On the evening of May 5, 2025, the Met Gala returned with elegance, intention, and a theme that stitched together fashion and cultural legacy. Thistles “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” and guided by the dress code “Tailored for You”, this year’s event celebrated the artistry, pride, and historical impact of black tailoring. The museum steps became a runway of sharp silhouettes, luxurious fabrics, and garments that blended personal storytelling with cultural symbolism. The focus was clear: tailoring not only as a high craft but as a language of identity, resistance, and expression within black communities.
The accompanying exhibit inside the museum showcased a powerful narrative. From 19th-century suits crafted by black tailors to contemporary reimaginings by designers like Dapper Dan and Grace Wales Bonner, the show traced how tailoring became both armor and art, worn for church, protest, music, and celebration.
On the carpet, standout looks embodied this spirit with precision and flair. Zendaya wowed in a custom Louis Vuitton tuxedo-gown hybrid inspired by Harlem Renaissance styles. With sculpted shoulders, ancestral beadwork, and a train embroidered with verses from black poets, her look set the tone for the night. After a four-year hiatus from the Met, Lorde shocked the carpet with a custom Thom Brown look: a corseted skirt, backless top, and a matching suit jacket to pull the look together. Lorde described the outfit as an ‘easter egg’ for her upcoming album Virgin, symbolizing her evolving understanding of gender. She explained that the outfit represented her feeling “like a man and a woman,” aligning with the gala’s theme by challenging traditional gender norms through tailored fashion.
Sabrina Carpenter took a romantic spin on tailoring in a maroon three-piece suit with a corset vest and pinstripes. Designed with Pharrell Williams and Louis Vuitton, the look balanced youthful charm and precision, and her hand-embroidered lining paid homage to the style of 1990s hip-hop icons. Cynthia Erivo, always a red-carpet standout, wore a sculptural Thom Brown look. A cropped tuxedo jacket over a floor-length pleated skirt, blending British traditional tailoring with West African brocade details. Her look honored her Nigerian heritage and her background in theater, reflecting how black style often spans identities.
This year’s Met Gala was more than a showcase of beautiful clothes; it celebrated legacy. “Superfine” honored the hands that have shaped black style for centuries, the stories stitched into every seam, and the future that tailoring continues to shape: sharp, bold, and undeniably personal.
