Black Elegance and Dandyism Dazzle at the Met Gala

 Stars Shine at 2025 Met Gala, Celebrating the Elegance and Legacy of Black Dandyism

Hollywood’s elite, along with top names from music, fashion, and sports, lit up the red carpet on Monday night at the 2025 Met Gala — the annual fashion spectacle and fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year’s theme, "Tailored for You," paid tribute to the subversive elegance of Black dandyism, aligning with the Institute’s upcoming exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which opens to the public on May 10.

Fashion’s biggest night, always held on the first Monday in May, dazzled with striking interpretations of the dandy aesthetic — sharply tailored suits, ornate brooches, walking canes, and bold hats, all nodding to the rich and complex history of Black style and self-expression.

Among the first to arrive were co-chairs Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, and Lewis Hamilton, joined by longtime gala visionary and Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. Domingo honored the late André Leon Talley with a royal blue Valentino cape, while Hamilton stunned in a cream suit and backward cap, sparkling with diamonds. Pharrell opted for a pearl-detailed jacket and dramatic flared trousers.

Women attendees also embraced the theme with flair. Teyana Taylor turned heads in a black suit with red pinstripes and a dramatic pleated coat emblazoned with “Harlem Rose.” Rapper Doechii brought swagger in a Louis Vuitton shorts suit, while Zendaya exuded elegance in a slim white ensemble with a wide-brimmed hat. Rihanna, arriving late, revealed a baby bump in an all-black look, while A$AP Rocky confirmed their happy news.

The guest list included political figures like former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who attended in a sleek black and cream gown, as well as stars like Kim Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shakira, Halle Berry, Kylie Jenner, and Nicole Kidman.

The exhibit “Superfine” offers a rare focus on men’s fashion and is the Costume Institute’s first dedicated to Black designers and aesthetics. Inspired by Monica Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the exhibit highlights how Black men historically redefined dandyism — once imposed upon them — into a tool of resistance, identity, and cultural pride. From 18th-century Europe to Harlem’s jazz age, and now the Met’s red carpet, the tradition of dressing sharp remains a powerful form of expression.

Though conceived years ago, this year’s theme resonates deeply amid ongoing debates over diversity and representation. “It’s taken on a new sense of importance and purpose,” said Wintour.

As always, the gala raised significant funds for the museum’s Costume Institute, with this year’s event projected to bring in $31 million.