The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, was a vibrant celebration of Black history, culture, and style. Themed “Tailored for You,” the event complemented the Costume Institute’s exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which delves into the rich history of Black dandyism and its influence on fashion.
Despite the evening’s rain, spirits remained high as designers, models, and celebrities ascended the Met’s iconic blue-carpeted stairs. The dress code inspired attendees to reinterpret traditional menswear, resulting in a showcase of contemporary takes on zoot suits, wide-shouldered blazers, and high-waisted trousers—styles popularized by African American men in the 1940s.
Fashion designer Dapper Dan, speaking to CNN ahead of the gala, emphasized the significance of zoot suits, jazz, and the Harlem Renaissance in the genesis of “real dandyism.” He noted, “It’s when Black artists and creatives began to dress the way they felt.”
This year marked the first Met Gala dress code centered on menswear, challenging designers to reinterpret tailoring traditions for their female clients. The red carpet featured exaggerated suiting, from Doja Cat’s 1980s-inspired Marc Jacobs blazer to the wide-lapeled jackets worn by Tessa Thompson and rapper Doechii.
Janelle Monáe captivated audiences with a suit-within-a-suit ensemble—a long jacket printed to resemble a blazer and necktie, which she removed to reveal an actual suit underneath, complete with a bowler hat and a clock monocle with spinning hands. Zendaya impressed in a Louis Vuitton three-piece suit, while Lupita Nyong’o stunned in an all-aquamarine Chanel look, featuring a matching chiffon cape and hat.
Male attendees embraced colorful, theatrical suiting: “Bridgerton” actor Regé-Jean Page donned all red, Henry Golding wore gold, and musician Bad Bunny sported a loose-fitting brown two-piece paired with a Puerto Rican pava hat.
The evening also paid homage to individual Black icons. Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo, one of the Met Gala’s co-chairs, arrived in a blue Valentino cape evoking Vogue’s former editor-at-large André Leon Talley. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton referenced Talley with his patent leather shoes, as did Anne Hathaway with her white-button down shirt and Carolina Herrera column dress.
Other attendees honored personal inspirations. “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri’s Ferragamo look nodded to the dandy men in her life, including her father. Supermodel Gigi Hadid’s Miu Miu dress was inspired by Zelda Wynn Valdes, a pioneering Black fashion designer, while Jodie Turner-Smith channeled equestrian Selina Lazevski.
Diana Ross made a grand return to the Met Gala, her first since 2003, in a 60-pound, 18-foot-long train embroidered with the names of all her children and grandchildren.
The gala also highlighted the contributions of Black queer designers. Christopher John Rogers, Maximilian Davis, and Paul Tazewell were among those who brought bold and innovative designs to the red carpet, reflecting the rich narrative of Black style and queer creativity.them.us
The 2025 Met Gala not only celebrated fashion but also served as a powerful tribute to Black identity and creativity, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.
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