Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Let’s All Stare at Rihanna’s Chest

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I couldn’t sleep last night so I was surfing around teh Internets and came across some new photos of Rihanna. I noticed that she was wearing a couple of little necklaces, although they were barely visible in the photos. I thought, “I wish she were wearing one of my necklaces.” Then I said aloud:

“WAIT! IS SHE?!”

Over a year ago, I became convinced that Rihanna needed my Mud Flap Jill necklace with ruby nipples to match her bright red hair.

I loved this magazine cover.

My Mud Flap Jill design in 18K yellow gold with ruby nipples. Click to purchase.

I felt so strongly about this that I broke my rule about never giving away gold (it’s too expensive!) and sent Rihanna the necklace through her publicist. Or her stylist. Or her stylist’s publicist. Honestly, I can’t remember. It was such a long time ago. I never heard anything back, so I eventually put it out of my mind. Celebrities get tons of freebies. I was sure my little necklace didn’t compare to whatever she was getting from world-famous fashion brands. I imagined that she tossed the Mud Flap Jill in the trash or gave it to her stylist’s publicist’s chauffeur’s niece’s daughter.

So, after all this time, I don’t know what to think of what she’s wearing in this photo:

Courtesy the Daily Mail. Click for source and larger view.

Could it be?!?

Of course, lots of designers have done mud flap girl necklaces; it’s definitely not an original idea. I did mine to fill a customer request: In 2009, gorgeous blogger Jill of Stella’s Roar asked for ruby-nippled silver mud flap girl cufflinks for her husband. After I stopped laughing, I accepted the commission and declared that this version of the iconic design would be named “Mud Flap Jill” in her honor.

To get the ruby nipples positioned correctly, I had to make my mud flap girl 3D, so she was no longer the traditional silhouette seen on the back of trucks. I also wanted the cufflinks to be as subtle and elegant as a ruby-nippled mud flap girl could be, so the metal work is delicate and the rubies can best be seen if you’re looking at the girl’s “front” rather than her side. It’s typical of a lot of my designs in that you have to look twice, and very carefully, at this design to see what’s going on. Well, in real life. Everything’s much more obvious in close-up product photos like this one.

Silver cufflinks with four rubies. Click to purchase.

I asked Jill if it was okay if I did matching necklaces to be named after her. It was, and she bought one for herself and another one for her mother.

Bodacious Jill looks like the mud flap girl come to life. She’s wearing her necklace poolside in this photo. Click for original post.

I did the necklaces in 18K yellow gold, 18K rose gold and silver.

A close-up of the silver necklace. Click to purchase.

A number of bloggers have bought the silver necklace. Gorgeous blogger and photographer Alice Olive sent me this self-portrait featuring her silver Mud Flap Jill.

Click to visit Alice Olive’s blog.

Back to Rihanna! In this photo from her Instagram, it looks like her pendant could be 3D like mine.

Click to enlarge on Webstagram.

I’m not 100% sure though, so I need all of you to stare at Rihanna’s chest for a while, then tell me what you think. Do it in front of your family members, so they say, “WTF is wrong with you? Why are you staring at Rihanna’s chest for hours on end?” Then you can smugly tell them, “I HAVE to do it. Important business research.” Then you can use the research excuse whenever those people catch you looking at risque content online. And I know that happens all the time with you pervs, so you’re welcome in advance!

  • Click here to read my previous post on Rihanna, the Mud Flap Jill and the person who accused me of being anti-feminist (as if!).
  • Click here to see the cufflinks in Houston Magazine’s October 2009 issue, where they landed thanks to the original Jill’s help.

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Filed Under: cufflinks, necklaces, Rihanna

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Oh, that is DEFINITELY a 3-D Mud Flap girl. I wish there was a glint of red, so we knew the flash was bouncing off the ruby nipples.

    Captcha: Eminem. NO CAPTCHA. You are WRONG. It should be RIHANNA.

    • Thanks for the name of an expert!

      It’s a pretty fun piece to wear, for sure. It’s like my teeny IDGAF necklace. People have to lean in close and then they’re all “OH!!” and I’m all “HA HA!”

  4. Well, I have been staring at the shots of Rihanna and it definitely looks like yours’, though I can’t see the ruby. That doesn’t mean much, since I need new glasses.

    And why would she buy a new one if she had yours’? Not logical. It definitely looks 3D in the last photo.

    Also, after staring at her boobs for awhile, I think they are real, and I like her Cleopatra tattoo. Now if she would only dye her hair back to that great red shade. It was fantastic on her. I am available to help her make style choices.

    My anti-spam word was “blowkiss” and so I’ll blow a kiss to you and Mr. B.

    xo

    • Ha ha, yes, I’ve looked at her long enough that I started forming all kinds of opinions. I really like her pixie hair cut — I think she looks gorgeous — but that red was delicious too. Not many people can pull that color off.

      • Appropriately, my anti-spam word was “sillyyou” and indeed I went silly for awhile and tried that hair colour of Rhianna’s. I was almost neon, like the red in the Canadian flag on ‘roids.

        Colour correction is really expensive.

  5. Also, I looked at the photo (where you click to buy) and it’s hard to see the ruby on you as well, so I definitely think it’s your Jill necklace on Rhianna.

    xo

  8. Bwa-ha-ha! Great post. I’m absolutely convinced those are YOUR 3D Mud Flap Jills with the distinctive nipples. I’ve rewatched the telephone answering scenes of a few movies over and over and over convinced that was my voice in the phone (I did voice work for the electronic chip inside.) A stimulating life I lead. What can you do?…

  11. Well I stared and stared and can honestly say after many angles and re-examinations it is yours!! YES!! Then I lost a bloody hour of my life on the daily mail site xx