A celebration of Black dandyism and tailored elegance, the 2025 Met Gala brought cultural history and cutting-edge fashion to the Met steps in unforgettable style.
By The Fashion Editorial Team
The fashion world's most anticipated night returned to New York City on Monday, May 5, as the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted the 2025 Met Gala. This year's exhibition, titled "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," celebrated Black dandyism and its profound influence on fashion history, with the dress code fittingly announced as "Tailored for You."
The Theme: Celebrating Black Style and Dandyism
This year's exhibition marks the first in more than 20 years to focus exclusively on menswear, and notably, it's the first in the Met's history to center Black identity and Black designers. The exhibition was inspired by Guest Curator Monica L. Miller's book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
“Dress has been (and continues to be) one of the most important ways in which we project a sense of self, a class status, and a place on the spectrum of gender identities, sexuality and nationality. This has been the case especially for black people who—though materially deprived in the West throughout history—have made the presentation of their bodies (hair, dress, gesture) a key component and signal of their self-definition and political, social and cultural possibility," explained Monica L. Miller in a 2009 interview pertaining to her aforementioned book.
This year's co-chairs included Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Vogue editor-in-chief Dame Anna Wintour. LeBron James was named as an honorary chair but was unable to attend due to a knee injury. The event had already raised a record $31 million for the museum's Costume Institute - where the spaces hosts groundbreaking fashion exhibitions - an initiative begun in its modern form by former Vogue editor-in-chief, Diana Vreeland.
Red Carpet Standouts
Janelle Monáe and Paul Tazewell
Janelle Monáe, a member of the Met Gala's host committee and known for her dandy style, made a striking entrance in collaboration with Oscar-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell. Monáe wore a custom Thom Browne oversized trompe l'oeil suit cape, half realized in 3-ply mohair with white radial stitch grosgrain tipping, and half finished in embroidered pinstripe intarsia into red double duchess silk.
The ensemble featured a monocle on her left eye, and beneath the overcoat, she wore a deconstructed bi-color sportcoat and skirt in pinstripe suiting and red wool crepe. Tazewell complemented her look in a custom Thom Browne classic tailcoat and ankle-length pleated skirt in black 3-ply mohair.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg dazzled in a coat featuring 350,000 matte white sequins, described as "a star shimmering amongst the lights of the metropolitan steps." Her custom Thom Browne black duchess satin raglan-sleeve tailored dress was topped with a heavily embroidered, stacked matte white sequin overcoat with lacing detail down the center back. She completed the look with a top hat in wool bouclé from the fall 2015 archive and longwing boots in black and white patent leather.
Her jewelry, handcrafted in New York City by L'Enchanteur (Dynasty and Soull), included brass finger caps, gold sunglasses, a gold link chain, and a keyhole brooch with black opal and blue and white diamonds. The entire ensemble reportedly took over 7,700 hours to create.
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey made a dramatic statement in a look from the Valentino Vertigineux Haute Couture Collection designed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. She wore a long dress in black velvet and brown satin, encrusted with lace on the back and featuring a black bow with feathers, completed with Valentino Garavani accessories.
Colman Domingo
As one of the event's co-chairs, Colman Domingo embodied the theme in a look exclusively created for him by Creative Director Alessandro Michele. His ensemble featured a blue long pleated cape with an ivory linen bolero composed of light gold and silver sequin embroidery with small antique silver canes and ivory feathers. He wore a black and butter check double-breasted wool jacket embellished with pearl and crystal embroidery, wide-leg wool trousers, a butter silk shirt with black stripes and gold lamè thread, complemented by an ivory vest and a silk flower brooch with hand-painted polka dots.
André 3000
André 3000, one of the stars to watch according to Aria Hughes for his influential use of dress, arrived in a bespoke boilersuit with umbrella embroidery, a striped rugby top, and, most remarkably, a baby grand piano. His outfit was designed by Burberry in collaboration with benji bixby and styled by Law Roach, with a hat by benji bixby and Demure Amsterdam. The custom-made baby grand piano served as a statement to inspire talent and musical excellence for the next generation. The boilersuit was reworked from an aviator's flight suit from the early 20th century in cotton gabardine, embroidered with umbrellas and raindrops. The event also marked the debut of benji bixby, an evolution of André's beloved late 00s fashion line, Benjamin Bixby.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus attended the gala wearing a sculptural Alaïa custom look designed by Pieter Mulier. Her ensemble consisted of a cropped tailored high-neck jacket crafted from precious crocodile leather and a high-waisted silk taffeta skirt, showcasing Alaïa's exceptional craftsmanship and creativity.
Serena Williams
Tennis legend, entrepreneur, and global cultural icon Serena Williams wore a fluid gown crafted from silvered seafoam-green liquid satin, designed by Custom Moncler x EE72 by Edward Enninful. The gown was extravagantly draped to allow fluid movement and supported by an internal corset, while a band of technical organza intarsia at the front offered a sensual, translucent effect. She completed the look with a dramatic, floor-length down-quilted silk satin cape—a bold homage to Moncler’s iconic puffer legacy.
Questlove
Questlove’s look was a masterclass in artisanal craftsmanship. He wore a custom Gabriela Hearst ensemble featuring a double-breasted, six-button blazer and straight-cut trousers, both crafted from black virgin wool barathea. The suit was hand-embroidered with more than 30,000 freshwater pearls in a pinstripe pattern and paired with an ivory silk-wool cady buttoned shirt. The embroidery process alone took over 206 hours—76 hours for the trousers and 130 hours for the jacket.
Chris Rock
Chris Rock made a bold statement in a custom white suede single-breasted blazer also by Gabriela Hearst, featuring seamless bonding and refined pick-stitching. The look was completed with straight-fit trousers, a lightweight cashmere stand-collar shirt, and white textured leather Ohio slip-on sneakers with whipstitch lacing and embroidery.
Designer Gabriela Hearst remarked, “Nothing is more sexy and simultaneously brings trepidation like a white suede suit. So, for a brilliant mind such as Chris, a white suede would be right. I see him as a prophet of our times, someone with the ability to put his finger on the Zeitgeist of our current culture. We wanted the design to feel exactly how Chris’ personality is. He is someone so sophisticated but at the same time he’s casual. So, we wanted the classic shape of the tailoring, but it had to have the ease that defines Chris’ style. The idea of having it impeccable, crisp and sharp is exactly what Chris’ humor is.” The design drew inspiration from Harlem Renaissance icon Gladys Bentley’s pristine tailoring and a self-portrait by visual artist Barkley L. Hendricks.
Nicole Kidman
Balenciaga ambassador Nicole Kidman donned a custom reinterpretation of a 1952 Cristóbal Balenciaga couture evening gown. Her corset gown featured a picot-edged basque in silk organza and a voluminous, layered petticoat skirt with a dramatic tilt. Silk satin bow belts emphasized the waist and hips, while black spandex Wrist Gloves and Raven Ankle Strap Pumps in black crepe satin completed the look.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz arrived in coordinated Moncler x EE72 by Edward Enninful looks, embracing dandy-inspired menswear aesthetics. Keys wore a navy and red wool-silk suit paired with an oversized down scarf, structured bralette, and a handcrafted beaded headpiece. Swizz Beatz matched in a tailored ensemble with a silk durag by Paul Richards, creative director of Pierre Blanc, accented with Swarovski crystal trim.
Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner stunned in a custom Ferragamo design by Creative Director Maximilian Davis. Her ensemble celebrated the gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and highlighted Davis’ innovative approach to tailoring through a Black cultural lens.
Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny wore a custom Prada suit in brown kid mohair, paired with a tobacco poplin shirt and raffia tie. A natural rope and leather belt and canvas boots anchored the look, which was finished with embellished leather gloves and a Fall/Winter 2025 runway bag.
Hunter Schafer
Hunter Schafer embraced a striking monochrome palette also in Prada. She wore a black kid mohair jacket and trousers over a white poplin vest, shirt, and shorts ensemble, topped with a white leather beret, gloves, and black pumps for a sharp, modern silhouette.
Tom Francis
Tony Award-nominee Tom Francis wore a bespoke Todd Snyder tuxedo in stone-colored Italian cashmere. The oversized double-breasted jacket nodded to the relaxed British Drape style of the late 1920s. He paired it with a silk charmeuse point-collar shirt, dark brown velvet Belgian loafers by Todd Snyder for Rubinacci, and jewelry by Khiry.
Laura Harrier
Laura Harrier wore a custom look by Gap Inc. Creative Director Zac Posen, designed in the Gap Studio. The piece balanced accessibility with tailored sophistication, in alignment with the gala’s theme of celebrating Black style and fashion history.
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody opted for a contemporary silhouette in a bespoke FEAR OF GOD wool ripstop suit in black, paired with boots from the brand’s Collection 9. His look offered a sleek, modern take on classic formalwear.
Spike Lee
Spike Lee brought his signature flair in a bespoke wool suit in espresso by FEAR OF GOD, seamlessly fusing cinematic presence with sharp tailoring.
After-Party Highlight
A$AP Rocky
For the evening’s after-party, A$AP Rocky transitioned into a Bottega Veneta ensemble featuring a double-breasted tuxedo, classic shirt, and a dressing gown in grain de poudre—continuing his embrace of contemporary dandyism late into the night.
The Legacy of Black Dandyism
Opening on May 10 and running through October 26, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style explores how Black communities have long used fashion as a powerful tool for self-expression, resistance, and cultural identity—from the earliest diasporic histories to contemporary movements. Inspired by scholar Monica L. Miller’s work, the exhibition highlights how style has served as both aesthetic innovation and a statement of autonomy.
The 2025 Met Gala was not only a night of unforgettable fashion moments but a tribute to the enduring legacy of Black creativity. With a renewed focus on tailoring, identity, and heritage, this year’s event marked a meaningful evolution in how fashion recognizes and celebrates Black cultural influence.