Each year, the Super Bowl Halftime show delivers a captivating style moment that is rapidly dissected by fashion editors across the globe. Last night witnessed Grammy winner Bad Bunny take to the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, having secured the prolific performance slot watched by over 120 million Americans.
While the internet divides itself debating the Puerto Rican’s custom Zara look, our focus remains very much on his co-performer’s chosen attire. Lady Gaga joined the 31-year-old as a surprise guest during the dazzling set, paying homage to Bad Bunny’s native country with her carefully considered look.
Gaga and her stylists, Chloe & Chenelle Delgadillo, opted for a beautiful pale blue flamenco dress crafted by Luar - a Brooklyn-based luxury brand founded in 2017 by Raul Lopez, a Dominican-American designer and co-founder of Hood By Air.
© Getty ImagesThe house fuses Dominican heritage with New York City’s, specifically the outer boroughs', underground, and queer, nightlife scenes to subvert traditional high-fashion norms - the famed modus operandi of Gaga and her ground-breaking style (long live the meat dress!)
The singer’s ruffled frock was not only a couture ode to Puerto Rican dance (flamenco is popular in the country due to historical Spanish colonial influence), but directly celebrated the island’s rich history.
Gaga’s dress was pinned with a Flor de Maga brooch - the official national flower of Puerto Rico. She completed her attire by wearing her platinum blonde hair down loose and styled to the side, complemented by a bleached brow, a crimson lip and matching red heels.
A touching choice to round off Bad Bunny’s highly political set, which was delivered entirely in Spanish, the star’s outfit perfectly encapsulated the message of the spectacle - an unapologetic celebration of Latin America and rebellion against Trump’s ICE agency.
During the performance, Bad Bunny recited a list of countries through North and South America while clasping a football displaying the words, 'Together, we are America.’ Another message projected onto the big screen read: 'The only thing more powerful than hate is love.'
© InstagramLuar subsequently took to social media to document the moment, writing: “Thank you @chloeandchenelle for this historic moment. For the culture and for all immigrants - This is how we come together.”
Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl look set a precedent for celebrity style because it proved the power of sartorial storytelling. Rather than dressing purely for viral impact or in accordance with the trend cycle, Gaga paid tribute to the man of the moment and his cultural heritage, a poignant move during such a tense political climate where immigrants remain front and centre.
In doing so, she shifted the focus from celebrity fashion as viral spectacle, instead using her wardrobe as an act of solidarity and celebration - encouraging fellow stars to follow suit.
