5th of May, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York hosted the most prestigious fashion event of the year—the Met Gala. This glamorous ball annually gathers the biggest names from the worlds of fashion, film, music, and art, with public attention focused on the red carpet and the inevitable question: who wore what?
This year’s Met Gala theme, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” accompanies the Costume Institute’s 2025 exhibition. It is an exceptionally important and deeply thoughtful theme that explores the influence of Black fashion aesthetics through the lens of dandy style from the 18th century to the present. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the exhibition and gala celebrate creativity, individuality, and cultural heritage that have shaped and redefined style as a form of resistance, expression, and identity.
Conceptually, the exhibition is divided into 12 thematic sections that explore concepts such as ownership, presence, prominence, disguise, freedom, beauty, and cosmopolitanism through fashion. All these characteristics define the historical and contemporary dandy style and are presented through clothing, images, photographs, and artworks.
This year’s Met Gala dress code, “Tailored for You,” invites guests to tell their own stories through fashion, where cut, material, and silhouette become extensions of their identities. The evening emphasized the important message that fashion is not just a visual impression but also a powerful form of expression, personal communication, and a way for individuals to reveal who they are, what they believe in, and where they come from.
This year’s Met Gala theme, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” accompanies the Costume Institute’s 2025 exhibition. It is an exceptionally important and deeply thoughtful theme that explores the influence of Black fashion aesthetics through the lens of dandy style from the 18th century to the present. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the exhibition and gala celebrate creativity, individuality, and cultural heritage that have shaped and redefined style as a form of resistance, expression, and identity.
Conceptually, the exhibition is divided into 12 thematic sections that explore concepts such as ownership, presence, prominence, disguise, freedom, beauty, and cosmopolitanism through fashion. All these characteristics define the historical and contemporary dandy style and are presented through clothing, images, photographs, and artworks.
This year’s Met Gala dress code, “Tailored for You,” invites guests to tell their own stories through fashion, where cut, material, and silhouette become extensions of their identities. The evening emphasized the important message that fashion is not just a visual impression but also a powerful form of expression, personal communication, and a way for individuals to reveal who they are, what they believe in, and where they come from.
Key Moments of This Year’s Met Gala
The Met Gala brought a series of striking moments, one of the most powerful being the return of music legend Diana Ross, who appeared on the red carpet for the first time since 2003 in a gown with a 5.5-meter-long train adorned with the names of her children and grandchildren. Rihanna, as always, arrived among the last but once again stole the spotlight, confirming that she and A$AP Rocky are expecting their third child. Additionally, Zendaya’s enigmatic styling sparked a wave of comments, from an unusual headpiece reminiscent of her viral 2014 hat to a suit that evoked Diana Ross’s look from the film “Mahogany,” once again demonstrating that she is one of the greatest fashion icons of the younger generation.
Photo: © vogue.com
