Image via Complex Original
Maybe you're team didn't make it to the Super Bowl, or maybe you just don't like football. But when it comes to the often ostentatious Halftime Show, the performance is a "Super Bowl" of its own—albeit of the pop music persuasion.
The Halftime Show has played host to legends like Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, become one of the most memeable events of the year with Katy Perry, and spurred a major overhaul of live broadcasts after thenotorious Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" in 2004. It's one of the biggest and most widely-seen performances of the year, and with designers like Riccardo Tisci and Jeremy Scott cutting the costumes for Halftime stars, it's also the first (and probably only) time a large swath of Americans experience "designer fashion."
In honor of the gaudiest sports event of the year, we've rounded up The Most Stylish Super Bowl Hafltime Shows. Don't worry, you don't have to know the difference between a "first down" and "touchdown."
Paul McCartney
Super Bowl: XXXIX
Year: 2005
If your dad's “dad rock” band suddenly went from annoying your mom in the garage, to performing at the Super Bowl, this is how he'd dress.
Nelly
Super Bowl: XXXV
Year: 2001
It seems Nelly couldn't decide who he liked more, the Baltimore Ravens or the New York Giants, so he decided to literally split the difference. Even though he wasn't even the headlining performer (that honor goes out to Aerosmith, N*SYNC, and Brittney Spears' arm sock), it's clear that Nelly had the best outfit of the show—if not the night.
Prince
Super Bowl: XLI
Year: 2007
Dave Chappelle jokes aside, only Prince could get away with wearing a tangerine and turqouise suit while wielding a fuschia guitar…and get away with it on national T.V.
M.I.A.
Super Bowl: XLVI
Year: 2012
Even with an entire performance that included costumes from Givenchy and Prada, the only thing that anyone remembers about this halftime show is M.I.A.'s middle finger. But what a stylish finger that was.
Michael Jackson
Super Bowl: XXVII
Year: 1993
Until Janet Jackson's infamous “wardrobe malfunction” in 2004, this was one of the most important Super Bowl Halftime Shows ever. Sartorially, Michael Jackson's outfits included the iconic black-and-gold military uniform, alongside the flowing white look seen in the “Black or White” music video. But outside of the important costume decisions, the choice to have Jackson perform in the Halftime Show established the trend of hiring a pop performer to run the festivities on football's biggest night. At the time, NBC hired Jackson as a response to sagging interest in lackluster performances, ultimately (and unwittingly) picking someone with so much star power, that—to this day—Jackson's Super Bowl Halftime show is one of the most-watched television broadcasts in American history.
Boyz II Men
Super Bowl: XXXII
Year: 1998
Thinking of the all of synchronistic outfits that have robed the titans of '90s R&B, how could Boyz II Men not perform at the Super Bowl Halftime show in matching, all-white tracksuits.
Beyoncé
Super Bowl: XLVII
Year: 2013
If anyone doubted Beyoncé's ability to become a household name worldwide, this put those doubts to bed. Not only did she run through a smattering of her greatest hits. Not only did she reunite every Destiny's Child on a top-flight victory lap. Not only did she put on for then little-known designer Rubin Singer. Beyoncé's Super Bowl Halftime performance generated over 299,000 tweets per minute, taking the spot as the then second-most tweeted moment in the history of Twitter and then the lights went out. All in a day's work for Bey.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Super Bowl: XLVIII
Year: 2014
A full decade out from “Nipplegate” and it seems like the Super Bowl Halftime directors seemingly forgot about their issues with nips. (Also, shouts to Chad Smith's drum kit looking like a reincarnation of a NBA jacket from a decade ago).
Katy Perry
Super Bowl: XLIX
Year: 2015
When Jeremy Scott is designing your Halftime Show looks, you know things are going to be highly saturated and turned up to 11. With the three separate outfits—a bikini that plays on Perry's own…“beach balls,” a glittery hoodie for her performance with Missy Elliott, and a giant flaming costume rivaled only by her enormous robotic lion steed—Scott clearly didn't waste time when it came to designing for arguably America's biggest non-runway fashion performance.
Janet Jackson
Super Bowl: XXXVIII
Year: 2004
The one that changed everything. It's an event that introduced the term “wardrobe malfunction” into our modern lexicon, established the broadcast delay that is ubiquitous with live programming, and (according to co-founder Jawed Karim) even inspired the establishment of YouTube. All because of a strong tug from Justin Timberlake and a starburst nipple shield.