the best Super Bowl Halftime Show outfits ever

On Sunday, millions of people around the world will tune in to watch the US Super Bowl 55.

Whilst some will be genuinely interested in finding out whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (feat Tom Brady) beat the Kansas City Chiefs, others simply want to witness the mega spectacle that is the half-time show.

Last year’s rendition, co-headlined by Shakira and J Lo and produced for the first time by Jay Z’s company Roc Nation, garnered audiences of more than 117.5 million people, an increase of 4 per cent on 2019.

So whilst technically a sporting event, the Super Bowl is also a mega music moment, and therefore, a mega fashion moment too – such an important occasion clearly calls for some larger-than-life outfits.

Last year Shakira and J Lo sported an array of feather and crystal-adorned ensembles, Shakira opting for no less than five different custom outfits created for her by Peter Dundas, and accompanied by a pair of $20,000 boots covered in Swarovski crystals. J Lo meanwhile stuck to a series of iridescent custom Versace looks, created for her by the brand’s atelier in Milan.

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J Lo performs at the US Super Bowl 2020AFP via Getty Images

J Lo’s wardrobe highlight was a silver fringed salsa bodysuit accessorised with a feather cape representing the American flag on one side, and the Puerto Rican on the other. The flag featured 40,000 individually sewn feathers, and each of the 2000 stars on the American side had 40 Swarovski crystals sewn on. This is football with a side of couture.

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Previous years have seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Prince and the Rolling Stones take to the stage in an array of designer creations.

From the Givenchy capes and headdresses Madonna wore in 2012, to the crystal-embellished Versace bodysuit Lady Gaga rocked in 2017, the half-time slot is a moment of sartorial theatre like no other.

In amongst all the triumphs of spandex and sequins, however, some years have seen some dressing disasters.

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Back in 2004 for example, Janet Jackson experienced a major wardrobe malfunction onstage after Justin Timberlake inadvertently exposed her breast during a performance.

Mid-way through singing the lyrics “bet I’ll have you naked by the end of this song” from his hit “Rock Your Body,” the former N-Sync star accidentally tore off a piece of Jackson’s top, revealing her pierced nipple to millions of viewers.

Despite the misdemeanour, Timberlake – who also featured in 2001’s half-time show alongside Britney Spears – was invited back for a third time to headline the 2018 show alongside P!nk, who sang the US national anthem.

This year’s half time performance will be headlined by Grammy Award-winning singer The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye. While not known for his flamboyant approach to fashion (he rarely strays from black), the Canadian singer might well opt for some Michael Jackson-esque tailoring, like the scarlet velvet jacket and leather gloves he rocked to American Music Awards last year.

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We can’t help but hope he ditches the face bandages (which were a comment, he told Variety, on “the absurd culture of Hollywood celebrity and people manipulating themselves for superficial reasons to please and be validated”) in favour of something suitably soaked in Swarovski crystals though. It is the Super Bowl after all.

Will he be bandaged or bedazzled? Only two days ’till we find out.