I’ve been out of the HS loop for a minute (sorry, but I’ve been traveling/working like crazy for my bread-and-butter job!) but I’ve noticed that Rihanna has been hitting the paparazzi circut HARD over the past week or two. RihRih looks amazing, but damn Ma is looking thin! Which is fine. I know you know how that goes, my women. There are those of us who in the midst of a crazy-ass storm take comfort with a box of cookies, while others take refuge in deprivation (or smoking or drinking or whatever). All work well enough as tonics for for easing the pains ripping through our hearts.

All images JustJared. A couple more after the jump, including a closeup on Rhianna’s Lou-Bs and one of her feeling her inner alien.

Rihanna was spotted recently house-hunting in Los Angeles. Check out the studded lapel on her blazer, which features the latest in angular, yet still oh-so-subtle shoulder pads. I love how she hooked it up with a pair of rolled-up boyfriend shorts. And you can’t see in these shots, but she was sporting a pair of sky-high heels. As for RihRih’s new doo, not only cute, but hmmm, when us women change up our hair style dramatically, what’s that usually a sign of?

A closer shot of the blazer and the necklace she’s wearing after the flip.

Rihanna made her first very public appearance since the incident, chowing down recently at DaSilvano, a known N.Y. paparaZzi hot spot. A night later she belatedly celebrated her birthday with Uncle Jay and Aunt Beyonce.

Those of us who love fashion down to our bones know that it’s so much more than just garments on bodies. For those that posess the key, it can be used to entertain, intrigue, send hidden messages, and sometimes, as in the images we’re seeing here, provide us refuge from the chaos.

More images after the fold, including a close-up on RihRih’s new pink tips and the sick patent leather boots she wore with the tweed jacket pictured above.

Images from Ultimate-Rihanna.  

RihRih and Madonna were recently snapped together as part of some Gucci promotional blitz that they’re both participating in. Check out Mo’s sideway glance at RihRih and her gnarly hand gripped around her hip. Oh to be a fly on the brain of either one of them! On the one hand, you have Madonna whose diva status is set in stone but whose star is clearly fading, while on the other you have a young woman on the way up who has stated in interviews how much she admires and hopes to have a career similar to the Material Girl. An all around deelish moment captured in time!

^^Who envies who for what?? (That’s the Gucci designer on the far left–sorry can’t remember her name.)

See a full shot on the other side. Both are wearing amazing dresses! Plus a close up of Rih’s new tattoo, which hopefully will be her last one!!

Everyone’s favorite lovebirds, catch a second backstage at the VMAs:

Lots of images out there of Rihanna right now, but none so far where I’m struck by what she’s wearing. Though you know I’ll keep looking.

Image: Wire.com 

It’s adorable how Chris seems to have brought out a more kiddish side of Rihanna and in these images she looks relaxed and cute in her Nike sweats and sneakers, but  RihRih is no newbie to the world of sneakers (which is part of why we lover her style, natch!). Long before she hooked up with Chris (publically anyway) we had images of her sporting a pair of dark denim straight legs with a pair of Nike Vandals.

^^That gold chain she’s wearing is probably solid 14K, but it looks a lot like one American Apparel is selling on its site. (You’ll have to click to the right to see the kicks she’s wearing.)

All images UltimateRihanna

RihRih put in a little photo op time yesterday, flossing in the hottest/most controversial boots of Summer ‘08, the Balenciaga glads:

The practical in me loves Signerson Morrison’s version more, but there’s no denying that these brought the heat like no shoe has for quite some time.

Image: UltimateRihanna

RihRih & Chris have been spending some quality time together lately. Looking at all the images of them on UltimateRihanna, I can’t help but think that they’re  a more stylish and beautiful version of Mr. & Mrs. Carter.  It’s like someone took the words to "Upgrade You" to heart and the end result was these two.

^^She in her Lou-Bs; he in his Nikes. So cute.

On the flip, check out Rih’s flourescent animal print bikini and some cuddling action, too!  

Rihanna performed in Italy this past week and the photogs snapped some shots of her out and about, hitting the stores with her crew. This is no casual day out shopping. Yes, the dress is cute and summery, but check out her perfectly coiffed hair, the tons of accessories (LOVE the necklace), the bangin’ bag, but most of all the wicked shoes, which, okay, they look great, but are clearly designed for flossin’ as opposed to any serious fashion hunting and gathering mission.

^^Why is it that the regular folk who hang with celebs always look snarlier than the talent? Relax, hun, it aint YOU they’re trying to snap.

More images from the same photo op at UltimateRihanna

A couple of closer shots after the flip…

At a recent Essence magazine event, RihRih had a camera basically shoved up her nose while she performed. And maybe it’s an amazing makeup job, but I doubt it. The girl’s skin is pretty much flawless.

^^RihRih’s favorite look: Punk via 80s Madonna (Chris Brown also performed, but sorry folks, I didn’t see any matching accessories between the two of them.)

After the flip, there’s another close-up plus a new, Beyonce-inspired dance move.

All images Wire.com