• Our gallery has been updated with more high quality promotional photos from Rihanna’s latest two albums, “Unapologetic” and “Talk That Talk”. Click the thumbnails below to see them:

• Click here or watch below a video of RiRi hugging fans while leaving her hotel in New York City a couple days ago. Sweet!

• The Wanted has released a music video for their new single, “Walks Like Rihanna.” Click here to watch it.

• Amber Carrington impressed the judges with her performance of Rihanna’s “Stay” on Monday’s “The Voice” live playoffs. Watch the video here.

After keeping the same hairtsyle for months (which is rare!), RiRi decided to change it today in New York City. Take a look at a few photos after the jump.

RiRi Woo, Rihanna’s lipstick in collaboration with MAC Cosmetics, is now available online in a few countries– check your local MAC website to find out if you can buy it. RiRi tweeted:

This post is for the MAC girls everywhere!!! My very first, very own, signature red lipstick #RiRiWoo is FINALLY AVAILABLE!!!! Get it online at Maccosmetics.com #MACRiRiWoo #RedLipstick

The lipstick will also be sold at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center during Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour shows on May 4 and 5.

The four collections, known as RiRi Loves MAC, will break throughout 2013, and current plans call for 31 stockkeeping units. In another first, MAC is calling Rihanna a “creative partner” rather than a collaborator. Her name will appear on the packaging, and her signature will be embossed on the RiRi Woo lipstick case and on the bullets of the summer lipsticks, as well as several of the fall and holiday pieces.

UPDATE: RiRi Woo has sold out in 3 hours in North America! Sign up and be the first to shop when it returns this June in the next RiRi ♥ MAC Collaboration.

More details after the jump!

Via WWD:

The MAC agreement — which Rihanna called “a no-brainer” — will help her be even more creative. In an unprecedented deal for both, MAC and the Grammy winner have collaborated on multiple collections of color cosmetics that will roll out later this year.

The first product to launch will be RiRi Woo, a lipstick inspired by her favorite MAC red, Ruby Woo. Its release will coincide with Rihanna’s Diamonds Tour concerts on May 4 and 5 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, where MAC will open a pop-up shop on the first night to showcase the line.

“When you think of makeup, the brand that pops into your mind — for something legit — is MAC,” said the singer, who was dressed in a black, strappy, curve-hugging dress of her own design and matching Manolo Blahnik heels during an exclusive interview with WWD. “Whatever color you want, it’s like ‘Let’s go to MAC.’ I’ve been using MAC on tour for such a long time it was a natural fit for me. I have always loved makeup, and I always said that if I do it, I want to do it with a credible brand.”

Rihanna argues that creating makeup is no different from making songs — or clothing, for that matter. “Being creative is something that I love, so I can put that into different outlets. Music happens to be the first thing that I gravitated to, and now music opens doors to just so many different opportunities, and they all tie in. My makeup looks, my fashion looks…they help me to express myself as an artist. I think it helps people to understand me or my mood, my story.”

Although MAC has collaborated with myriad brands and celebrities in the past, this is the first time the brand has worked with a famous person for more than just a one-off project. “We always say that MAC likes to go on a date but doesn’t really want to go into a relationship,” said John Demsey, group president of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc., MAC’s parent company. “This relationship with Rihanna is a long-term one that involves the development of four distinct color initiatives.”

The four collections, to be known as RiRi [Hearts] MAC, will break throughout 2013, and current plans call for 31 stockkeeping units. In another first, MAC is calling Rihanna a “creative partner” rather than a collaborator. Her name will appear on the packaging, and her signature will be embossed on the RiRi Woo lipstick case and on the bullets of the summer lipsticks, as well as several of the fall and holiday pieces.

RiRi Woo will be sold at the Rihanna concerts and online, and a summer collection will follow, which will also be sold online. A third will land in brick-and-mortar stores for fall, and there will be an on-counter holiday collection.

The signature piece of the lineup, RiRi Woo, will be sold with all four collections. The summer collection also includes two additional lipsticks, a Lustre Drops shade and a powder blush duo. Fall’s 16 sku’s include four lipsticks, a deeply pigmented Lipglass version of RiRi Woo, two multishade eye shadow palettes and false lashes. (“She likes to wear two pairs at a time,” said Jennifer Balbier, MAC’s senior vice president of global product development, in an aside.) Holiday will bring another 10 items, including nail polish, a makeup bag and additional lipsticks.

Demsey stressed that the collections did not involve Rihanna slapping her name on generic product. “This was not a front,” he said. “This is a true, organic collaboration based on mutual admiration and respect. These four collections are like four tracks on a Rihanna compilation. Each one has its own vibe, look, special makeup packaging and flavor. This is really the convergence of pop culture, fast fashion, and iconic style and makeup,” he said, adding that he had been closely following the singer — with an eye to a potential deal — since she released her first single in 2005. “She’s a star. The world follows her look — how she wears her hair, her nails, her clothing, how she styles herself.”

While Demsey declined to discuss sales projections, industry sources estimated that the complete lineup could do $15 million at retail globally.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott have shot the campaign for the fall and holiday collections. “And that’s a #wrap on my shoot for my new #topsecret ad campaign!!!” the singer tweeted Jan. 27, sparking Internet speculation that she was doing a Chanel campaign, as she left the shoot wearing a Chanel necklace.

Seemingly everything Rihanna does makes news on an almost-daily basis — including her on-again, off-again relationship with Brown, her allegedly abusive boyfriend. When asked if that coverage was a potential downside for MAC, Demsey didn’t skip a beat.

“She’s a grown woman, and whatever makes her happy makes us happy. Life’s complicated. Far be it for us to judge,” he said.

Rihanna said she loved working on the collections — and even got her girlfriends involved. She said MAC gave her free rein with regard to packaging and colors, makeup textures and finishes, which she concocted with Balbier and James Gager, senior vice president and creative director of MAC.

“I really got to play,” Rihanna said. “There’s so much to choose from, and you can mix different textures with different colors and different greens in different eye shadows. I learned so much about the detail of makeup and what makes things look different. What makes it apply different is really important. Every little detail is important.”

Among those details were the rose-gold packaging, which will be used for her fall collection, and compacts in a pearly white with pink accents that will be used for the holiday collection. She said that one of the biggest surprises was seeing the result. “The package that we designed and the product that we created, to see it sitting there in your hand was kind of scary. It was like, ‘This cannot be real,’” she said.

Creating RiRi Woo was a particular challenge, she said: “Working with MAC, it’s difficult to get a red lipstick that beats Ruby Woo, because it works on every skin tone. I had so many different samples to choose from and so many different colors underneath — blue, yellow, orange and pink bases. And I got to pick one that worked, and I tried it on all my friends to make sure it worked on all of our skin tones.”

Balbier noted that Rihanna approached the task with a laser focus. “She wanted RiRi Woo to be slightly more blue-red and retro matte — a matte with moisturizer finish we’d used in a collection years ago and currently only have in one product,” she said. “She was especially adamant that the color be suitable for every skin tone.”

Gager was similarly impressed. “She could name all of our creative collaborations for years back and was pulling many of them out of a bag she brought to the meeting as she explained what she wanted in her collections,” he said.

As excited as she is about the MAC project, the entertainer is also reveling in her collaboration with the British high-street retailer River Island, a 120-piece collection for spring featuring sexy crop tops, hooded jumpsuits and skirts with high slits that will be sold through the retailer, and exclusively in the U.S. and Japan at Opening Ceremony.

“When it comes to creating things, I like to get my hands in there,” she said. “Tonight just blew my mind, it was like a dream come true. I mean, to have a fashion show in London Fashion Week. For this to happen so quickly was just sick. It was the same with MAC. I never thought I’d be able to create makeup with such a big brand so quickly at such a young age. It’s kind of sick to even say aloud when I think about it.”

• American idol contestant Angie Miller performed Rihanna’s “Diamonds” at last night’s show. Click here to watch it.
• Rihanna  is bringing her Diamonds World Tour to Abu Dhabi on October 19th at the du Arena on Yas Island. Tickets go on sale from midday Thursday May 9th at www.ticketmaster.ae. The concert will be an all-standing event. Ticket prices start from AED 250, with a limited quantity of Early Bird tickets available. Full ticket packages will be announced next week.
• Click here to watch a video of Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour book. Photos are also available in our gallery.
• Rihanna is the second sexiest woman in the world in 2013 according to FHM.
• Rihanna’s hairstylist, Ursula Stephen, has recently told The Cut how she started working with Ri. Click here to read the full interview.

[...] Two months later, I got Rihanna. She had a video for “Unfaithful” and her usual hairstylist couldn’t do it. I pulled up with my boyfriend at the time and was like “Oh, she’s cute.” Doing her hair was a breeze. Easy. She was like, “You’re already done?” She took a look, and said, “I like you.” I was like, “I like you, too.” Then I went overseas for the first time — to London — for her. They told me exactly what to bring and not bring. When I got there, Ri was like, “Um, I need a relaxer.” But they had told me not to bring that! I was so upset. I told her that normally I’d have everything in my kit. That’s when our bond started. From that point on, we started communicating, just us. She was getting ready to put out “Good Girl Gone Bad”. She liked my crazy hair — two inches long, then 20 inches long, then streaked. She said, “I want a new look for my new album … and I want it to come from you.” And that was: the Bob.

For a long time, people assumed that a white, gay, L.A. hairstylist was cutting Rihanna’s hair. When they saw this face, they were like, “Huh. Okay.” There goes that stereotype! Things took off. Even Mary J. called for me. She was like, “I love your work.” I was like, “YOU love MY work?” Crazzzzzy.

Being known as the African-American celebrity hairdresser is not annoying. I’m used to it. That’s what it is. It’s just my job to correct people, so they know that I’m not just the African-American expert; I’m a great hairstylist. With Ri, that trust is unsaid.

That rumor about what she pays me? I’m like, “Really guys, I wish!” You can get $10,000 for one job and $250 for another. That’s why I have to really make this career, and salon, stick. I can’t type. I don’t know how to do shit. I’m not waking up for someone else at 9 a.m. anymore.

I want the salon to be versatile. I want to see a white girl getting a blowout, and a black girl getting a weave. When I was younger, I didn’t want to work in an all-white salon, but I dreamed of an atmosphere where it was mixed together.

When I told Ri the salon was finally happening, she was like, “Bitch … it’s about time.” She’s incredibly supportive and generous. She gave me an amazing Céline bag for my birthday. I cried. I’m very grateful. She manages to be very mature for her age, but still in her age. I take a lot of pages from her book.

Ursula Stephen is the Motions Global Ambassador. Her salon, which opens this May, is located at 66 Lafayette Avenue (between Elliot and Portland) in Fort Greene.

 

• Click here to listen to the full version of The Wanted‘s new song “Walks Like Rihanna”.

• 5 years after her first concert in Manila, Rihanna makes a comeback concert this year as part of her Diamonds World Tour which will be held on September 19 at MOA Arena. Tickets are already available here.

• Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette” music video recently became her 12th VEVO Certified video (with over 100 million views), making Rihanna the artist with the most VEVO Certified videos. RihannaVEVO has most subscribers among all VEVO channels and among all artists in general. Only 4 other non-music channels have more subscribers. Congratulations, RiRi!

How did you start working with Rihanna?
“We had both worked with the same people, and I got hired to do a big performance with her. After that, she asked me to work for her. That was, oh, two years ago.”

In the last “x” amount of years, she’s become, as Riccardo Tisci said, “the face of a generation.” How much input does she have in creating her look? How’s the creative process between you two?
“We definitely have some back-and-forth moments, but she’s in control of her image. It’s very collaborative. It’s a different process for everything, but quite often there’s a creative [process] for a performance or video, and I have to figure out what the looks will be. I show her different ideas, and we talk about it. Sometimes, figuring out what it’ll look like has already been done, and other times, it’s more spontaneous and collaborative.”

What kind of input did you have with her current tour costumes? There is a lot of looks made by the best designers in the world.
“I worked very closely on every design aspect and every detail of the tour clothing for her, for her dancers, for her band, you know, everything. I worked really closely with all of the designers on the custom stuff, which was really fun.”

Not to play favorites, but is there a look that you think is really out of the park?
“You know, it’s hard to say. I’m really happy with it all. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve done. There are six really strong sections, and the playlist is so strong — she’s had so many great songs. The energy of it all is great. I’m really happy with all of the clothes. I don’t have a favorite, to be honest. It’s crazy to say, but I love the whole thing. I love what all of the designers did.”

It’s a really incredible selection of some of the best designers in the game right now.
“Well, I really wanted it all to feel custom for her. I got to work with designers who I really admire, like Raf Simons, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, and Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, who were all psyched to work with her because Rihanna is such a major icon. I feel like they’re all guys that are very much in fashion and not a part of showbiz. That was all really exciting. To work with Adam Selman (who I work with on all of her costume stuff) helped really make it totally custom. I wanted to create something unique, because in this day and age, everyone thinks it’s all the same watered-down looks, and Rihanna isn’t like that. She’s not looking at other people for competition; she’s just doing her own thing, and that’s fun to work with because she’ll let you do something different.”

There are some really amazing vintage elements in her looks. Do you go through designer archives? Is it all from your own knowledge?
“You know what, it’s different for everything. I have really specific ideas about what I want her moments to be. Like she wore these pearl Chanel sunglasses that got a lot of press for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. They’re from 1993, and I had them on my inspiration board. Somehow they found their way into the show — which was pretty amazing. I’m always out looking for stuff, both new and old, that I haven’t seen before that’ll be exciting. Even for the tour, the vintage things are all from secret places. I have amazing vintage dealers, and we do a ton of custom shoes — all of the shoes on the tour are custom. Those are the kind of details that really make something special.”

One of the things Rihanna does so well is rock the androgyny gamut. She can seamlessly go from looking super-urban with loose pants and a backward snapback to glamorous, feminine, and red-carpet ready. Is that fitting for her or is that you trying to show off her versatility?
“That’s all very her. I don’t know of anyone else who really has that — the badass street style but refined, red-carpet attitude. It all comes naturally to her.”

What do you look for when you’re trying to choose something for the red carpet? What about when you’re choosing something that’s a little edgier and more rebellious?
“It’s really spur on the moment when it comes to the edgier looks. Most of it comes from some street thing. It’s more thought out for the red carpet. The planning starts months in advance with all the sketches and planning with design houses. There’s a lot of back and forth — even things like the tour started months before anything. What I’m looking for that is something that she’s going to feel really good in and not think about too much. I want her to be able to move and not feel so self-conscious about the fashion. I look for something easy that’ll make a huge impact.”

Is there a particular video that you really love the fashion in?
“Yes, it’s definitely ‘We Found Love.”

Yes! People will be looking back on the 2010s and think that’s what fashion was about.
“It’s very my style. I knew exactly what I was going to do with it when I saw the creative for the shoot. It was great fun to make and it is, you know, the moment.”

So, Rihanna’s new fragrance is called Nude. Do you have any tips for bedroom style?
“Let’s be real: get naked.”

Last summer, we saw a resurgence of the ’90s with bras and mesh tanks and jerseys. What do you think is going to be big this summer? What should we put on our shopping lists?
“I would say florals, skinny gold jewelry, and one piece bathing suits — really hot one piece bathing suits and patterns.”

One of the things that we always talk about at Refinery29 is the huge disconnect between the runway and the street. Every now and then, you get a designer who gets it, but for the most part, you see the style not being reflected on the runways. Are you seeing anything on the streets of New York that’s inspiring you?
“What I really want to see is a certain ease in dressing. I agree you don’t see that on the runway. I’m not saying being comfortable is ultra fashionable, but I do like clothes that flatter the figure and can actually move. There’s a lot of stiffness of the runways.”

There’s nothing sexier than effortlessness.
“I agree. That’s actually what I really like about the Rihanna for River Island collection, because we were going for dresses that make a lot of impact but can look good on many types of girls — they move well. That’s important. I hope to see a lot of effortless looks this summer.”

Fashion designer Tom Ford seems to love RiRi as much as she loves his designs! He recently told WWD:

Whenever I’m working on a collection, everything does have to be real, and those outfits are real to me. If I think, “OK, who is wearing this and where is she going?” And I think, “OK, that’s Rihanna, and she’s going to her lawyer’s office in that all-black outfit and she’s hung over and that’s why she’s wearing those glasses. Yet she’s still a rock star.”

Pictured: Rihanna at the 2012 MET Gala wearing Tom Ford.