Rihanna’s Dior Campaign Lives Up To Its Hype

Update: The full Rihanna-fronted Dior campaign video has been released. And, in addition to views of RiRi running through the Hall of Mirrors in full-body sequins, it also includes a small sound sampling of an upcoming track to debut on #R8, according to Entertainment Weekly. The only piece of "Only If For a Night" you get here is the Florence and the Machine melody — you'll have to wait to find out when Rihanna chimes in. In the meantime, watch the full Dior video below.

This story was originally published on May 14, 2015. When we first received word a few weeks ago that Dior had plucked Rihanna for the brand's spring 2015 campaign, we knew it would be huge. Not only is this the pop star's first high-fashion campaign, but she's also simultaneously making history as Dior's first-ever Black spokesperson. She follows in the footsteps of fellow high-wattage Dior stars, such as Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, and Natalie Portman — but the singer's injecting the French fashion house with a heavy dose of her signature badassery. Lensed by Steven Klein, the images for Dior's "Secret Garden" campaign debuted yesterday on WWD. The haunting photos show the singer turning the Palace of Versailles into her own fashion playground, modeling pieces such as a fur vest, embellished gloves, and a red silk gown (which she wears while running through the famed Hall of Mirrors). And, being all dressed up doesn't stop Rihanna from flaunting her tattoos proudly — usually a no-no in high-fashion ads, but what else would you expect from this formidable rule-breaker?  Chief executive officer Sidney Toledano told WWD of Dior's choice of Rihanna for the campaign, “Jennifer [Lawrence] is also edgy, I think. They understand. They’re smart. In this short movie, [Rihanna] knew how to work with Versailles. She has this kind of elegance — we saw it from the very first moment — and then she can surprise. She can be unexpected and we like it. It’s part of this personality.” Watch a sneak peek of the campaign video below, then see the whole thing when it premieres on May 18. (WWD)