Met Gala 2025 Celebrates Black Dandyism with Tailored Glamour and Cultural Tribute

The Met Gala 2025 broke new ground on Monday night, showcasing the elegance and cultural depth of Black dandyism through a bold celebration of tailored fashion and identity. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this year’s event was themed around the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” with a unique focus on “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

The accompanying red carpet dress code, “The Garden of Time,” invited A-list guests to reimagine traditional tailoring with personal, cultural, and historical significance. The result was a powerful fusion of couture, heritage, and storytelling.

Black Style Takes Center Stage

Curated by Professor Monica Miller of Barnard College and Andrew Bolton of the Costume Institute, the “Superfine” exhibition marks the first time in Met Gala history that an entire display has centered on Black fashion, identity, and resistance.

This groundbreaking collection traces over 300 years of tailored Black style. It explores how fashion has been used as a tool for self-expression, dignity, and empowerment in the face of systemic barriers.

The term “superfine” pays homage to a high-quality wool often worn by Black dandies, as well as the emotional and cultural significance sewn into every garment.

Celebrity Highlights: Fashion Meets Identity

• Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy while wearing a Marc Jacobs design featuring a cropped wool jacket, pinstripe skirt, and dramatic hat, blending Harlem elegance with modern maternity fashion.
• A$AP Rocky, one of the event’s co-chairs, honored his Harlem roots in a custom outfit featuring a diamond-studded umbrella by Bulgari, making a subtle reference to his recent legal acquittal.
• Zendaya wore a custom Louis Vuitton suit by Pharrell Williams, reinterpreting bridal tailoring with a nod to Bianca Jagger’s 1971 wedding style.
• Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rican culture to the forefront in a brown tailored Prada suit and a traditional straw pava hat, symbolizing his heritage.
• Nicole Kidman arrived in a tuxedo-style gown by Balenciaga, pairing it with a sharp, sculptural hairstyle inspired by vintage dandy fashion.
• Kamala Harris, former U.S. Vice President, surprised attendees in an Off-White ensemble designed by Ib Kamara, embracing the theme of Black style in political spaces.

Other stars like Miley Cyrus, Charli XCX, and Madonna made bold fashion statements, though some sparked mixed reactions. Madonna’s cigar prop and stylized performance drew criticism for overshadowing the evening’s cultural intent.

Fashion as Cultural Legacy

The exhibition includes 60 archival garments across 12 themed galleries, along with photography, video, and fine art. It emphasizes how tailoring has served as a medium for Black communities to assert pride, creativity, and resistance.

Jeremy Lewis, fashion editor and founder of Garmento, praised the exhibition as “a revolution in elegance,” highlighting how it reshapes traditional fashion narratives by placing Black style at the forefront.

Conclusion

Met Gala 2025 was more than a fashion event — it was a cultural milestone. By elevating the history and artistry of Black tailoring, the evening honored a legacy long overlooked and redefined the red carpet as a platform for identity, pride, and power.