loosely in the front, it's pulled to different levels of tautness around her head, and the ends splay out, creating a too-cool-to-care look.
Photo: Getty Images
It really is about time we bring back this vibe, and I'm happy to be the one to take the cue from Rihanna first.
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