It started with a punch to the face. Or at least, that’s what it looked like when Abel Tesfaye—better known to the world as The Weeknd—showed up on Saturday Night Live back in early 2020. He had a bandage across his nose. He looked like he’d just crawled out of a car wreck in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. But the most striking part wasn't the fake blood or the bruised ego. It was that blazer. The Weeknd red jacket became the visual shorthand for an entire era of pop culture that refused to die, even when the world stopped turning during the pandemic.
Honestly, we’ve seen artists use costumes before. Lady Gaga had the meat dress and David Bowie had Ziggy Stardust. But this was different. Abel didn't just wear the clothes; he became a character known as "The Character." For nearly a year and a half, he didn't break. If he was in public, he was in the suit.
The anatomy of the After Hours suit
The jacket itself wasn't just some off-the-rack find from a thrift store. It was a custom piece designed by Salvatore Ferragamo’s creative director at the time, Paul Andrew. The shade of red is specific. It’s not a cheery, bright crimson. It’s a deep, blood-soaked scarlet that feels aggressive and desperate at the same time.
Think about the silhouette. It’s got those sharp, 80s-inspired lapels. It’s slightly oversized, giving off a "coked-out Vegas high roller" vibe that fits the sonic landscape of the After Hours album perfectly. When you pair that with the black button-down, the leather gloves, and those chunky creepers, you get a look that screams Casino meets Joker. It’s iconic because it’s simple. You can see that silhouette from a mile away and know exactly who it is.
Fashion historians and stylists like Matthew Henson (who has worked with the likes of A$AP Rocky) have often noted how a single color can define a career pivot. For Abel, red was the color of the "bad trip." It represented the transition from the moody, shadowy "Starboy" to something far more visceral and cinematic.
Why the red jacket actually matters for music history
Most people think the outfit was just a gimmick for the Super Bowl. It wasn't. It was a narrative device.
📖 Related: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
The story told across the music videos for "Heartless," "Blinding Lights," and "Until I Bleed Out" is a chronological descent into madness. The jacket is the only constant as the Character gets beaten up, possessed by alien spirits, and eventually undergoes plastic surgery (symbolized by the bandages at the AMAs). By the time we got to the Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, the The Weeknd red jacket had been multiplied. He had an entire army of clones wearing the same outfit with bandaged faces.
It was a commentary on the "absurdity of Hollywood celebrity," as Abel told Variety in an interview. He was poking fun at how stars manipulate themselves to stay relevant or to fit a certain aesthetic of "perfection."
The technical craft behind the Super Bowl version
For the Super Bowl performance, the jacket got an upgrade. It wasn't the same one he wore to the grocery store or on late-night talk shows. Given the scale of the stage, the costume needed to pop under those massive stadium lights.
- Hand-embroidered crystals: The performance jacket featured thousands of small, ruby-colored crystals.
- Weight: Because of the beadwork, the jacket weighed a surprising amount, making the choreography even more impressive.
- Givenchy touch: Matthew Williams, the creative director of Givenchy at the time, took over the reins for this specific iteration, ensuring the tailoring was sharp enough to be seen from the nosebleed seats.
It wasn't just about fashion
The commitment was the real story. Usually, when a singer finishes a video shoot, they change into sweats and go get a burger. Abel didn't. He did every interview, every photoshoot, and every award show in character.
There’s a weird psychological effect when an artist hides their "real" self behind a uniform for that long. It creates a barrier. You stop seeing Abel Tesfaye and start seeing the music. In a way, the The Weeknd red jacket acted as a shield. It allowed him to be more expressive and wild on stage because he was playing a role. He was the "Heartless" guy, not the guy who likes The Simpsons and stays in his house in LA.
👉 See also: Austin & Ally Maddie Ziegler Episode: What Really Happened in Homework & Hidden Talents
Dealing with the "Meme-ification"
You probably remember the memes. The one where he’s wandering around the gold-mirrored room during the Super Bowl looking lost? Yeah, that went everywhere.
At first, people laughed. But that’s the brilliance of the branding. Even the jokes kept the jacket in the public consciousness. You couldn't escape it. It was a masterclass in visual marketing that most brands would kill for. He turned a piece of clothing into a global event.
How to capture the vibe (without looking like a costume)
If you’re actually trying to pull off this look today, you have to be careful. Wear the whole thing—bandages and all—and you’re just a guy in a Halloween costume. But the elements of the The Weeknd red jacket style are actually very wearable if you break them down.
- The Bold Blazer: Look for a structured blazer in burgundy or oxblood rather than "fire engine" red. It’s more sophisticated.
- Monochrome Underlay: Keep everything else black. Black shirt, black trousers, black tie. It lets the jacket do the talking.
- The Footwear: Pointed-toe boots or chunky derbies. Avoid sneakers. This look is about "sleazy elegance."
Actually, several high-street brands like Zara and H&M released "tributes" to this jacket during the height of the album's success. It showed that there was a genuine appetite for this kind of aggressive, maximalist menswear.
The end of the era
When the Dawn FM era started, the red jacket vanished. It was replaced by old-man makeup and grey suits. It felt like a funeral for the Character.
✨ Don't miss: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me to Sleep: The Dark Folklore of a Viral Lullaby
Looking back, the red jacket was the last great "monoculture" fashion moment. It happened at a time when we were all stuck inside, looking at our screens, waiting for something interesting to happen. Abel gave us a long-form performance art piece that just happened to have a killer soundtrack.
It’s rare for a single item of clothing to define a decade, but we’re still talking about this suit years later. It wasn't just a garment; it was a flag planted in the ground, marking the moment pop music got weird again.
Next Steps for Implementation
If you're looking to integrate this aesthetic into your wardrobe or a creative project, focus on the contrast between high-fashion tailoring and grit.
- Source the right fabric: If you're commissioning a jacket, look for wool-crepe or a heavy silk-blend. The way the fabric catches light is what separates a "costume" from a "statement piece."
- Study the lighting: The red jacket era was defined by "Chinatown" noir lighting—heavy shadows and neon pops. If you're doing a photoshoot, use gels to mimic that Vegas-at-3-AM feel.
- Embrace the silhouette: Don't go for a slim-fit "skinny" look. The After Hours vibe requires a bit of room in the shoulders to give that 80s power-suit energy.
The impact of this visual era proves that consistency in branding is more powerful than constant change. By sticking to one look for over a year, The Weeknd ensured that his image would be burned into the collective memory of the 2020s.