As Vogue reports, during Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI halftime show, there were plenty of outstanding style moments to go around, from the looks worn by Eminem and 50 Cent that paid homage to their ’00s heyday, to Snoop Dogg’s oh-so-Snoop bandana print tracksuit and gold chains, to the dazzling Peter Dundas bodysuit and thigh-high boots worn by Mary J. Blige. Still, it was Kendrick Lamar’s outfit that proved to be the most powerful of the night. In a heartfelt tribute to the late designer Virgil Abloh, the influential rapper worked with his stylist Taylor McNeill to deliver a full look from the late designer’s final Louis Vuitton menswear collection that debuted last month in Paris.
For his moment in the spotlight during the halftime show, which was curated by and costarred his mentor Dr. Dre, Lamar took to the stage to perform an intro of his track “M.a.a.D City,” before launching into a show-stopping rendition of his Grammy-winning hit “Alright,” featuring an army of back-up dancers wearing sashes emblazoned with “Dre Day.” Widely acclaimed as the standout performance of the evening—no tall order, given the assembled cast of hip-hop and R&B legends—Lamar brought the house down with his ever-playful flow and razor-sharp choreography.
In keeping with the subtle military influence of his backing dancers’ moves, Lamar’s blazer featured the power shoulders Abloh explored in his final few seasons at Louis Vuitton, along with a pair of perfectly tailored trousers that split at the ankle to create a gentle flare. Another superior detail came courtesy of the Tiffany & Co. star and cross clips that adorned the lapels and the right armband of the jacket, as well as glittering diamond necklaces from the jeweler that were hung from his shirt collar to form an offbeat take on a bolo tie. (The finishing rockstar touch? A pair of Gentle Monster sunglasses.) Balancing dapper style with deeper significance in the way Lamar does so well, the look was a true fashion touchdown.
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