The 2025 Met Gala highlights black tailoring as a symbol of identity and resilience.

The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, centered its theme on Black tailoring, titled "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." The associated exhibition explored the role of sartorial style in the formation of Black identities, focusing on the emergence and proliferation of Black dandyism.

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The dress code, dubbed "Tailored For You," invited attendees to adopt looks that reflected their personal style, inspired by tailoring and custom tailoring. Expect bespoke suits, reinterpretations of classics, and proposals that challenged convention. The exhibition, inspired by guest curator Monica L. Miller's 2009 book, "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity," featured a collection of clothing, photographs, fine art pieces, historical texts, and artifacts. It is the first Costume Institute exhibition to focus on menswear since 2003's "Men in Skirts."

Among the notable attendees, Lewis Hamilton wore an ivory tuxedo by Wales Bonner featuring cultural symbols like cowrie shells and a reference to Cab Calloway. Justice Smith opted for a nuanced Valentino ensemble designed by Alessandro Michele. Colman Domingo paid homage to the zoot suit with a historic yet modern Valentino look.

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Angela Bassett debuted a custom Burberry ensemble at the gala, featuring a blue and black jacquard velvet cape, tailored waistcoat, and tailored trousers, complemented by a sheer blouse, silk tie, and Messika jewelry. The actress said her outfit made her feel "confident, powerful, and sensual."

Demi Moore attended in a custom Thom Browne dress, inspired by a men's tie, adorned with over 1.4 million beads and requiring 7,600 hours of work. Her dog Pilaf, although not attending the event, wore a matching tie designed especially for him.

The gala also highlighted the participation of Black queer designers. Christopher John Rogers dressed several stars, including Cole Escola, in vibrant and eccentric suits. Maximilian Davis, creative director of Ferragamo, designed elegant outfits for Paloma Elsesser, LaKeith Stanfield, and Ayo Edebiri. Paul Tazewell created striking suits for Chappell Roan and Janelle Monáe. Balmain's Olivier Rousteing brought bold structures to the ensembles of Rosalia and others. Sergio Hudson dressed around 18 celebrities, showcasing expert tailoring and Black fashion codes. Ib Kamara, creative lead at Off-White, styled Kamala Harris and La La Anthony with precision and style. Thebe Magugu incorporated African heritage into modern couture with dresses for Aurora James and Ivy Getty. LaQuan Smith balanced sensuality and sharp tailoring, dressing Halle Berry and himself in striking pieces.

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The "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" exhibition will be open to the public from May 10 to October 26 and will feature 12 sections that represent defining characteristics of the dandy aesthetic: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism. The 2025 Met Gala marked a significant moment in the celebration of identity, tradition, and sartorial innovation in menswear, highlighting the influence of Black dandyism on global culture.

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