On Super Bowl Sunday hosted in Glendale, Arizona, Rihanna not only announced her second pregnancy during her performance but the giant red coat she wore had an important and meaningful significance behind it. The full length red Alaia Puffer coat she wore appeared to be an homage to her late friend and fashion icon, Andre Leon Talley, who also famously wore one. Seen in his red Norma Kamala sleeping bag coat, it has become a symbol associated with him. 

Andre Leon Talley was an American fashion journalist, who died last year January 22, from a heart attack and COVID-19.  He is best known for his work as the editor-at-large at American Vogue. Talley was regarded as one of the fashion industry’s most influential stylesetters in his 50-year long career in the fashion industry. He wrote a memoir called The Chiffon Trenches, talking and describing his life in the fashion industry. He addressed his struggles being a Black journalist in a white-dominated industry, and related aspects about his relationships with several other fashion icons such as Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, and Diana Vreeland. He also released a film called “The Gospel According to Andre,” by filmmaker Kate Novack which followed his life and career.

 Many celebrities took to instagram and Twitter to express their love for the tribute.  Reality star Patricia Altschul wrote, “He will be missed by so many of us who loved him… Rihanna’s tribute made me teary”  Stylist June Ambrose also wrote to Twitter, “This was a beautiful tribute.” 

Rihanna and Talley were great friends, being shown in the footage from the 2015 Met Gala interview, where Talley admired Rihanna’s stunning Guy Pei lavish gown and embroidered train. He famously told Rihanna during the interview, “You are so inspiring to so many people,” Talley told her at the time. “You are going to inspire people in this place.”