What Savage x Fenty does well is it elevates itself beyond a brand of pretty little garments and empowers the viewer to own their sexuality and define that for themselves. Rihanna’s brand encourages us to remove the performative nature of sexuality and dares us to be sexy for ourselves.
Rihanna’s sequel to her highly regarded Savage x Fenty fashion show poises the question: “What does it mean to be Savage?” Before I dive into what I’ve interpreted that to be I’d like to slyly nod at our readers with their looks of confusion because it would seem unfitting to place Rihanna into The Nerdy Basement multiverse, however, this is more than a brand of lingerie, it’s a way of existing in the world. You can be nerdy and a fierce, sexual being who owns what they are despite what the world might paint you out to be — and that’s a big part of what it means to be Savage.
If you’ve seen the first show, you know it’s quite the cacophony of body movement, skin-tight clothing, and sex appeal. Rightfully so, Rihanna taps the legendary Parris Goebel to choreograph the show for her once again (she did the first show). Due to the pandemic, this is shot in a studio that somehow seems so sterile despite being flooded with talent. The last show had the element of live audience reactions which really does help this feel a little more full — yet RiRi still achieves quite the spectacle with the help of Goebel’s aggressive yet sensual movements.
Attitude is exactly what’s served on a hot platter of black lace and neon bodysuits hugging every type of curve from the waif-thin to the voluptuous plus-sized Kings and Queens as well as every type imaginable in-between. Even if this isn’t normally your thing, it’s quite a spectacle and genre-bending marriage of fashion and music. Dancers and models sashay, strut, and contort themselves betwixt the performances of well-known artists such as Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, Rosalía, and others.
This time around Savage x Fenty is beginning to tailor garments for men who might’ve felt left out of this phenomenon. SavageX comes through with silk boxers and lounge sets made to give you the Lex Luther sleek villain look you’ve always dreamed of. Even if you don’t hope to achieve that, you might just feel inspired to treat your delicate parts to some high-quality fabric so you can play Among Us next to a bag of [insert snack of choice, I’m choosing Tostitos Lime]. If silk sets aren’t your thing, you’ll find yourself enamored by the swaying hips and intent glances into the fourth wall as these dancers spill their sexuality onto the runway.
What’s really interesting is learning about how involved Miss Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty is in her product, from ideation to production and designing. This woman is far more than a beautiful face which makes it so impossible to imagine how she is even a real person. You find yourself more connected with her humanity as she describes what creativity is in her own words — something that your unique experience is influenced by and the end product is special for that fact alone. With special guests such as the Irina Shayk, Demi Moore, 070 Shake, Willow Smith, Christian Combs (yeah, Puff Daddy’s son), Paris Hilton and so much more, you’re left salivating at the seat for the sheer grandeur of it all.
We’ll have to include a very special shout out to the incomparable Lizzo and her fierce display of self-love as she serenades the mirror to a D’angelo classic. One moment that stood out is how they used a regular mirror for Lizzo and when they switched over to the nameless dancer she was shaking her body a warped mirror in contrast which I’d love to say was a commentary on body image and how our ideals are warped — either way, it was really spicy.
Overall, this show pales in comparison to the first installment’s big rush onto the scene as a new way of blending fashion and showmanship but does not disappoint the viewer as they take you through different soundscapes, stories, and settings. What Savage x Fenty does well is it elevates itself beyond a brand of pretty little garments and empowers the viewer to own their sexuality and define that for themselves.
Rihanna’s brand encourages us to remove the performative nature of sexuality and dares us to be sexy for ourselves. Once we lose the expectations of society at large and embrace all that we are, we can bloom, just like Rihanna from the flower in the garden scene. So, reader, I ask you this: what does Savage mean to you?
For more film and tv news, trailers and updates, make sure to keep it locked right here at The Nerdy Basement. And while you’re here, please consider supporting us on Patreon. It’s an easy way of supporting us so we can keep proving you with your Nerdy News!