Chic, Timeless, and Polished: The Met Gala Honors Black Tailoring

The 2025 Met Gala was a sophisticated event, with many attendees showcasing sleek tailoring and refined silhouettes. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrated Black dandyism; a tradition in which Black individuals historically used tailored fashion as a medium of self-expression and resistance. Stories unfolded through sharp, eye-catching garments, each look contributing to broader themes of identity and artistic expression.

This Met Gala, in particular, raised $31 million—the highest amount ever raised for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Photo Credits: Vogue – Michael Loccisano

Jennie Kim, South Korean singer and rapper, turned heads with her balanced, elegant, Chanel-designed look. Kim wore an off-the-shoulder satin jumpsuit with a black overskirt attached at the waist and accessorized with a two-toned hat and black heels. She topped her look with two pearl strands and a white flower in the center. The dress, taking over 330 hours to create, was inspired by Coco Chanel’s designs from the 1920s and ’30s.

Photo Credits: InStyle – Getty Images Zelda Wynn Valdes’ original dress: Photo Credits from: Pinterest

Glamorous, bright, and lively, Gigi Hadid walked the carpet in a bedazzled gown custom-designed by Miu Miu. This dress was an homage to Zelda Wynn Valdes, one of the first Black designers to dress celebrities.

Photo Credits: Page Six – David Fisher

Sabrina Carpenter brought refined elegance to the carpet in a maroon Louis Vuitton bodysuit. Her signature platform heels elevated the look, both stylistically and literally. An elongated train and crystal buttons along the midriff added a bold, modern edge to the look. Custom-designed by Pharrell Williams, the look embraced contrast: striking in form, but soft in color.

Photo Credits: Vogue – Jamie McCarthy

Doechii’s long-awaited Met Gala debut has finally arrived—and it was well worth the wait. Dressed in a Pharrell Williams-designed Louis Vuitton outfit, similar to Sabrina Carpenter, she embodied the spirit of the night with meticulous detail. A faint LV monogram on her cheekbone added a clever touch to the look.

Despite the initial fan controversy and the now-infamous umbrella mishap, Doechii made a memorable first appearance on fashion’s biggest stage.

Photo Credits: Marie Claire – Getty Images Josephine Baker: Photo Credits from Veranda

Megan Thee Stallion had all the eyes on her at this year’s Met Gala. She wore a white fur coat with a sweeping train behind her, a silver sequin dress, a bold hairstyle, diamond earrings, and silver nails.

Her outfit, designed by Michael Kors, initially received some backlash, with people claiming she was not on theme. However, her outfit was inspired by Josephine Baker, a talented actress from the 1900s, an avid Civil Rights activist, and the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture.

Photo Credits: People – Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty

Jenna Ortega’s striking dress was a sculptural marvel—crafted from silver metallic rulers, reflecting the tailoring aspect of the theme. Designed by Olivier Rousteing, the custom Balmain creation was widely praised by fans for its originality, applauding her innovative take on this theme. This piece transformed a symbol of tailoring into wearable art, turning measurement itself into a bold fashion statement.

Photo Credits: Dimitrios Kambouris (Getty Images)

Laura Harrier’s Met Gala look was nothing short of spectacular. Simplistic, classic, and airy, the actress nailed every detail—even down to her glowy makeup. Her outfit was custom-designed by Zac Posen, creative director of Gap, drawing inspiration from archival photos of her father and grandfather dressed in their ‘Sunday best’ — a term often used to describe polished outfits worn to church. For Harrier, this was a tribute to her family background and the Black dandyism theme.

She reimagined traditional mens-wear staples with exaggerated sleeves and wide-legged pants, blending masculine tailoring with feminine elegance.

Photo Credits: People – Getty Images

Teyana Taylor’s breathtaking entrance is sure to go down in Met Gala history. Designed by Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, the look paid homage to the once-illegal zoot suits that grew in popularity during the Harlem Renaissance. With feathers, chains, lace, and crystals, her vibrant ensemble brimmed with intricate detail.

Along the edge of her cape, the words “Rose in Harlem” were embroidered in tonal string—a nod to her 2018 song and a tribute to her identity.

~ ~ ~

This year’s Met Gala proved that fashion is more than just fabric: it is history, storytelling, and identity. Timeless, elegant, and refined, the attendees all put their own creative spin on this theme. With each look that made its way down the carpet, the rich legacy of Black tailoring was honored. The night will be remembered not only for its charm, but for its depth.

Other notable looks: