Lena Dunham Pairs Bold Maxi Dress With Rihanna’s Fenty Puma Bow Sneakers at Tribeca

Lena Dunham’s style journey has always been a bit of a roller coaster — full of bold risks, playful statements, and the occasional miss.

One such throwback moment came at the My Art premiere during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, where the Girls creator opted for a spaghetti-strap maxi dress with an abstract print and a gathered waistline that proved tricky on the red carpet.

Lena Dunham attends the My Art premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in a colorful abstract-print maxi dress paired with olive green Fenty Puma by Rihanna Bow Sneakers and a bold amethyst pendant necklace

Spotlight on Rihanna’s Fenty Puma Bow Sneakers

Her look sparked plenty of conversation, but what truly stood out were the Fenty Puma by Rihanna Bow Sneakers on her feet — one of the most buzzed-about footwear releases of 2017.

First unveiled on the runway during Paris Fashion Week in September 2016 and officially released in March and April 2017, the sneakers were part of Rihanna’s groundbreaking collaboration with Puma.

Close-up of Lena Dunham’s feet in olive green Fenty Puma by Rihanna Bow Sneakers, featuring satin uppers and oversized knotted bows for a bold statement look

Crafted with a satin upper and finished with a dramatic bow detail in place of traditional laces, the design draws inspiration from 18th-century Rococo and Neo-Classical fashion, blending it with modern streetwear.

Released in striking colorways like Pink, Sweet Lavender, and Olive Branch (Olive Green), the sneakers (and their slide counterparts) sold out almost instantly. They cemented Rihanna’s status as a force in women’s sneaker culture.

Rihanna’s Fenty × Puma line wasn’t just a passing trend — it reshaped sneaker culture and gave women bold, fashion-forward options that blended luxury with streetwear. If you’d like to explore more highlights from her groundbreaking collaboration, here are some of the best Puma × Rihanna moments we’ve covered on Your Next Shoes:

Close-up of the olive green Fenty Puma by Rihanna bow sneakers on Lena Dunham

The olive-green satin pair was one of Rihanna’s most in-demand drops at the time, though the earthy tone clashed slightly with Lena’s dress.

Laurie Simmons and Lena Dunham attend the premiere of “My Art” during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at SVA Theatre on April 22, 2017, in New York City (Credit: Andres Otero / Dan Jackman / Derrick Salters / Ivan Nikolov / Patricia Schlein / WENN)

She accessorized with a long gold chain featuring a dramatic amethyst pendant and wore her bangs loose — a styling choice that leaned more casual than polished.

Looking back, it’s a snapshot of 2017 fashion culture, where Rihanna’s Fenty line was rewriting sneaker trends and celebrities weren’t afraid to experiment, even if the results were mixed.

Lena Dunham attends the “My Art” premiere during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Cinepolis Chelsea in New York City on April 22, 2017

While her Tribeca look sparked debate, Lena Dunham has also proven she can deliver polished red-carpet moments — such as at Variety’s Power of Women event in New York, where she adopted a far more glamorous style.

A Polished Turn at Variety’s Power of Women

Her outfit at that event consisted of a silver, long-sleeved dress, black slingback pumps, retro bangs, and cat-eye liner. It was definitely one of her “up” moments.

Lena Dunham shows her polished side at Variety’s Power of Women event in New York, wearing a metallic silver long-sleeved dress styled with black slingback pumps, retro bangs, and a subtle cat-eye in New York City on April 21, 2017

Lena Dunham’s red carpet style has always kept fans guessing — from playful sneaker pairings to bold designer heels. To dive deeper into her most memorable footwear moments, explore the features below.

More Lena Dunham Shoe Highlights