New York, May 6, 2025—The Metropolitan Museum of Art transformed into a dazzling tribute to Black history, culture, and fashion as the 2025 Met Gala unfolded Monday night. Despite rainy weather, the star-studded event saw celebrities, designers, and artists ascend the museum’s iconic steps—temporarily lined in blue—in bold, tailored looks inspired by the evening’s theme, “Tailored for You.”
The dress code, tied to the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, honored the legacy of Black dandyism, encouraging avant-garde takes on classic suiting. Fashion icon Dapper Dan told CNN the movement began with zoot suits and the Harlem Renaissance, calling it “when Black artists dressed the way they felt.”
Reinventing Menswear for the Red Carpet
For the first time, the Met Gala spotlighted menswear, challenging designers to reinterpret sharp tailoring for women. Doja Cat’s exaggerated 1980s Marc Jacobs blazer, Tessa Thompson’s wide-lapeled jacket, and Janelle Monáe’s trompe-l’oeil suit-within-a-suit (complete with a clock monocle) were among the night’s most inventive looks. Zendaya stunned in a structured Louis Vuitton three-piece, while Lupita Nyong’o shimmered in head-to-toe aquamarine Chanel.
Men embraced the theme with equal flair: Regé-Jean Page commanded attention in head-to-toe crimson, Henry Golding mirrored his name in gilded suiting, and Bad Bunny paired a relaxed brown ensemble with a traditional Puerto Rican pava hat.
Tributes to Black Icons
Many attendees paid homage to Black trailblazers. Co-chair Colman Domingo honored André Leon Talley with a sweeping blue Valentino cape, while Lewis Hamilton and Anne Hathaway echoed Talley’s signature polish in patent leather and a crisp white shirt, respectively. Ayo Edebiri dedicated her Ferragamo look to her father, and Gigi Hadid’s Miu Miu gown celebrated designer Zelda Wynn Valdes.
The legendary Diana Ross made a triumphant return after 22 years, wearing a 60-pound gown with an 18-foot train embroidered with her family’s names—a showstopping close to fashion’s biggest night.
Related topics: