Met Gala 2025: Red Carpet Recap, Fashion Highlights & Hits and Misses
Last night, the fashion world turned its gaze to the Metropolitan Museum of Art steps for the 2025 Met Gala. The theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” took center stage as the evening honored the artistry, heritage, and cultural influence of Black fashion through tailoring, danyism, and personal expression.
Inspired by Dr. Monica L. Miller’s work, Slaves to Fashion, the theme celebrates over 300 years of Black style throughout the African diaspora, including how fashion has been used as a tool for self-definition, resistance, and storytelling.
Best Dressed of the Night
These stars nailed the theme and delivered unforgettable looks:
Colman Domingo (Valentino)
Co-chair Colman Domingo honored fashion icon André Leon Talley with a Valentina ensemble. The outfit combined rich textures and intricate detailing. It was a celebration of Talley’s grandeur fashion.
Diana Ross (Ugo Mozie)
Diana Ross stunned in an 18-foot train that cascaded down the Met’s steps. After two decades, Ross captivated in a dramatic silhouette, paying tribute to Black glamour and soulful elegance.
Sideny Sweeney (Miu Miu)
Sweeney impressed in a shimmering Miu Miu gown featuring intricate beading and a sleek silhouette. The ensemble showcased Sweeney’s glamorous fashion, a tribute to Kim Novak.
Zendaya (Luis Vuitton)
Zendaya embraced the theme with flair in a custom Louis Vuitton suit designed by Pharrell Williams. The ensemble featured tailoring and a bold silhouette to pay homage to 1940s dandyism while incorporating contemporary aesthetics.
Not every outfit was on theme. These looks left us wanting more, or wondering why:
Chappel Roan (Styled by Genesis Webb)
Roan’s Met Gala debut featured a glittery 1970s-inspired pink patchwork suit with flared sleeves and bell-bottoms. While the outfit was very Pink Pony Club, it missed the mark for the evening’s theme.
Precious Lee (Parabel Gurung)
While Lee’s animal print ensemble was striking and the body suit fit her like a glove, the overall outfit lacked refined tailoring for the theme. The choice of print was more of a distraction.
Cara Delevigne (Stella McCartney)
Delevinge’s ensemble featured body armor elements that missed the mark for the theme. The outfit gave futuristic instead of Black dandyism.
Skakira (Prabal Gurung)
While Shakira’s vibrant pink gown was gorgeous and a statement piece, it lacked tailoring that would have made it on theme for the night. The flowing silhouette and bright hue didn’t align with dandyism and structured fashion.
A Night of Identity & Cultural Legacy
This year’s Met Gala wasn’t just about fashion, it was about storytelling, heritage, and honoring the enduring legacy of Black style. Designers and attendees paid homage to the tradition of Black dandyism, blending sharp suits, luxurious fabrics, and cultural symbolism. Beyond aesthetics, the night celebrated the nuance of style, how something as precise as a lapel or as intentional as fabric choice can speak volumes. From the Harlem Renaissance references to nods to contemporary street style, the red carpet became a living exhibit of how fashion serves as a mirror, protest, and celebration.
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