The night of the biggest fashion parade is just around the corner. The Met Monday is almost here, and the prep for the glamorous Gala is on in full swing.
This year, the Met Gala is slated to take place on Monday, May 5, which will mark the opening of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art ’s annual fashion exhibit hosted on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, in New York City, USA.
The red carpet of the event will typically start at 5:30pm ET, with the exhibition opening to the public on May 10 through Oct. 26, 2025, at The Met Fifth Avenue, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall.
Like every year, this year as well, the Met Gala has a striking theme, and the attendees of the event are to dress up and show up accordingly. This year’s theme for the Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
What does that mean?
Read on to find out.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
Beating the noise around the debate of ‘optics v/s representation’, this year, the Met Gala has picked the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" to pay homage to Black dandyism .
This theme aims to highlight the concept of Black dandyism, drawing inspiration from 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 theme delves into how clothing and style have been used to express identity and build resilience within Black communities, particularly focusing on the impact of the Atlantic slave trade and how Black individuals reclaimed power through fashion.
The exhibition will be curated by Miller along with Andrew Bolton from the Met Costume Institute, exploring the significant role of clothing and style in shaping Black identities within the Atlantic diaspora.
What is Black dandyism?
In this context, Black dandyism is described by Miller as “a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context.” This concept served as a form of resistance, especially during the times of enslavement, challenging societal boundaries regarding humanity and individuality. The curatorial approach for the exhibition will categorize Black dandyism into 12 characteristics, inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's 1934 essay, “The Characteristics of Negro Expression.”
In the essay mentioned above, Hurston argued that African American creative expression is not merely imitation or mimicry; rather, it is a unique and original process that transforms borrowed materials into something new and innovative. She challenged the prevailing notion that Black art lacks originality, asserting that it is a distinct form of mimicry in which borrowed elements are reshaped and altered to create something unique.
Furthermore, Hurston refuted the idea that African American art is simply a poor imitation of white culture. She contended that African American art operates according to its own set of rules and standards, which differ from those of the white European tradition. Hurston viewed African American art as a dynamic process in which borrowed elements are creatively reinterpreted and transformed, resulting in a distinctive form of expression.
Her analysis highlighted several characteristics of Black expression, including the use of embellishment, dramatic performance, and the transformation of everyday life into art. She also emphasized the significance of African American folklore and oral traditions in shaping this unique style of expression.
The show is set to begin with the theme of “Ownership,” showcasing personal belongings from a 19th-century enslaved individual from Maryland, and will progress through history to contemporary works by designers such as Pharrell Williams and the late Virgil Abloh.
The relevance, the importance:
Historically, the fashion industry, including modeling and design, has been largely dominated by white people. This is evident in the representation of models in magazines and on runways, as those spaces have traditionally been saturated with a disproportionately greater presence of white people and a glaring lack of racial diversity. Moreover, the idea of "tokenism," where a small number of non-white models are included in a predominantly white casting, is also a concern in the fashion industry.
While there has been improvement over time, the fashion industry still has a significant way to go in terms of inclusion of racial diversity, and that’s where this year’s theme for the Met Gala takes the cake.
The Met Gala, known as Fashion’s biggest exhibit, is set to delve into the history of Black dandyism, tracing its roots from the 18th century to the present day. The relevance of this theme at this moment lies in the historical context of Black dandyism, which is intertwined with issues of race, power, and representation.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, both enslaved and free Black men in the West often had to conform to the dress codes imposed by their oppressors. Many transformed this mandated style into a means of resistance, using careful personal presentation to assert their dignity, intellect, and individuality.
The theme highlights the importance of clothing and style in the formation of Black identities and the cultural impact of Black dandyism. The exhibition aims to further explore how Black dandyism has influenced identity, creativity, and cultural history.
What is the Met Gala dress code?
The dress code for the Met Gala this year is “Tailored for You,” specifically nodding to menswear and suit tailoring as inspiration for the evening's dress. The “for you” aspect of the code, though, purposely leaves much up to interpretation, inspiring personal preference, style, and creative liberty.
This year, the Met Gala is slated to take place on Monday, May 5, which will mark the opening of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art ’s annual fashion exhibit hosted on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, in New York City, USA.
The red carpet of the event will typically start at 5:30pm ET, with the exhibition opening to the public on May 10 through Oct. 26, 2025, at The Met Fifth Avenue, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Exhibition Hall.
Like every year, this year as well, the Met Gala has a striking theme, and the attendees of the event are to dress up and show up accordingly. This year’s theme for the Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
What does that mean?
Read on to find out.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
Beating the noise around the debate of ‘optics v/s representation’, this year, the Met Gala has picked the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" to pay homage to Black dandyism .
This theme aims to highlight the concept of Black dandyism, drawing inspiration from 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 theme delves into how clothing and style have been used to express identity and build resilience within Black communities, particularly focusing on the impact of the Atlantic slave trade and how Black individuals reclaimed power through fashion.
The exhibition will be curated by Miller along with Andrew Bolton from the Met Costume Institute, exploring the significant role of clothing and style in shaping Black identities within the Atlantic diaspora.
What is Black dandyism?
In this context, Black dandyism is described by Miller as “a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context.” This concept served as a form of resistance, especially during the times of enslavement, challenging societal boundaries regarding humanity and individuality. The curatorial approach for the exhibition will categorize Black dandyism into 12 characteristics, inspired by Zora Neale Hurston's 1934 essay, “The Characteristics of Negro Expression.”
In the essay mentioned above, Hurston argued that African American creative expression is not merely imitation or mimicry; rather, it is a unique and original process that transforms borrowed materials into something new and innovative. She challenged the prevailing notion that Black art lacks originality, asserting that it is a distinct form of mimicry in which borrowed elements are reshaped and altered to create something unique.
Furthermore, Hurston refuted the idea that African American art is simply a poor imitation of white culture. She contended that African American art operates according to its own set of rules and standards, which differ from those of the white European tradition. Hurston viewed African American art as a dynamic process in which borrowed elements are creatively reinterpreted and transformed, resulting in a distinctive form of expression.
Her analysis highlighted several characteristics of Black expression, including the use of embellishment, dramatic performance, and the transformation of everyday life into art. She also emphasized the significance of African American folklore and oral traditions in shaping this unique style of expression.
The show is set to begin with the theme of “Ownership,” showcasing personal belongings from a 19th-century enslaved individual from Maryland, and will progress through history to contemporary works by designers such as Pharrell Williams and the late Virgil Abloh.
The relevance, the importance:
Historically, the fashion industry, including modeling and design, has been largely dominated by white people. This is evident in the representation of models in magazines and on runways, as those spaces have traditionally been saturated with a disproportionately greater presence of white people and a glaring lack of racial diversity. Moreover, the idea of "tokenism," where a small number of non-white models are included in a predominantly white casting, is also a concern in the fashion industry.
While there has been improvement over time, the fashion industry still has a significant way to go in terms of inclusion of racial diversity, and that’s where this year’s theme for the Met Gala takes the cake.
The Met Gala, known as Fashion’s biggest exhibit, is set to delve into the history of Black dandyism, tracing its roots from the 18th century to the present day. The relevance of this theme at this moment lies in the historical context of Black dandyism, which is intertwined with issues of race, power, and representation.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, both enslaved and free Black men in the West often had to conform to the dress codes imposed by their oppressors. Many transformed this mandated style into a means of resistance, using careful personal presentation to assert their dignity, intellect, and individuality.
The theme highlights the importance of clothing and style in the formation of Black identities and the cultural impact of Black dandyism. The exhibition aims to further explore how Black dandyism has influenced identity, creativity, and cultural history.
What is the Met Gala dress code?
The dress code for the Met Gala this year is “Tailored for You,” specifically nodding to menswear and suit tailoring as inspiration for the evening's dress. The “for you” aspect of the code, though, purposely leaves much up to interpretation, inspiring personal preference, style, and creative liberty.
You may also like
US Navy £54m fighter jet accidentally rolls off aircraft carrier and sinks in Red Sea
Meghan Markle reveals one ordinary task that makes her 'very happy'
Delhi court extends NIA custody of 26/11 plotter Tahawwur Rana by 12 days
Madrid Open stars face off 26 years after their dads played each other
MP: 5 more cheetah cubs born at Kuno, tourism zooms
