Rihanna pays tribute to Durham fashion icon with red, puffy coat at Super Bowl

Clad in bright red against her backup dancers’ white suits, Rihanna performed her hits during Sunday’s Super Bowl half-time show.

Her flamboyantly overstuffed puffer coat wasn’t just for contrast, though.

The nine-time Grammy award winner was paying homage to a friend and fashion icon, the late Durham native André Leon Talley.

Rihanna’s jacket, more comforter than coat, wasn’t accidental — the singer was emulating Talley’s trademark style of big and lavish coats, capes and shawls.

While confirmation of the singer’s second pregnancy dominated next-day headlines, the fashion world took notice of her unconfirmed nod to Talley’s giant red sleeping bag coat made famous by American designer Norma Kamali.

Talley died Jan. 18, 2022, at the age of 73.

The former Vogue editor and fashion authority had a kinship with the Barbadian-American singer.

“Oh! This moment, this fantasy, what ... how ... I’m dreaming ... how did this happen? It’s so beautiful!” Talley marveled at Rihanna’s custom-made Chinese dress when the pair spoke on the red carpet at the 2015 MET Gala.

“Ugh, I love a girl from humble beginnings who becomes a big star,” Talley said in a video of Rihanna that night. “It’s like the American dream!

The pair had numerous encounters, including when Talley interviewed Rihanna in 2014 when she won the fashion icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

After the Super Bowl performance, Talley’s Instagram page posted a photo of Talley in his sleeping bag coat alongside several photos and videos of Rihanna on stage.

“’When the sun shines, we’ll shine together. Told you I’ll be here forever … said I’ll always be your friend,’” the post read.

Talley’s red coat is being auctioned off at Christie’s this week as part of the sale of his estate. Part of the proceeds will benefit Talley’s childhood church in Durham, The News & Observer reported previously.

Durham responds to Talley tribute at Super Bowl

Talley’s alma mater responded on social media Monday to Rihanna’s sartorial tribute

“The red puffer coat worn by Rihanna during the Super Bowl Halftime Show is said to have been a tribute to the late NCCU alumnus and fashion icon André Leon Talley,” NCCU wrote in a Facebook post. “The two were said to have been close and that donning the coat was her way of paying homage.”

SpiritHouse, the Black woman-led Durham arts and culture nonprofit, also responded to the homage.

“Thank you Rihanna for prioritizing yourself, your health and looking fly the entire time. We see your tribute to Andre Leon Talley!” the organization wrote in a Facebook post. “BTW — Y’all do realize that the 1st pregnant woman to be a Super Bowl half time headliner is historic, don’t you?”