Inside Rihanna’s Halftime Show: A Closer Look at the Costumes and Set Design of Super Bowl LVII

On February 12^th 2023,  pop icon Rihanna took the stage at Super Bowl LVII for a 13-minute musical performance, immediately going viral not only for her songs but also for the style and design of the performance itself. Styled by Jahleel Weaver in bright red, the singer stood out from her 280 backup dancers who wore stark white puffers. Rihanna first took the stage wearing the already iconic Alaïa red puffer coat over a glossy leather corset and a jumpsuit, which she later unzipped to reveal her baby bump (she officially announced her pregnancy after her performance). She finished off her look with a pair of Maison Margiela x Salomon sneakers, a limited release that combines Salomon’s typical outdoorsy vibe with Margiela’s classic minimalism; in a press release, the two brands described the shoes as “fusing a performance sensibility with a directional aesthetic,” making them the perfect choice for Rihanna’s show. 

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Rihanna also started out her performance wearing gloves, though she later removed them to showcase her bright red manicure. Celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees—known for working with stars such as Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and Dua Lipa—explained the choice of color: “we wanted the nails to pop so we went with CND’s Devil Red, which is the perfect true red that really complements her tone.” To accessorize, Rihanna donned several diamond brooches from brand Joseph Saidian & Sons as well as Messika Jewelry diamond earrings. 

The performance’s set design was conceived by California-based designer Willo Perron, co-founder of design studio Perron-Roettinger and regular collaborator with artists such as Lady Gaga and Drake. Perron has a history of collaboration with Rihanna, stemming back to concerts in 2008 as well as Savage x Fenty fashion shows. Rihanna first appeared on a floating platform, her background dancers similarly suspended around her; she ended her performance on an oblong red stage with musical pyrotechnics. In an interview following the show, Perron described the set design as “almost a contemporary furniture piece” and revealed that he intended the materiality and color scheme to “employ an American sort of vernacular by means of transport.” Indeed, the chrome represents bumpers on vehicles and the red and orange hues reflect iridescent road signage. The color scheme and materiality also complimented Rihanna’s outfit, ultimately contributing to an overall cohesive, aesthetically-pleasing performance.