The Man Behind RiRi’s Style Dishes On Tour Outfits & Why Being Nude Rocks

Like her, love her, or consider yourself a part of her obsessive "Navi" fan base (yes, they exist), Rihanna's allure is absolutely undeniable. She is one of the most looked at, talked about, and now listened to (10 number-one singles, y'all) artists to have ever existed. But imagine being the man behind the phenomenon of Rihanna.

This isn't to suggest Mel Ottenberg is the secret to Rihanna's success, but he sure has helped. One of the most distinctive aspects to Rihanna — besides her Barbadian trills and fearless attitude — is the way the pop star looks. In fact, it might be safe to say that no one is more idolized or copied than Rihanna, who has absolutely perfected the seapunk-urban-luxury-bad-gal style. (See? You automatically picture her just based on that mishmash of words.) And, New York-based Ottenberg — the stylist who has helped Rihanna hone her sartorial statement — is one of the pioneering forces responsible for this very recognizable style. There is no one that understands the essence, that je ne sais quoi, of Rihanna quite like him.

For the release of her perfume Nude, we sat down for a bit of a RiRi retrospective, looking at her current tour costumes and some of Ottenberg's favorite looks (hint: You won't be surprised). Click through to get a glimpse of what an energetic, vibrant, and incredible tour Rihanna is currently on, which, if you want to check out, we can help you out with, too...