Rihanna Debuts Baby Bump in Marc Jacobs Design and Oxford Mules on the Met Gala 2025 Red Carpet
When you’ve already made a pregnancy announcement at the Super Bowl, how do you top it? By announcing the next one at the Met Gala, of course. That’s exactly what Rihanna did on the Met Gala 2025 red carpet, which took place on Monday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The singer arrived fashionably late, being among the last few stars to hit the blue carpet. She sported a design by Marc Jacobs, inspired by the night’s theme, which was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Her ensemble consisted of a black cropped tuxedo jacket, which hit right at the waist, revealing the singer’s growing baby bump, covered by a corset-like top in gray. On the bottom, Rihanna wore a pinstripe skirt that resembled a long men’s overcoat tied around her hips. She topped off the look with a wide-brimmed hat in black, a white collar, and a burgundy ascot, as well as a massive ring on her ring finger.
For shoes, she opted for a classic design. The “We Found Love” singer wore a pair of dainty black-and-white leather lace-up Oxford mules. While at first glance they appeared to be booties or pumps, a closer look revealed that the shoe ended halfway up her heel.
The shoes featured a pointed toe and a heel measuring around 3 to 4 inches, which is notably shorter than what Rihanna usually wears. It’s unclear if the shoes were also a Marc Jacobs design. He also designed Teyana Taylor’s custom Kiki boots and Doja Cat’s ensemble and shoes for the big event.
The night’s theme explored the history and significance of the Black dandy of the Harlem Renaissance—individuals who used clothing and fashion as a way to assert themselves in a world that often denied them dignity.
Rihanna’s longtime partner, and the father of her now-three children, served as a co-chair of the event and arrived earlier by himself. Earlier in the day, the “Work” singer was spotted in NYC wearing a gray top that showcased what appeared to be her growing bump, a satin skirt, and a pair of pointed-toe pumps, which she paired with knee-high socks. The pumps featured an elongated toe box that formed into a triangle. They were Giuseppe Zanotti’s custom “Raquel” design—made of gray wool pinstripe fabric with a single crystal stitch. The shoes included a closed-back design that supported the back of her foot as she walked. While the heel couldn’t be seen, it’s likely she kept it between 2 to 3 inches.
Many luxury designers including, Gucci, Burberry and Valentino offer pointed-toe models regularly as a part of their catalog, as the silhouette is regarded as a preferred shoe for red carpets and formal occasions, and last year the style was a dominant choice amongst celebrities and influencers within their high-profile and casual appearances. 2025 has already seen the style trend on an upward swing with stylists recommending pointed shoes to achieve simple and classic looks for the spring and upcoming summer season.
And while Rihanna loves a good heel, she also loves a good sneaker, which is exactly why she teamed back up with Puma. “Football is a universal language that brings people together from all over the world, all walks of life, and I wanted to pay homage to that,” she told Senior Editor Nikara Johns for the Footwear News September 2023 issue to discuss the vision for her then-upcoming soccer-inspired collection, which was a fresh take on the classic Puma Avanti.
“She moves culture, sets trends and she certainly can move our business. Fenty is stronger now than it was when she was with us before,” added Bob Philion, president and CEO of Puma North America.