Urban Vine Media

The 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” was a breathtaking celebration of Black sartorial excellence, dandyism, and high fashion. The dress code, “Tailored for You,” encouraged guests to reinterpret menswear and suiting with personal and cultural narratives. Held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the gala featured a stunning convergence of storytelling, heritage, and fashion artistry.

Highlight looks of the Met Gala

1. Colman Domingo: Regal Tribute As a co-chair, Colman Domingo arrived in a majestic dual Valentino look, channeling the late André Leon Talley. He wore a high-drama cape lined in velvet, echoing ecclesiastical fashion and Black queer aesthetics. His presence and styling struck a balance between power and poise, reminding us of fashion’s ability to uplift legacy.

2. Zendaya: Contemporary Zoot Magic Zendaya wore a reimagined Louis Vuitton zoot suit under the creative direction of Pharrell Williams. With wide shoulders, exaggerated trousers, and slick hair, she embodied the spirit of Harlem Renaissance cool while placing a futuristic stamp on it. Her look not only nodded to history but also redefined suiting for modern femininity.

3. Rihanna: Maternity Couture Reinvented In a stunning moment, Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy in a custom Marc Jacobs ensemble. The look featured sheer layers, oversized tailoring, and beadwork, balancing elegance and rebellion. She continued her legacy of using maternity fashion as a statement platform, blending intimacy and bold glamour.

4. Diana Ross: A Matriarch’s Fashion Statement Diana Ross made her return to the Met Gala after two decades wearing an Ugo Mozie gown with an 18-foot train. The train was embroidered with the names of her descendants—turning the red carpet into a personal archive of legacy. The look captured the essence of the theme while honoring Black family pride and matriarchy.

5. Pharrell Williams: Pearl Pinstripes and Power Another co-chair, Pharrell Williams wore a pearl pinstriped Louis Vuitton suit that challenged traditional tailoring norms. The softness of pearls juxtaposed with a structured silhouette highlighted his deep understanding of fashion storytelling through texture, detail, and historical resonance.

6. Jodie Turner-Smith: Equestrian Elegance Jodie’s Burberry look was rooted in historical dandyism, featuring riding-inspired tailoring with nipped waists, velvet, and lace cuffs. Her look referenced both Edwardian fashion and African equestrian culture, showing how tailoring can merge aesthetics with political commentary.

7. Teyana Taylor: Costume Legacy Reborn Teyana Taylor paid homage to Ruth E. Carter, the Oscar-winning costume designer known for her work in Black Panther. Her ensemble included armor-like features, an afro-futuristic twist on tailoring, and nods to African royalty, underlining how costume and couture can speak a shared language of pride and resilience.

8. Demi Moore: Beaded Mastery Demi Moore stunned in a Thom Browne gown adorned with 1.4 million hand-sewn beads. The architectural silhouette and meticulous craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of tailoring into wearable sculpture. It was a feat of fashion engineering, reminding the audience of couture’s artistry and precision.

9. Doja Cat: Animal Instinct Meets Tailored Lines Doja Cat brought edge and unpredictability in a Marc Jacobs ocelot-print bodysuit. Though less traditional, the look challenged gender roles in tailoring by blending feline sensuality with military cuts, corsetry, and exaggeration. It was disruptive, fashion-forward, and fearless.

This year’s Met Gala was a masterclass in:

• Textile storytelling: Many looks were crafted from materials rich in cultural history—velvet, brocade, lace, pearls, and embroidery with names and symbols.
• Tailoring craftsmanship: From sharply cut suits to imaginative silhouettes, precision tailoring was celebrated as both art and ancestry.
• Narrative fashion: Outfits told personal stories—family, legacy, Black identity, and resistance—using every stitch as dialogue.
• Cultural fusion: Designers skillfully fused elements of West African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean aesthetics with haute couture.

Designers Who Shined

• Louis Vuitton, under Pharrell’s vision, pushed suiting into poetic territory.
• Marc Jacobs explored surreal silhouettes that revealed and concealed in provocative ways.
• Valentino offered modern opulence tailored with reverence.
• Thom Browne blended sculpture and surrealism with technical brilliance.

by Dwayne Hinds