Rihanna Redefines Soccer Mom Style in a Rainbow-Bright Polo Dress and New Puma It-Sneakers

Rihanna wears a striped Christopher John Rogers dress with a flippy bob and Puma It sneakers

(Image credit: BFA.com)

Multi-time Grammy winner, Fenty Beauty founder, and jumbo Chanel bag-owner Rihanna could never be mistaken for a "regular" soccer mom. But at an event to unveil her fresh pair of Fenty x Puma It-sneakers, the multi-hyphenate showed just how she's stretching the definition of a grassy-sidelines-and-orange-slices outfit.

Rihanna, mom to sons RZA and Riot with her longtime partner, A$AP Rocky, arrived at a Los Angeles press conference on Oct. 24 in a polo sweater dress by Christopher John Rogers. The $1,495 piece plays off Rogers' love of juxtaposing colors and bold stripes, mixing bright shades of pink and red at the shoulders and mid-calf with neutral tones in the center. On her feet, she swapped out the vintage, matching Puma sneakers A$AP also owns with the brand-new Avanti model. (The latter piece is more accessible, retailing for $150.)

Rihanna wears a striped Christopher John Rogers dress with Avanti Puma sneakers for a press conference in Los Angeles — Rihanna poses with the new Fenty x Puma sneakers at her soccer mom-themed press conference.

Christopher John Rogers Oversized Convertible Polo Dress

Fenty X Puma Avanti Vl Women's Sneakers

It's a relatively preppy outfit for Rihanna, as well as a clever riff on sporty styling. (She even leaned into the suburban aesthetic with a flippy bob.) According to a press release, the singer wanted to redefine what "soccer mom" means: "fashionable, sporty-chic and comfortable," specifically.

She also wanted to remix her usual event set-up. Instead of meeting with reporters, Rihanna only took questions about her new sneakers from kids. I'm still waiting to hear if they asked for her favorite way to style them—and if A$AP Rocky also has a matching pair.

Rihanna doing an interview while wearing a Christopher John Rogers striped polo dress and a pair of sneakers — Rihanna's soccer mom press conference was kids-only.

Alongside their endorsement from fashion's first couple, Pumas have been rising in the ranks of 2024's trendiest sneakers. The Puma Speedcat, a style beloved by Dua Lipa and Emily Ratajkowski, just landed as the No.3 item on Lyst's "Hottest Products" list—right behind Alaïa's ballet flats and Coach's viral Brooklyn bag. Between the vintage-inspired colors and the supportive walkable sole, it's not that much of a stretch to see why the style is taking off.

Now, styling Puma sneakers in the name of breaking down the "soccer mom" stereotype? That's a job only Rihanna could pull off.

Rihanna wearing a polo Christopher John Rogers dress with sneakers in front of a soccer mom display — Rihanna styled her cardigan dress half-unbuttoned, with stacks of gold necklaces and her fresh Puma sneakers.

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Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion news editor at Marie Claire, leading coverage of runway trends, emerging brands, style-meets-culture analysis, and celebrity style (especially Taylor Swift's). Her reporting ranges from profiles of beloved stylists, to exclusive red carpet interviews in her column, The Close-Up, to The A-List Edit, a newsletter where she tests celeb-approved trends IRL.

Halie has reported on style for eight years. Previously, she held fashion editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been cited as a fashion expert in The Cut, CNN, Puck, Reuters, and more. In 2022, she earned the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence in journalism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard College. For more, check out her Substack, Reliable Narrator.