Brooklyn Designer Behind Lady Gaga's Super Bowl Dress

LUAR Creative Director Raul López's salsa-inspired design for Gaga's halftime show celebrated Caribbean and Latino heritage.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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When Lady Gaga took the stage alongside Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show, the salsa-inspired dress she wore was designed by Raul López, the Brooklyn-based creative director of fashion label LUAR. López, who was born and raised in the Dominican-American community of Williamsburg, said the opportunity to design for the high-profile performance was a career milestone that allowed him to celebrate his Caribbean heritage.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most watched television events each year, giving López and his brand LUAR a major platform to showcase their work and represent the Latino and Caribbean communities of New York City. The performance also featured other nods to Williamsburg's Hispanic culture, including the appearance of Toñita, owner of the Caribbean Social Club, underscoring the generational legacy of the neighborhood's Latino residents.

The details

López said Gaga's team initially reached out to him for a secret, salsa-inspired project, not revealing it was for the Super Bowl halftime show. The performance gave López a chance to explore a softer, more playful aesthetic than he is often known for with LUAR. The halftime show's celebration of Caribbean and Latino culture resonated deeply with López, who was born and raised in the Los Sures section of Williamsburg to parents from the Dominican Republic.

  • Lady Gaga performed during the Super Bowl halftime show on February 12, 2023.

The players

Raul López

The Brooklyn-based creative director of fashion label LUAR who designed Lady Gaga's salsa-inspired dress for the Super Bowl halftime show.

Lady Gaga

The pop superstar who wore the salsa-inspired dress designed by Raul López during the Super Bowl halftime show performance alongside Bad Bunny.

Toñita

The owner of the Caribbean Social Club in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who also appeared during the Super Bowl halftime show, representing the neighborhood's Latino community.

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What they’re saying

“It was an iconic, historic moment just to be part of and to represent the Caribbean. And being Latino and an immigrant was really amazing.”

— Raul López, Creative Director, LUAR (cbsnews.com)

“Amazing. It was amazing. We had a great time here looking at her at the Super Bowl. It was an epic experience.”

— Jorge Espada, Employee, Caribbean Social Club (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

López and LUAR are expected to continue gaining recognition and acclaim for their work celebrating Caribbean and Latino culture in fashion and design.

The takeaway

The inclusion of Raul López's salsa-inspired dress design for Lady Gaga and the appearance of Toñita from the Caribbean Social Club in Williamsburg during the Super Bowl halftime show highlighted the vibrant Latino and Caribbean communities in New York City and their important contributions to music, fashion, and culture.