NEW YORK (AP) — Stripes. All Styles. An abundance of hats. Pantsuits. Gowns paired with suits. Zoot suits. Walking sticks. A solitary cigar (hello Madonna)—and masterful demonstrations of tailoring.
Met Gala crowd,
For the most part, he upheld the Black dandy men’s wear theme admirably at fashion’s premier event of the season.
“Those who studied the period and drew inspiration from historical sources managed to make it contemporary and uniquely their own. I really enjoyed it,” stated Holly Alford, assistant dean and an associate professor in the fashion and merchandising program at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts.
One of her top picks is Colman Domingo’s tribute to
elegant symbol André Leon Talley.
This was just one of numerous tributes celebrating the prominent fashion icon, a scarce Black fashion editor within a predominantly white sector. Among these were various homages presented as well.
Talley, who passed away in 2022,
If Anne Hathaway were wearing a Carolina Herrera dress that she chose particularly for him.
Hathaway stated during the Vogue livestream on Monday evening, “We envisioned André Leon Talley looking down from heaven and shouting ‘GLAMOUR.’”
Creative vibrant vitality of the nighttime
It certainly was a glamorous evening.
a particularly innovative one at that
In the midst of the extensive White House attack on DEI initiatives and safeguards for immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and various other groups, what connection could there be to fashion and this year’s theme? The link lies in Black empowerment, control over one’s own narrative, cultural legacy, and above all, personal liberty.
Exactly what was the proposed dress code? It was “Tailored for You,” which drew inspiration from the evolution of black dandyism over time, as seen in the exhibition.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition for spring
at its Costume Institute.
On the damp blue carpet, which was somewhat waterlogged due to heavy rainfall, attendees experimented with fashion basics to personalize their outfits under the guidance of designers and stylists. Many also paid homage to their cultural backgrounds through distinctive details such as the cowrie shell embellishments on the sleeves of Lewis Hamilton’s Wales Bonner jacket.
Rikki Byrd, an assistant professor specializing in Visual Culture Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and the creator of the Black Fashion Archive, noted that these shells honor Black diasporic culture, spirituality, and memories.
Tessa Thompson paid tribute to Talley with a fan featuring his picture.
“It reflects the influence of a church fanatic, and Andre Leon Talley frequently discussed how his initial exposure to fashion came from his church experiences,” Byrd explained.
For Shantrelle P. Lewis, the writer behind “Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style,” Teyana Taylor stood out remarkably. Clad in a red velvet cape and wielding a cane, “she got the memo,” as Lewis put it. Taylor’s cape featured her moniker to celebrate where she came from—“Harlem Rose.” Similar to Swizz Beatz, she also wore a durag.
A few found the guests’ performances disappointing.
Lewis, who has played a crucial role in elucidating dandyism, remarked that the outfits on the red carpet were largely disappointing.
“The absence of color, the lack of African prints, and even the exclusion of African designers was noticeable. I asked, ‘Where is the Black dandyism?’ There were no daring fashion choices,” she stated.
Substantial risks? Maybe. Or maybe not. Brandon Tan, who serves as the fashion director for Cosmopolitan, felt content with the outcome.
“He mentioned, ‘A traditional outline can be entirely transformed with just the choice of fabric color and type, much like what we saw on Henry Golding. Conversely, an extremely conventional gray wool ensemble can be refreshed through innovative tailoring and design, similar to how Walton Goggins wore his kilt created by Thom Browne.’”
Who completely missed their chance?
Several opted for straightforward appearances in relatively standard black tuxedos (hey there, James Corden), while others put their own unpredictable twist on the dress code (Halle Berry, sorry, but that outfit revealed quite a bit around the midsection).
Different hemline lengths on coats emerged as a significant fashion statement at the event, which was expected to feature an array of elaborate hats and headdresses. The gathering attracted celebrities from various fields including sports, entertainment, music, visual arts, publishing, politics, and beyond, all coming together to support fundraising efforts for the Costume Institute.
Monochrome tones dominated the evening, complemented by splashes of color to maintain visual interest.
Coleman Domingo and his numerous admirers
Kevin Huynh, the fashion director at InStyle, also commended Domingo for his ensemble. Initially, he sported an oversized Talley-inspired blue-collared cape before discarding it to unveil a pearl-encrusted window pane jacket paired with dotted accessories.
As the unrivaled monarch of the red carpet, his majestic appearance perfectly suited the evening’s theme,” Huynh stated. “He completely captured the essence of dandyism with two striking outfits from Valentino, excelling in his unwaveringly bold and impeccably whimsical approach.
He stated that “courage and uniqueness” were the essence of the evening.
Following an extensive awards season, his appearance at the Met Gala red carpet turned out to be truly rewarding. As soon as he emerged from The Carlyle enveloped in a richly colored Valentino cloak, it became evident that something spectacular was about to unfold,” remarked Claire Stern Milch, who serves as the digital director for Elle.
“And upon reaching the stairs, his bespoke three-piece zoot suit, crafted by Alessandro Michele as well, served as an elegant and whimsical tribute to the motif,” she noted.
Milch referred to the large polka-dot flower on Domingo’s lapel as unquestionably the standout feature. She commented that this ensemble represented “a perfect blend of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge style.”
Nikki Ogunnaike, the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, pointed out that the prevalence of suits in various forms was not unexpected, given the styling cues provided by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who orchestrates the event annually.
“My favorites were Ayo Edebiri in Ferragammo, Tracee Ellis Ross in Marc Jacobs, Zendaya and Lily in Louis Vuitton, Coleman Domingo in Valentino, and Mindy Kaling in Harbison, each of whom brought their personal touch to dandyism and tailored clothing,” she stated.
Athletes made an appearance at the 2025 Met Gala.
Meanwhile, athletes grabbed the limelight as well. Customizing attire for these sports stars is an art form that Tom Marchitelli, a bespoke menswear designer and stylist, keeps in mind when crafting suits for NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball players.
“These fellows possess these incredible physiques, as I often mention, and they cannot simply stroll into any shop on Fifth Avenue, Rodeo Drive, or anywhere else and find a ready-made suit that fits them,” he stated.
Marchitelli expressed his appreciation for the sleek, body-hugging appearance of the uniforms worn by the Philadelphia Eagles players.
Jalen Hurts
and
Saquon Barkley
.
“To showcase so many athletes like this indicates a great deal about the significance of sports within our culture and popular culture in America, as well as the impact these athletes have,” he stated.
Black designers represented
The atmosphere of the evening drew inspiration from the exhibition titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This marks the inaugural Costume Institute showcase dedicated solely to Black designers and represents the first such event in over two decades.
devoted to menswear.
Prominent African American fashion designers and lesser-known creators from ethnic backgrounds made their mark on the red carpet. Among them were Sergio Hudson, LaQuan Smith, and Ozwald Boateng, who was once a prodigy of Savile Row fame.
Those who were not as much
Who are some other individuals who missed their chance to address or reinterpret the theme effectively?
Blackpink’s Lisa (Manobal) may have pushed boundaries with her outfit chosen for the event sponsored by Louis Vuitton. She appeared without pants, wearing black undergarments adorned with small facial designs, paired with a coordinating jacket and see-through knee-high socks featuring prominent LV logos.
A few people on social media mistakenly believed the images depicted Rosa Parks. However, according to what a spokesperson informed The Cut, these portraits actually represent “individuals who hold significant places in the artist’s personal history.”
Sure. That’s how it goes. Unidentified portrait sketches may not be a wise concept overall.
Regarding Corden, The Cut shared a clip showing him in his everyday appearance, and fans responded with some criticism. One commenter referred to him as “James Boredon,” saying he delivered “yet another dreadfully boring performance.”
Ouch, James.
___
To read more about the 2025 Met Gala, check out
https://apnews.com/hub/met-gala.
Beatrice Dupuy and Leanne Italie, The Associated Press
