Met Gala Theme Announced
Photo Credit: Autograph ABP via CNN
The Met Gala, formally called the costume institute benefit, is the annual fundraising festival held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum. Taking place on May 15, the 2025 Met Gala theme is “Superfine tailoring black style.” According to Vogue, this style and theme is set to be an expression of dandyism, “a style movement that started in 19th-century Britain and encouraged opulence, elegance and good taste in men’s fashion,” as described by Cosmopolitan. This year’s show is also inspired by the work of Monica Miller, a professor and chair of Africana studies at Barnard college, and her book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The dress code for the event is “tailored for you” as a nod to the accompanying art exhibitions at the Met which focus on menswear and suiting.
This year’s theme is the first one that’s been centered on menswear since 2003’s gala, which featured “Men in Skirts.” The hosts of this year's event are rapper A$AP Rocky, singer and creative Pharrell Williams, actor Colman Domingo, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, and Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour.
The exhibition is organized into 12 thematic sections, each highlighting a defining characteristic of the Black dandy aesthetic: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism. Visitors can expect to see pieces modeled off those worn by historical figures such as Frederick Douglass, as well as designs by contemporary Black designers like Virgil Abloh and Dapper Dan. The exhibition also features contributions from artists Torkwase Dyson, Tanda Francis, and Tyler Mitchell, who provide unique perspectives on Black style and identity. Attendees are anticipated to showcase a range of looks, from classic suiting to innovative takes on menswear accessories, embodying the elegance and individuality central to the theme.
Celebrity stylist, Law Roach, who has put together iconic looks for celebrities like Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Celine Deion, voiced his excitement for this year’s theme. “I am pleasantly surprised and honored,” he told E News, “that such a huge body are finally paying homage to the contribution that my people have made to fashion. It makes me feel good.”