What did this year's Met Gala's theme mean?

When the Met Gala announced its 2025 theme — “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” — almost everyone had to take a lesson in history. This one particularly took us back to American history and frankly a dark past where a large chunk of society, a race in particular, was oppressed for years by the other majority of the country.

Unlike the whimsical or fantastical themes of recent years — Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty (2023), In America: An Anthology of Fashion (2022), and Camp: Notes on Fashion (2019) — 2025’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style offers cultural weight. We were not dressing for fantasy, but for legacy. It wasn’t about escapism, it was about history, identity, and the politics of being seen.

The Concept and conception

The figure of the Black dandy during the Harlem Renaissance was not merely about flamboyance or fashion — it was a deliberate assertion of dignity in a society that routinely denied it. Much like European dandyism once served as a form of rebellion against aristocratic norms, Black Dandyism in early 20th-century America became a quiet but powerful form of resistance. Through tailored elegance, these individuals redefined what it meant to be visible, confident, and in control — all within a system designed to marginalise them.

While often associated with the United States, the phenomenon is by no means confined to it. Across Latin America, the Caribbean, and South America, Black individuals have used sartorial expression to carve out space for identity, intellect, and autonomy. This global presence is what makes Black Dandyism so rich — it is not just about style, but about subverting imposed limitations through visual power.

Writers like Jason Jules, particularly in works such as Black Ivy, have also drawn attention to how fashion became a subtle yet sharp tool of resistance. In these narratives, the Black dandy is not just a fashion figure — they are a cultural disruptor, challenging the monolithic portrayals of Black identity by appearing poised, polished, and fully self-directed.

Historically, figures such as Raúl Guerra of Buenos Aires, W.E.B. Du Bois of Atlanta, and Josephine Baker of St. Louis embodied this spirit of defiance with elegance. Perhaps one of the most striking examples is Julius Soubise, born into slavery on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts in 1754. At the age of ten, he was taken to Britain and eventually freed by Catherine Douglas, Duchess of Queensberry, who treated him not as a servant, but as family.

This extraordinary twist of fate afforded him access to elite British society — an arena almost entirely inaccessible to most Black individuals of the time. Julius not only learned aristocratic pursuits such as fencing and equestrianism, but navigated high society with such charm and finesse that he became a minor celebrity of the Georgian era. His story is a compelling reminder that Black Dandyism has always been about more than aesthetics. It is about visibility, agency, and the refusal to be confined by societal expectations.

What the theme means for today’s fashion

Contemporary tailoring has seen a return in recent years — boxy Y2K blazers, genderless suiting, and oversized coats all signal a hunger for structure. But this Met Gala forced a question: who decides what tailoring means, and what does it mean to you? The “for you” part of the theme is where they wanted their guests to explore self-identity and expression. In today’s context, the Superfine theme can live far beyond the Met steps. Designers are already reimagining tailoring not just in terms of fit, but in terms of authorship — who gets to cut, sew, and be seen. We’re seeing gender-fluid cuts, Black-owned ateliers prioritising ancestral craft, and stylists using tailoring as a tool of reclamation.

The Top 7 Looks at the MET Gala 2025  

Zendaya: The Modern-Day Dandy in Louis Vuitton

Zendaya

Zendaya’s custom Louis Vuitton three-piece suit, designed by Pharrell Williams and styled by Law Roach, was a masterclass in precision and homage. The all-white ensemble featured a sharply tailored blazer with silver snake detailing, flared bell-bottom trousers, and a matching vest, all topped with a dramatic wide-brimmed hat. The look paid tribute to Bianca Jagger’s iconic 1971 wedding suit and drew parallels to 1940s zoot suits, symbols of Black cultural identity and resistance. Her 5.02-carat diamond engagement ring added a personal, contemporary touch to the ensemble.

Diljit Dosanjh: Can't miss him in Prabal Gurung

Diljit Dosanjh

Making his Met Gala debut, Diljit Dosanjh embraced his Punjabi heritage in a custom ivory ensemble by Prabal Gurung. The look featured a sherwani-inspired silhouette, an ivory turban adorned with statement jewellery and a white feather, and a traditional sword, or kirpan, in hand. His cape was embroidered with Gurmukhi script and a map of Punjab, seamlessly blending cultural pride with high fashion

Teyana Taylor: Femme Fatale in Ruth E. Carter

Teyana Taylor

Teyana Taylor’s collaboration with the Black Panther costume designer, Ruth E. Carter resulted in a burgundy zoot-suit-inspired ensemble that was both theatrical and deeply symbolic. The outfit featured a pinstriped suit, red velvet waistcoat, ankle-length frock coat, and a shoulder-padded cape embroidered with “Harlem Rose,” referencing her 2018 song. Accessories included a feathered fedora, red gloves, a scepter, and a durag with a pleated train, all combining to create a powerful ode to Black dandyism and Harlem’s rich cultural history.

Natasha Poonawalla: Can never go wrong with Manish Malhotra

Natasha Poonawalla

Natasha Poonawalla stunned in a custom Manish Malhotra creation that fused Indian heritage with Western tailoring. Her fishtail skirt was crafted from two vintage Parsi Gara saris, showcasing intricate embroidery. The ensemble included a sharply tailored black Gara jacket with bold shoulders and an imperial purple lining, complemented by a sculptural lace cravat by Atelier Biser. She accessorised with a miniature Chanel pearl-trimmed box bag, completing a look that was both regal and thematically resonant.

Mona Patel: Tech and Tailoring with Thome Browne

Mona Patel

Tech entrepreneur Mona Patel brought innovation to the Met Gala with a custom Thom Browne ensemble. Her look featured a tailored suit with a corseted bodice, a sheer back panel, and a dramatic cape. She accessorized with a wide-brimmed hat and a robotic dog named Vector, designed by MIT, symbolizing the fusion of technology and fashion. Patel’s outfit was a nod to the future of tailoring, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation.

Alton Mason: Futuristic Dandyism with BOSS

Alton Mason:

Model Alton Mason paid homage to hip-hop legend Slick Rick in a custom BOSS ensemble. His look included a dramatic full-length black overcoat with bold shoulders, a silver long-sleeved jacket with a sculpted waistcoat silhouette, and a heart-shaped chest cut-out. He accessorized with a silver eye-embellished patch and a classic black fedora, blending high fashion with Afro-futuristic elements.

Janelle Monáe: Clocking time with Thom Browne

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe embraced the theme with a Thom Browne ensemble that featured a trompe l'oeil overcoat designed to resemble a suit jacket, complete with embroidered grosgrain ribbons. Underneath, she wore a floor-length skirt suit. Her accessories included a clock monocle bowler hat and a diamond brooch, symbolising transformation under pressure. Monáe’s look was a blend of 1930s inspiration and modern innovation, aligning perfectly with the theme.

The 2025 Met Gala held a mirror up to the industry’s memory — asking not just who gets to be seen, but who gets to cut. The spotlight on Black tailoring corrected more than a cultural blind spot — it forced the elite to recognise how deeply Black style runs through the seams of luxury, trend, and power. More importantly, it redefined what tailoring can be in the 21st century — a tool of rebellion, fluidity, and self-authorship.