MK was the first fashion lover we noticed embracing the full finger ring back in December, and we loved it. Now, we’re spotting Rihanna wearing one (and sometimes two) during her ongoing media blitz - most recently at the the awesome BET Awards.

While the trend takes cues from calvary armor of the 16th century, the ring variation has typically been reserved for more hardcore Goth culture. We still don’t know whether to call them “Gauntlet Rings,” “Full Finger Rings,” “Armor Rings,” “Over the Knuckle Rings,” or some variation thereof - but Googling will turn up some pretty diabolical results. And everyone still thinks we mean “Brass Knuckles”. Definitely not.

Vivienne Westwood has been making her “Armour Ring” for years, but it’s a little expensive and we’re on the hunt for a more delicate looking variation, like the filigree version Rihanna’s sporting at left. Maybe it’s a sign, but we’re not having much luck.

So in the future, if you see us on the street giving someone the finger, at least you’ll know why.

— JAZZI McGILBERT

This Thursday, BET is taking on the subject we’ve all been talking, thinking, and writing about for a while. In a half hour special, Fashion Blackout, they’ll bring together pretty much everyone you’d think (including Naomi, Andre Leon Talley, Constance White, and Tracy Reese) to sound off on the topic of Black presence, or lack thereof, in fashion.

Not to get too heavy, but as a Black woman working in fashion (or trying to), it’s really disheartening to see “No Ethnic Girls” on calls for models, or many other forms of blatant discrimination in the industry I love so dearly. I agree wholeheartedly with BET when they say it’s “one of fashion’s biggest faux-pas.”

It’s great to see this topic coming into the spotlight in a big way, so here’s to more open discussion on the topic - preferably longer than 30 minutes - plus, we need more time to hear Chanel speak (and we’re crossing our fingers that she does in fact speak).

If you’re bored or just curious, you can also take the Fashion Blackout quiz or just wait and watch the special when it airs this Thursday at 8:30pm.

— JAZZI McGILBERT