A Co Derry man played a major role in designing Rihanna’s outfit for her Super Bowl halftime show performance.
Jonathan Anderson designed three garments for the Umbrella singer as she performed on one of the world’s biggest stages.
In a statement posted to Instagram the Magherafelt man said designing for Rihanna was like a dream.
“I’m so excited to have been a part of this unforgettable moment. Rihanna is a true icon, and working with her to bring these stage looks to life feels like a wild, wonderful dream,” he said.
Many viewers anticipated multiple costume changes from Rihanna as is tradition for pop stars during the show. Mr Anderson is also well known for his daring with his previous design’s like the pigeon clutch purse and frog wellies going viral for their novelty.
But on the night it was just the one, relatively stripped back, outfit for Rihanna.
A red flight suit unzipped halfway revealing a matching silk jersey catsuit and sculpted leather breastplate.
All three garments were designed by Mr Anderson who is Creative Director of Spanish label Loewe.
Rihanna took the show as an opportunity to announce her and her partner A$AP Rocky’s second pregnancy.
New York Times’ chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman speculates that the outfit will ‘probably set maternity trends for the next decade’.
“If, during her first pregnancy, Rihanna’s style was largely defined by what she didn’t wear (anything that obscured her bump), in State Farm Stadium she was almost entirely covered up.
“Rihanna has often used fashion as a tool to underscore just who has control over her body, to force confrontation with corporeality. This once again redefined the terms,” Ms Friedman wrote in her column.
Dad Willie Anderson, a former Ireland rugby international, was over the moon that his son’s design was picked by Rihanna.
“Back in my day, people used to ask him if he was Willie Anderson’s son. People now ask me if I’m Jonathan Anderson’s dad,” he told BBC News NI.
Added Willie: “He didn’t get any feedback from them and we were just texting him, ‘What about Rihanna? Is she going to wear it?’, and he didn’t know at all.
“Both of us got a call in the middle of the night and it was Jonathan in tears of happiness to say to say that she had worn his outfit.
“Just to think at least 200 million people were watching a little bit of Northern Ireland and Magherafelt on the stage that he had a hand in, it was just overwhelming.
“It was absolutely unbelievable. From our point of view, we are so proud and so delighted for him because he is a genius.
“He’s well regarded in the fashion industry throughout the world and the great thing about Jonathan is that he has kept his feet on the ground very much, that’s what we love about him.
“As much as he’s the designer, he’s still just Jonathan Anderson, he’s still just our Jonny.”
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