Met Gala 2025: Reflection and Recognition
Every first Monday in May, the Met Gala takes center stage in New York City, turning the city into a hotspot for fashion, celebrities, and creativity. Each year the Metropolitan Museum of Art hosts a gala to raise money for its costume institute. While the event has grown and evolved over the 77 years it has been held, at its base the Gala is a fundraiser, where the attendees dress in haute couture to honor the theme decided by the museum’s annual exhibition. Ninth grader Riley Barnett describes it as “the pinnacle” of fashion events.
The 2025 Met Gala theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” selected by Andrew Bolton, chief curator of The Costume Institute at the MET, chose the theme inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves To Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The book traces the origins of Black fashion from 18th century enslaved people reworking their dress to modern day designers and trends. Fashion has shaped Black identity throughout history through self expression and resistance. People used fashion to challenge societal norms and assert identity.
The word ‘dandyism’ was a frequently used word during the gala—echoed on the red carpet, throughout the exhibit, and on all the designs. It is hard to define dandyism because of its complex meaning; Oxford English Dictionary defines a dandy as, “somebody who studies above all else to dress elegantly and fashionably.” During the vast number of interviews conducted, many people had their own definitions and interpretation of what it means. In an interview with Vogue on the red carpet, Co-Chair Pharell Williams defined it as, “having that keen and acute attention to detail.”
To add to the theme, attendees were given the dress code, “Tailored For You,” menswear. This is only the second time a theme has been exclusively focused on menswear, “Men in Skirts” being the first in 2003. However, in the past two decades men’s fashion has deeply evolved. Barnett said that men’s fashion has “more creative freedom” than in the past. She also emphasizes how this theme “allowed men to think outside of the box of what is traditionally worn and how the way women dress can be more fluid.”
The coordinators intended the “For You” part of the code to give people as much creative freedom and personal style as possible. However, Ninth grader Olivia Shell stated that “it was not very specific so I could not figure out, or I didn’t know what to expect from it.”
The gala had some impressive looks, while some did not hit the mark. People like Diana Ross with a dress that just about took up the whole carpet or André 3000 with a grand piano on his back stole the spotlight. While other looks were not as bold, they had a lot of significance. The Met Gala theme celebrated and paid tribute to Black designers past and present, important figures in the black community, and to Black culture overall and the influence it has had on the world. Shell said ,“some [of the looks] ended up being simple because a lot of people ended up wearing suits but I appreciated when they updid the suits.”
Lewis Hamilton’s look, designed by Grace Wales Bonner were among her favorites. Hamilton described the elements of his look in an interview with Vogue: each element was a form of symbolism. He said the shells represented currency, the flower motif was of a plant found in Africa, and the color ivory represented purity. Hamilton’s focus was on displaying the connection between African heritage and spirituality on his suit. Gigi Hadid’s look paid homage to designer Zelda Wynn Valdez and singer and dancer Josephine Baker with a beautiful gold dress. Colmon Domingo expressed the importance of the blue on his cape. In an interview with Vogue he said, “a freed slave wanted to wear his finest blue superfine wool suit,” and it also, “gives choir, it gives king, and it is a little nod to Andre Leon Talley as well.”
One of the most important aspects of all the looks is what Ms. Fonseca says is “how you feel confident[...]” in what you are wearing. The importance of color shapes and styles.
The “Biggest Night in Fashion” did not disappoint. It is important to represent and celebrate all of the different cultures of our world as political tension increases. Shell says that the theme is not “culturally significant but a reflection of the culture.” This year’s theme expanded fashion while appreciating the past, blending historical influence while reimaging the future of fashion.
