The Weeknd went all in for his halftime performance at the Super Bowl. Having reportedly spent $7 million of his own money to put into the performance, he took to the stage with a flashy performance that included backup dancers with bandaged faces, an orchestra (many of them in crystal masks), and a big blowout finish, complete with fireworks.

If you were expecting tons of costume changes, however, you’d be greatly disappointed: The Weeknd stuck to his signature look and wore his crystal-covered red suit. 

If you’re a fan of the singer, you’ve noticed his commitment to wearing red suiting throughout the entire era for his 2020 album, After Hours. He’s worn it in his music videos for “Heartless,” “Blinding Lights,” “Until I Bleed”—shall I go on? The origin or reasoning behind the fiery suiting look is unclear, as is the reason why he has consistently sported a bandaged face for his various performances this year. But the character he’s been embodying for the album is meant to be a statement on celebrity culture, he says. “The significance of the entire head bandages is reflecting on the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrity and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons to please and be validated,” he recently told Variety. 

The red suiting, this time designed by Givenchy, certainly nods to a few Hollywood-inspired elements, the most obvious being Thriller-era Michael Jackson. It also makes The Weeknd appear like a 1970s game show host, in the vein of Sonny Bono on The Sonny and Cher Show. Styled with a black shirt and tie, trousers, and creeper shoes for his Super Bowl set, it got full marks for dedication to the look. 

Full Article: Read Here | By Christian Allaire