The Best Looks From The Red Carpet
NEW YORK CITY — The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute benefit, known globally as the Met Gala, returned with grandeur on Monday, May 5, bringing together celebrities, designers, and cultural icons under this year’s theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
Held on the iconic steps of the Met, the invitation-only event marked the grand opening of the museum’s newest fashion exhibition and remains the primary fundraiser for the Costume Institute, which last year raised approximately $26 million.
Stars including Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Cardi B, Halle Berry, Hailey Bieber, and Amelia Gray Hamlin arrived in high fashion, each interpreting the theme through elaborate ensembles inspired by centuries of Black dandism—a cultural expression rooted in self-styled elegance and resistance.
This year’s theme spotlights the historical and stylistic legacy of Black fashion, from 18th-century dandies to modern-day designers, musicians, and artists. The accompanying exhibition features not just garments and accessories, but also paintings, photographs, and prints that trace Black identity and storytelling through fashion.
Among the most celebrated attendees were the event’s celebrity co-chairs: ASAP Rocky, Coleman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, and Pharrell Williams, with LeBron James serving as honorary chair. The red carpet served as both a runway and a cultural statement, highlighting lesser-known Black designers such as Sergio Hudson, Harbison Studio, and Christopher John Rogers.
Dapper Dan, the Harlem fashion legend, also made a powerful appearance. Wearing African-inspired symbols and referencing the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol “Sankofa”—which means “go back and get it”—he spoke on the importance of reclaiming culture and history through fashion:
“I had to come as a future dandy, represent the past dandy, and the present dandy. The more we go back, the closer we come together.”
The evening was more than a fashion showcase—it was a cultural affirmation. With performances, media attention, and extensive fashion analysis already flooding social media, Met Gala 2025 stood out as both a style milestone and a celebration of Black excellence, creativity, and heritage on one of fashion’s most influential stages.
