Did Rihanna pay tribute to late André Leon Talley with her outfit during the Super Bowl show?

Rihanna looked showstopping as she performed at the 57th annual Super Bowl this weekend. The singer wore an all-red outfit as she returned to the stage for her first solo live performance since 2016.

Similarities in Coats

After, her 13-minute-long show, fans of the singer were quick to point out that her outfit choice seems to be a nod to the late Vogue fashion editor André Leon Talley. According to Marie Claire magazine, Talley was known for wearing a red sleeping bag coat from Norma Kamali.

Rihanna’s Alaïa red puffer floor-length oversized coat was remarkably similar to Talley’s coat. The late fashion icon’s team recognized the outfit choice on his Instagram account soon after.

The duo’s friendship

Talley died in January 2022, after a lengthy career in the fashion industry, which was highlighted by his work as creative director for Vogue magazine from 1988 to 1995.

Rihanna and Talley were close friends, one of their significant interactions was at the 2015 Met Gala, where Talley interviews her about her handmade gown.

Rihanna’s coat was designed for her by Pieter Mulier, the creative director of Alaïa. The coat was versatile and also featured built-in gloves. Throughout the first half of her performance it was worn as a shorter coat to allow her to dance, only towards the end of her performance did the singer reveal its full length.

Maternity Clothes

Rihanna’s outfit also had another use, to showcase her growing baby bump. The singer used the performance to announce that she is pregnant with her second child.

Her outfit, which was overall very loose fitting except for around the stomach and top, allowed the singer to reveal her stomach to the millions of fans in the audience and watching live.

Rihanna has been known throughout her last pregnancy to use her stomach as an accessory in her outfits. During her first pregnancy, the first photos taken of her baby bump, the singer showcased her stomach by wearing a bright pink coat, with nothing underneath and accessorizing with various long necklaces hanging over her baby bump.