The first Monday of May has kicked off the much-awaited night of the global fashion scene. Netizens are now eager to know what the theme of the 2025 Met Gala was. This year’s red carpet has showcased some dapper looks from the celebrated guest list. Global superstars like Rihanna, Zendaya, Jennie, Stevie Wonder, and more have debuted stunning outfits at the steps of the Met.
Here’s everything to know.
Here’s what Met Gala 2025’s theme was about
Vogue announced last year that the Met Gala 2025 theme will be “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” with Black dandyism taking center stage.
The theme is inspired by Monica Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Miller is a Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. She also serves as the guest curator for the 2025 costume exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For those unfamiliar with the term, dandyism refers to a special focus on polished style, refined outfits, and grooming. Although the term used to be associated with aristocracy, it has since morphed to represent a medium of protest. Black dandyism boomed during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, when a literary and artistic revolution also made its mark on the fashion scene.
The visual elements that characterize the distinguishable style include the use of bold colours, impeccable tailoring, and deliberate accessorizing. The looks on the Met Gala red carpet this year featured all these attributes. This includes the dapper getups of A-listers like Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and more.
Black people in America embraced dandyism as a way of rebelling against cultural norms that existed in a racially segregated nation. The refined style and sharply tailored outfits were an impassioned announcement of their existence as a cultural force. The fashion movement that began at the turn of the century has now evolved and adapted to modern times. However, it continues to represent the same powerful message that it did decades ago.
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on ComingSoon.
