Never one to back down from a daring fashion moment, Rita Ora made a splash at the 2023 Fashion Awards in London by showing up in a backless black Primark dress with prosthetic chrome spikes running down her spine.
While her dress may look unassuming, the focal point of the ensemble was clearly the striking accessory attached to her bare back.
She arrived at the event accompanied by her husband, Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi, who complemented her look in an all-black winter ensemble.
Taika Waititi and wife Rita Ora coordinate in black ensembles at the Fashion Awards 2023 presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London on December 4, 2023 (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
The 48-year-old director, who directed movies including Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and Thor: Love and Thunder, looked cozy in a black winter coat paired with a black shirt, trousers, and oxford shoes.
Conversely, Rita braved the cold in a sleeveless black dress that accentuated her stunning proportions and showcased her arm tattoos.
While it looked a little basic, Ora’s outfit made history as the first-ever Primark dress to appear on the British Fashion Awards red carpet.
Rita Ora makes history with her black racer Primark dress, the first-ever dress by the fashion retailer to grace the British Fashion Awards red carpet (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
A timeless dress that can take you from formal affairs to the streets, this elegant outfit featured a racer neck with a plunging backless design that added a glamorous touch to the otherwise understated silhouette.
It was fitted at the bodice and around the hips and cascaded into a gently ruffled straight skirt with a short train trailing behind her.
Ora’s toned figure was gracefully draped in the maxi-length dress, creating the illusion of a taller look.
The dress is from Rita Ora’s collaboration with popular fast-fashion retailer Primark. She partnered with the brand to produce and sell 500 replicas of the dress, with 100% of all sales going to Breast Cancer Now.
Primark’s global brand ambassador Rita Ora dons a sleeveless black dress with a low, open-back design and a short train (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Knowing Rita Ora’s bold take on red carpet dressing, fans were initially disappointed when she graced the red carpet in a plain black dress. However, as soon as she turned her back to the cameras, the Fifty Shades Darker star startled many with her spiky chrome spine accessory.
The low, open back of her Primark dress allowed the unusual piece to steal the show.
“Basically, we went really simple on the dress because the spine is such a big part of the look,” Rita told her Instagram followers in a behind-the-scenes footage of her getting ready process.
At last year’s British Fashion Awards, Ora made waves when she showed up looking like a mermaid in a see-through red sheer dress with fish scale prosthetics attached to her face.
“This time, we’re going bigger: a silver chrome spine. It’s gonna take about two, three hours to put on.”
The prosthetic chrome spine, created by prosthetic makeup artist and sculptor Francesco Fabiani using silicone, appeared like it was growing out of her skin.
Rita Ora surprises with a stunning silver chrome spine, an unexpected accessory that steals the show on the red carpet (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
Stylist Tom Eerebout further enhanced Ora’s outfit with dazzling large earrings and ornate bangles matching her chrome spine.
Her magnificent look was completed with black patent heels with open toes that showed off her black pedicure.
Rio Sreedharan fashioned Ora’s dark brown hair in a messy side-swept updo, and Isamaya Ffrench gave her glittery eyeshadow, false eyelashes, and mauve lip color.
Rita Ora enhances her look with a messy updo, glittery eyeshadow, and mauve lipstick, adding to her glamorous appearance at the Fashion Awards 2023 (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)