007: Joyful expression was the real theme behind the 2025 Met Gala
André would be proud.
Every first Monday in May, fashion’s favourite question resurfaces: Are the celebrities actually on theme? But for the 2025 Met Gala and its dress code, Tailored For You, the question shifted. It became more philosophical, more personal. It echoed the deeper, undercurrent themes of Black dandyism and self-expression, asking each guest: How will you turn up for yourself?
And turn up they did. Whether they took inspiration from the broader theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, or the dress code, Tailored For You, each guest took a page from history and translated it into their own story.
There was Ayo Edebiri, who honoured her father in custom Ferragamo, and Bad Bunny paying tribute to his Puerto Rican roots in Prada. Nicole Kidman was tailored to perfection in archival Balenciaga, paying homage to legendary Black American singer Eartha Kitt, among other female dandies, while Gigi Hadid wore custom Miu Miu inspired by Zelda Wynn Valdes and Josephine Baker.
Those who drew from the exhibition leaned more into the concept of dandyism — a historic movement and act of sartorial protest that played a pivotal role in Black culture. (If you haven’t yet read the exhibit’s foundational text, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity by Dr Monica Miller, curator of the Costume Institute's exhibition, I highly recommend starting with this public lecture she gave at The National Arts Club.)
To Miller, Dandyism was historically for Africans who experienced erasure or reordering of their identities during the slave trade, as well as European colonisation and imperialism. It was, and still is, a social practice. For those dressing in ways that reject the limitations placed on Black people in America, it became a method to fashion new identities with the little that they had.
There was a subtle fear that this theme would be taken as performative, and unfortunately, in some cases it was (Lisa’s Rosa Parks panties being a strong example). But overall, the red carpet did well to celebrate individual style, self-pride, and community in honour of the history of Black culture and dandyism.
From fabric to silhouette, guests used this moment to celebrate individuality, honour community, and recognise the influence of Black dandyism in diasporic identity. Below, I’ve put together a list of those who did it well.
Themes beyond the signatures
Elevated personal style · An ode to heritage · Joyful expression · The modern dandy · Tailor-made
1. Elevated personal style
Doechii in custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams. Doechii has been stepping into her own. After a string of groundbreaking looks at fashion week (Schiaparelli, Chloé, Tom Ford to name a few), the artist has truly been stepping up her style. Her Met Gala debut has solidified her sartorial style as nothing short of iconic.
Jennie in custom Chanel. Chanel really owned the Met Gala this year. They had a magical way of paying homage to the theme, while at the same time elevating the wearers personal style, but still being soooo Chanel. Chanel also styled Dua Lipa and Lupita Nyong’o, amplifying each talent’s personal style.
Hunter Schafer in Prada. The devil is in the details with this one. The laying of the double-breasted white jacket over a white shirt and turtleneck. The white beret and tailored suit. While a more masculine approach to her usual red carpet style, Schafer manages to bring an ethereal element to this look, which makes it so her. 10/10.
Patrick Schwarzenegger in Balmain. This wasn’t everyone’s favourite in my office, but I had a soft spot for Schwarzenegger’s endearing style. From the wide leg trousers to the yellow shirt, and accessorising with a burgundy belt and belt-bag, this look proved Schwarzenegger is anything but his polarising White Lotus character.
Kendall Jenner, in Torishéju Dumi. While Jenner’s look may have seemed underwhelming to the untrained eye, I think it was the perfect fit for who she is. I appreciated it for its impeccable tailoring and for the thoughtful choice to collaborate with an emerging designer who is also a woman of colour. For this piece, Torishéju Dumi drew inspiration from queer nightclub singer and female dandy Gladys Bentley, as well as the elegance of 1920s Harlem Renaissance women.
For Jenners look, Dumi explained: “I think there’s only so much clothes can do. I think when you’re designing clothes for people, you have to really think about who they are, how they want to be perceived, and then tailor it to them. And that’s what I really wanted to do with Kendall.”
2. An ode to heritage
Lewis Hamilton in custom Wales Bonner. Hamilton’s ensemble drew inspiration from iconic Black figures such as Cab Calloway, James Baldwin, and André Leon Talley. From the cufflinks, shaped like the Whirligig African Daisy to the baobab-inspired brooches with garnet in nod to his birth date, there’s a story and homage behind every detail in the British Formula 1 racer’s look. “This look is a meditation on ancestry, adornment, and the sacred language of elegance. Ivory for purity and presence. Cowries for memory and protection. A garnet-hued gleam for quiet strength,” said stylist Eric McNeal in an Instagram post.
Ayo Edebiri, in custom Ferragamo. As an homage to the dandies in her family, particularly her father, Edebiri collaborated with Ferragamo’s own Maximilian Davis on her ensemble. The wool-silk, floor-length shirt dress, glass beads and leather tailcoat crafted a look that both celebrates the theme and her culture. The red beading was a nod to her father, referencing the coral often found on traditional Nigerian outfits. “There is a focus on impeccable tailoring, luxurious fabrics, and subtle details that speak to the brand's heritage — but with a modern twist that reflects the spirit of Black dandyism and Ayo’s families deep roots to Nigeria and the Caribbean," Davis told Vogue.
Bad Bunny, in Prada. Bad Bunny’s chocolate-brown look was inspired by his Afro-Caribbean culture. From the brooch, shaped like his island’s national flower, the Flor de Maga, to the brown woven hat that paid homage to the straw pavas worn in the Puerto Rico countryside; the Latin singer dressed to impress at his Met Gala debut. The beaded gloves and oversized leather bag also added a nice touch.
Diana Ross in Ugo Mozie. The iconic American singers outfit was a collaboration between her, her son Evan Ross, and the Nigerian designer Ugo Mozie. Ross’s cape was embroidered with the names of eight of Ross’ children and grandchildren as a sweet tribute to her lineage.
Gigi Hadid in custom Miu Miu. Styled by the iconic Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, this look was inspired by Zelda Wynn Valdes, a Black American tailor and costume designer in the late 40s. The Victory Roll hairstyle is another homage to that era. Gigi’s look references the feminine style of the time while paying tribute to the women of colour who quietly steered the course of fashion history.
3. Joyful expression
Lorde wears Thom Browne and Cartier. For Lorde, her look by Thom Browne brought new life and meaning to her red carpet style. “To me it represents where I’m at gender-wise. I feel like a man and a woman, you know?” Lorde tells Emma Chamberlain in her interview on the red carpet. This understated interpretation of the theme combined feminine and masculine elements; from the floating top and corset-tied skirt to the silk blazer and striking backless silhouette. “All will be revealed,” the singer teased.
4. The modern dandy
Colman Domingo in Valentino. Colman Domingo is the definition of a modern dandy, sporting two looks on the night. The first, a royal blue Valentino cloak that paid homage to both André Leon Talley and the Black church. The second, pictured above, a three-piece custom Valentino zoot suit with an array of prints, and a polka dot silk foulard to match. His joy was infectious.
Janelle Monáe in custom Thom Browne. On the red carpet, Monáe gave a masterclass in Black dandyism. Her look, featuring sharp pointy shoulders and a print that could give anyone vertigo was a nod to 1930s tailoring and surrealism, in collaboration with Oscar winner Paul Tazewell and designer Thom Browne. Tazewell is first Black man to win best costume design at the Oscars for his work in Wicked.
Undressing into a second suit underneath, Monáe paid homage to her ancestry through sporting a diamond brooch from 1800 Tequila — crafted using crystals derived from the brand’s award-winning 1800 Cristalino, offering a unique and sustainable approach to jewellery-making.
Imaan Hammam in custom Magda Butrym. This modern reinterpretation of the zoot suit was one of the best looks of the night. The fit is everything: from the wide pants to the structured waist, down to accessorising with a cane (a dandy’s signature accessory) and tabi’s. The tailoring is absolutely impeccable, paying homage to Black dandyism and its influence on fashion history.
5. Tailor-made
Zendaya, in Louis Vuitton. This is tailoring at its finest. Styled by longtime collaborator Law Roach, the look featured a three-piece suit with flared trousers, a tailored blazer, vest, tie and wide-brimmed hat. The outfit drew inspiration from many places: from Bianca Jagger's iconic 1971 Saint Laurent wedding suit, Diana Ross, as well as the zoot suits popularised in the 1940s. The details are what make this looks exceptional: the Serpenti brooch peeking out just below her collar, the subtle flair in the trousers.
Zoe Saldaña in Thom Browne and Cartier. Thom Browne knows how to steal a show. His signature sculptural silhouette helped reinterpret the theme of tailoring through corsetry details — offering a distinct nod to the feminine.
Tessa Thompson in custom Prabal Gurung. One of the most subversive — and legendary — looks of the night. With references to 18th-century panier skirts, and the crisp structure of a classic tuxedo; this look is fresh and modern, evoking a distinctly feminine take on traditionally masculine tailoring.
Overall, I think each talent did a wonderful job at honouring the past, but still looking forward through new modes of tailoring and celebrating the black excellence that exists today, and paving the way for the next generation. Those who truly embraced the theme brought their ancestors into the room with them; those who took a more personal approach honoured themselves through refined expressions of their own style.