WARNING: THIS IS NOT A SPOILER-FREE ASK!

Hey!

So, first of all, thank you for your kind words.

Secondly, in answer to your question, being that I don’t know the exact context for the performance yet, I can’t say for sure why Santana appears in “costume” here—all I can say is that she definitely power dresses for the occasion.

Santana wears black with red accents in this performance. In terms of color symbolism, black represents authority and intimidation and red bespeaks confrontation and aggression.

As for Santana’s actual clothing items themselves, in modern American culture, when someone wears a fedora together with a suit, it evokes images of the American Mafia, which entity itself evokes ideas of crime, violence, and clandestine acts, all of which things the lyrics of the song indicate, in this case.

Santana’s blazer is a “power item”—the shoulder pads, tailored double-breasted cut, and classy-as-fuck pocket square contribute to Santana’s aura of power. She looks like a business woman, a mob boss, and someone who, though high class as anything, won’t hesitate to break some heads.

Of course, her short skirt and heeled boots add to her sex appeal—and since “sex” equals “power” during this confrontation, that makes all the difference.

It doesn’t surprise me that Santana would go for the power ensemble in this case, given the nature of this confrontation, and especially not after Sebastian insults her socioeconomic status, class, and ethnicity at the Lima Bean.

Santana’s clothing choices for “Smooth Criminal” serve as a clear refutation to Sebastian’s claims that Santana is low class; her wardrobe here is expensive and shows that she has power.

Everything from her lapels to the jaunty tilt of her hat should, by all accounts, intimidate the fuck out of Sebastian Warbler.

As I’ve said before, Baby Girl understands visual rhetoric (see here); Baby Girl knows how to dress.

Anyway, that’s my take on what Santana wears. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers.