Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 24 May 2019
Rihanna feels the pressure as she makes fashion history

By THOMAS ADAMSON and plugged a glaring gap
Associated Press in the market for women
PARIS (AP) — Rihanna may with diverse ethnic back-
have looked cool and col- grounds.
lected next to the debut That initiative was said to
collection for her new fash- have caught the eye of
ion label, Fenty, donning a Europe's most powerful lux-
brilliant white tuxedo dress ury CEO, Bernard Arnault of
and a 1,000-watt smile. But LVMH.
on the inside it was another But the launch — steered
story. by an outsider with no for-
"It's all a facade," said the mal design training — has
Barbados-born star who also been greeted with a
has become the first black dose of cynicism.
woman to launch a major Fenty is a recognition that
Parisian fashion house. the fashion industry now
"Pressure? Of course... I'm formally considers a major
passionate about what I popstar to have as much
do, so there's pressure ev- to say in design as estab-
ery single second. It's not lished figures such as Nico-
like crumbling pressure, but las Ghesquiere of Louis
it's like: 'You better get it Rihanna poses as she unveils her first fashion designs for Fenty at a pop-up store in Paris, France, Vuitton, or even the laud-
good, girl.'" Wednesday, May 22, 2019. ed Alber Elbaz, formerly of
News of the singer's ground- Associated Press Lanvin. He is currently out of
breaking deal with LVMH, work.
the world's largest luxury after the singer-turned- this. It comes one year af- grant moving to America. Some say Fenty is the first
group, shook up the fashion designer's last name: She ter LVMH's Louis Vuitton That was a big journey for major house of the Insta-
industry earlier this month. was born Robyn Rihanna named its first ever Afri- me. And to even get here gram age.
Rihanna is the first woman, Fenty. The ready-to-wear, can American designer for to Paris — it's something to The Parisian fashion indus-
and the first person of col- footwear, accessories, and menswear, Virgil Abloh. celebrate and embrace." try — dominated by white
or, to create a major brand eyewear are available for "Right now, fashion in gen- The singer already has a males — is famously snooty,
under the luxury giant from sale in Paris' Le Marais area eral has been stepping up track record for embrac- and Rihanna will have a lot
scratch. At age 31, that's in a popup store from Fri- a lot and been vocal about ing diversity in the luxury to prove. At the launch, top
no mean feat. day and will debut online issues — whether it's subtly industry after she featured designers in attendance
"This is a moment in history... May 29. or aggressively," she said. some 40 shades of founda- such as Balmain's Olivier
It's a big deal for me and Speaking in the store amid While she said Fenty's am- tion in her hugely lucrative Rousteing and Dior's Ma-
my entire generation," she snapping cameras, she bitions are not "political," Fenty Beauty line in 2017. ria Grazia Chiuri studiously
said. said she felt the time was they're infused with the Many said that revolution- picked through the clothes
The collection is named right to make a move like story of "me as an immi- ized the makeup industry on display.q

The Stray Cats in mostly fine form on 1st album in 26 years

By JEFF KAROUB Fans looking for a good also done so well: craft en-
Associated Press time will find it, including during, memorable melo-
Stray Cats, "40" (Surfdog/ on the lead-off "Cat Fight dies. Go back and listen
BMG) (Over A Dog Like Me)." to "Stray Cat Strut," which,
After 26 years, the Stray Like the Cats classic "Rock for all its goofiness (meee-
Cats are back with a new This Town," there's dancing, ow!), contains one of the
album. And the seasoned drinking and fighting. Well, best bridges in all of pop
felines are in mostly fine this time it's mostly fighting music. There's also "I Won't
form. — two women tussling over Stand In Your Way," a gem
The boys who brought the affections of the nar- in both its full band and a
rockabilly back into the rator, the aforementioned cappella versions.
mainstream in the 1980s "dog like me." The music One new song delivers the
haven't lost a spare snare. rocks so joyously, you can melodic goods: "Desper-
The simple, elegant rhythm deal with the tomcat-fool- ado" shines with soaring,
section of drummer Slim Jim ery. aching musical lines from
Phantom and bassist Lee Another highlight, "Cry Setzer. Yet those come
Rocker remains, provid- Danger," offers a tight mu- from his guitar, not voice,
ing a solid foundation for sical groove and inverts in this instrumental. That's
guitarist-singer Brian Setzer. the Beatles' "Day Tripper" no knock against it, but
Setzer's guitar still shimmies riff. Coupled with a bop- you can almost hear him
and sways and the voice is pin' bass and tambourine singing with his guitar and
still there — though under- shake, you've got an origi- wonder what it would have
standably a little huskier as nal that's a worthy callback been like with words. This cover image released by Surfdog Records shows "40," the
time marches on. to the 1965 hit by another Bottom line? The Stray latest release by Stray Cats.
No doubt, they've got the rockabilly-besotted band. Cats can slink down the al- Associated Press
throwback sound down on So, if "40" rocks 'n' rolls, then ley any way they choose.
"40," named to celebrate what's lacking? Something And this collection shows (lives?) left. Still, it feels like a portunity when you know
their anniversary. that Setzer and Co. have they've still got some life bit of a missed melodic op- what else this trio can do.q