On November 14, 2019, at the Queen & Slim premiere during AFI FEST at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, Rihanna delivered a red-carpet look that placed deliberate emphasis on her feet—both through footwear and body art.
The singer revealed the large Egyptian falcon tattoo on the inside of her right foot, a design that replaced her earlier music-note tattoo and has since become one of her most recognizable ink placements.
Rihanna at the “Queen & Slim” Premiere at AFI FEST 2019 presented by Audi at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 14, 2019, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Instar / WENN)
Styled in minimalist, leg-elongating sandals that left the foot fully visible, Rihanna used open footwear to turn a subtle detail into a focal point—demonstrating how shoe choice can frame everything from proportion to personal symbolism.
Joined by Natalie Portman and Zendaya, the appearance remains a clear example of how intentional footwear can elevate both fashion and narrative on the red carpet.
Her falcon body art was inked by American celebrity tattoo artist Keith Scott “Bang Bang” McCurdy, who told US Weekly that the singer had wanted to get it done for a long time. “It’s the first tattoo she wanted as a teen….She wanted it across her back back then.”
The Barbadian artist shared a picture of the ink on Twitter with the caption “Falcon: a light that shines in the darkness! Never close their eyes during sleep.”
Rihanna wears David Webb’s Streamline necklace with black onyx links, brilliant-cut diamonds, 18K gold, and platinum
Rihanna showed off her feet in Manolo Blahnik’s Prishipla sandals styled with a vintage John Galliano Spring 1995 evening dress with a high-leg slit.
Rihanna’s barely-there black strappy heels deliberately frame her Egyptian falcon foot tattoo, turning minimal footwear into a spotlight for one of her most iconic and personal style details
Toting a refined Titania clutch from Jimmy Choo’s AW19 pre-collection, she accessorized with a necklace and jewelry by David Webb, including a $36,000 ‘The Gatsby’ bracelet with fluted rock crystal, brilliant-cut diamonds, 18K white gold, and platinum.
Sienna Miller wore the crystal-embellished Shiloh heels and a black Titania clutch in Jimmy Choo’s first-ever In My Choos editorial for Pre-Fall 2019.
Sienna Miller elevates a sheer, jewel-detailed dress with Jimmy Choo’s crystal-embellished Shiloh heels, finishing the look with a sleek black Titania clutch for a polished, evening-ready balance
Rihanna’s black suede knee-high sandals are no longer in production, though the designer’s signature silhouettes and seasonal updates remain available at Farfetch and Nordstrom.
Manolo Blahnik’s Prishipla sandals feature sleek black suede, ultra-fine wraparound ankle ties, and a sculptural stiletto heel designed to elongate the leg with elegant minimalism
Rihanna’s Enduring Relationship With Manolo Blahnik
Beyond a single red-carpet appearance, Rihanna’s history with Manolo Blahnik reveals a long-running dialogue between artist and shoemaker—one defined by bold silhouettes, leg-lengthening proportions, and a willingness to treat footwear as the anchor of an entire look.
👠 Rihanna & Manolo Blahnik: Shoe & Fashion Highlights
- ✨ Rihanna x Manolo Blahnik’s “Dangerous” Denim Shoes — an iconic collaboration that reimagined denim as high fashion footwear.
- 💎 Rihanna and Manolo Blahnik ‘So Stoned’ Collection — crystal-embellished styles from one of their standout collaborative drops.
- 👡 Rihanna’s Shoe Switch: From Red Carpet Glam to Street Chic — spotlighting her Manolo Blahnik “Chaos” sandals.
- 🖤 Rihanna’s Manolo Blahnik “Chaos” Sandals at the River Island Launch — classic leg-lengthening heels from her early style era.
- 🎤 Rihanna in Alexander Wang and Manolo Blahnik Pumps in London — a refined street-style moment.
- 🌟 Rihanna at the 2024 FNAA Awards in Custom Manolo Blahnik Heels — one of her most recent footwear statements.