Lana Akmaluna
The intersection of global sport and high fashion has reached a new pinnacle as the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across North America, with Colombian superstar Shakira serving as a central figure in the tournament’s cultural narrative. While the world watches the "Queen of World Cup Anthems" perform on the grandest stages, a specialized team of creative professionals works in the shadows to ensure her visual presentation matches the magnitude of the event. At the heart of this creative engine is Renee Old, a celebrity wardrobe stylist whose recent contributions have defined Shakira’s aesthetic for a new era of international stardom. Working under the leadership of primary stylist Nicolas Bru, Old has transitioned from a supporting role to a key architect of the custom pieces that have come to symbolize Shakira’s latest musical and athletic collaborations.
The Architect of the World Cup Aesthetic
The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents a historic milestone as the first tournament to be hosted by three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—and the first to feature an expanded field of 48 teams. For an artist like Shakira, who has provided the soundtrack to multiple World Cups including 2006, 2010, and 2014, the 2026 tournament required a visual strategy that balanced her legacy with contemporary fashion trends. Renee Old has been instrumental in this evolution.
A San Diego native with a deep personal connection to the sport, Old spent over 20 years playing soccer before transitioning into the fashion industry. This athletic background provides her with a unique perspective on the functionality and symbolism of sports apparel, a skill set that proved vital when designing the wardrobe for the music video of "Dai Dai," Shakira’s 2026 World Cup anthem featuring Burna Boy. One of the most recognizable pieces from the campaign is a custom triangle top constructed from deconstructed elements of the Colombian national soccer team jersey. The piece, which began as an original sketch by Old, features the iconic Colombian crest and a strategic arrangement of the national colors: yellow, blue, and red.
The creation of the "Dai Dai" look was a collaborative effort between Old, the tailoring team, and Shakira herself. According to Old, the process involved synthesizing the overall concept of the music video with the artist’s specific preferences for structure and fit. The success of the garment lies in its ability to evoke national pride while maintaining the high-fashion edge required for a global music production.
Meticulous Craftsmanship and Technical Execution
In the realm of celebrity styling, the difference between a standard outfit and a viral fashion moment often lies in the details that are invisible to the casual observer. Old’s portfolio with Shakira over the past year highlights a commitment to manual craftsmanship. A prime example is the crystal-encrusted green hat featured in the 2024 music video for "(Entre Paréntesis)," a collaboration with the regional Mexican group Grupo Frontera.
The production of the hat was a logistical challenge born of necessity. When the styling team was unable to source a specific shade of green headwear to match a designer jacket, Old volunteered to hand-customize a piece on-site. The process took six hours of continuous labor, with each individual gem applied by hand to ensure the accessory caught the light correctly under cinematic conditions. This "day-of" problem-solving is a hallmark of high-stakes wardrobe styling, where the ability to pivot and execute custom work can prevent costly production delays.
Beyond individual accessories, Old has been deeply involved in the large-scale coordination of Shakira’s live performances. For the World Cup opening ceremony held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, the styling team was tasked with dressing not only the headliner but also a troupe of 50 dancers. The wardrobe for the ceremony was anchored by the luxury label Off-White, which provided the foundational designs for Shakira’s look. However, the styling team was responsible for the cohesive aesthetic of the entire performance. This involved redesigning concepts to fit various body shapes, sourcing specific trims from downtown fashion districts, and ensuring that every dancer’s outfit adhered to a strict color palette to maintain visual harmony on a stadium-sized scale.
Chronology of a High-Profile Collaboration
The partnership between Renee Old and Shakira has intensified over the first half of 2024, coinciding with the release of the artist’s twelfth studio album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.
- March 2024: Old assists in shaping Shakira’s look for the "Algo Tú" music video with Beéle, establishing a tropical yet sophisticated aesthetic that would carry through her summer releases.
- April 2024: Work begins on the "(Entre Paréntesis)" video. Old’s handcrafted crystal hat becomes a focal point of the visual campaign, bridging the gap between traditional Mexican attire and contemporary pop glamour.
- May 2024: Production for "Dai Dai" commences. Old sketches and oversees the production of the Colombian jersey top, a piece that would eventually dominate social media discussions surrounding the World Cup.
- June 11, 2024: The FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in Mexico City. Old works on-site to manage the Off-White wardrobe for Shakira and the coordinated outfits for 50 dancers during a performance seen by millions worldwide.
- July 19, 2024: As the tournament progresses toward its final stages, Old prepares for another major performance, continuing the cycle of custom design and technical tailoring.
Data and Market Impact
The impact of Shakira’s visual branding is reflected in the commercial performance of her projects. "Dai Dai" quickly ascended to the top of the Billboard Global 200 Excl. US chart, a testament to her enduring international appeal. The music video’s fashion choices have also influenced consumer trends, specifically the "bloke-core" movement—a fashion trend characterized by the integration of vintage and custom soccer jerseys into everyday street style.
Search data following the release of "Dai Dai" showed a significant uptick in queries for "custom soccer tops" and "Colombian jersey fashion," illustrating the direct link between Old’s creative output and consumer interest. Furthermore, the collaboration with Grupo Frontera on "(Entre Paréntesis)" helped Shakira tap into the booming regional Mexican music market, which saw a 400% increase in global streaming on platforms like Spotify over the last five years. By tailoring Shakira’s look to fit the cultural context of regional Mexican music while maintaining her global pop identity, Old and the styling team played a crucial role in the song’s cross-genre success.
Professional Philosophy and Industry Implications
Renee Old’s rise within the industry serves as a case study in the professionalization of the "Stars Behind the Stars." Her approach to styling is rooted in a philosophy of authenticity and self-awareness. In an industry often characterized by the pressure to accept every opportunity, Old emphasizes the importance of knowing one’s technical limits. She notes that declining jobs that fall outside of her specific tailoring expertise—such as specialized structural work—is essential for maintaining the high standards required by A-list clientele.
The collaborative dynamic between Old, Nicolas Bru, and Shakira is described as highly efficient due to the artist’s clear creative vision. Shakira is known for her hands-on approach to her brand, often providing specific directions regarding materials, colors, and silhouettes. For a stylist, this clarity reduces the guesswork involved in the design process, though it raises the stakes for sourcing and execution. Finding the "diamond in the rough"—the exact shade of fabric or specific vintage trim requested by the artist—becomes the primary challenge.
Broader Impact on Cultural Representation
The work of stylists like Renee Old extends beyond mere aesthetics; it is a form of cultural storytelling. By incorporating the Colombian crest and national colors into a modern, empowering silhouette for the World Cup, the styling team reinforces Shakira’s role as a cultural ambassador. In the context of the 2026 World Cup, which emphasizes the unity of the Americas, these fashion choices serve as visual shorthand for national identity and global connectivity.
As the fashion industry continues to move toward a model of hyper-customization and artisanal detail, the role of the wardrobe stylist is evolving from a curator of existing garments to a creator of original pieces. Renee Old’s ability to sketch, design, and manually construct garments places her at the forefront of this shift. Her journey from a soccer player in San Diego to a key member of the creative team for a global icon at the World Cup underscores the diverse pathways available in the modern creative economy.
As Shakira continues her 2026 campaign, the visual legacy created by Old and her colleagues will likely be remembered as a defining element of this era in pop culture history—a fusion of athletic heritage, meticulous craftsmanship, and the unmistakable flair of a global superstar.
