New York City was dressed to the nines on May 5, 2025, as the Met Gala once again took over the famed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Known as fashion’s most exclusive night out, this year’s event didn’t just raise eyebrows — it raised a staggering $31 million for the museum’s Costume Institute, breaking records while making bold, beautiful statements about Black style, history, and identity.
A Night of History, Style, and Statements
For those new to the magic of the Met Gala, it’s far more than just a celebrity parade in outrageous outfits. Since 1948, the event has served as the primary fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute.
And since Anna Wintour took the reins in 1995, it’s transformed into the place where art, fashion, and culture collide in the most glamorous, headline-making way possible.
This year’s theme? “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” An homage to the political, cultural, and aesthetic history of Black dandyism, the event celebrated how Black communities have used fashion as both armor and artistry through centuries of resilience, rebellion, and reinvention.
Star Power and First-Time Moments
Guiding the festivities were an A-list lineup of co-chairs: Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, and of course, the ever-iconic Anna Wintour. LeBron James was slated to join as an honorary chair but had to sit this one out due to a knee injury.
Luckily, a dazzling 25-member host committee — including style stars like Janelle Monáe — kept the glam factor off the charts.
And speaking of powerful debuts, none other than former Vice President Kamala Harris made her first-ever Met Gala appearance.
Fresh off her return to the public eye after the 2024 presidential race, Harris glided onto the blue carpet alongside husband Doug Emhoff in a stunning black-and-white Off-White gown by IB Kamara. The look was a nod to this year’s theme, seamlessly blending elegance with a deeper message about the connection between art, politics, and identity.
Ahead of the big night, Harris spoke about how art has always been more than aesthetic — it’s a language of the people, a reflection of the times, and a tool to shape cultural conversations. And on this night, it was certainly speaking loud and clear.
How much were the Met Gala 2025 tickets?
The cost of entry to the 2025 Met Gala for an individual is $75,000. Tables for multiple guests start at $350,000. Often, couture powerhouses that sell high-end fashion will purchase tables and invite stars as their guests, so some celebrities won’t pay a dime to attend.
And that is what Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton did. The celebrated driver invited eight women to join him at his table for the 2025 Met Gala, after highlighting Black women who inspire him.
“This year, my intention was to uplift and be surrounded by some of the Black women whose brilliance moves me-artists, thinkers, visionaries who carry history and possibility in everything they do. I’ve invited Lauryn Hill, Regina King, Jordan Casteel, Ming Smith, Adrienne Warren, Danielle Deadwyler, Lorna Simpson, and Radhika Jones to my table this year.”
“Thank you all for your presence, your power, and the gifts you so generously share with the world. I’m deeply grateful to have shared this evening with you.“
Superfine Style and Legendary Entrances
As expected, the Met’s grand entrance became a living runway of impeccably tailored suits, exaggerated silhouettes, jewel-toned fabrics, and homages to Black fashion legends like Patrick Kelly and Willi Smith.
Some stars showed up in classic three-piece suits with a twist, while others mixed contemporary streetwear with old-school dandy flair.
Icons like André 3000 and Slick Rick delivered standout moments, paying tribute to their Bronx roots and hip-hop’s enduring influence on menswear.
But the night’s most jaw-dropping entrance belonged to none other than music royalty Diana Ross. At 81 years young, the legend floated up the Met steps in an all-white, 18-foot train that nearly required its own security detail.
Designed by Ross herself in collaboration with Nigerian designer Ugo Mozie, the opulent shawl was embroidered with the names of her children and grandchildren, turning the garment into a glittering, wearable family tree.
The crowd went wild as several attendants helped manage the sweeping masterpiece behind her.
The Exhibit Behind the Magic
Opening to the public on May 10 and running through October 26, the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition marks the Costume Institute’s first menswear-focused show in over 20 years.
Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s influential book Slaves to Fashion, the exhibit dives into how Black communities have transformed restrictive European fashions into bold statements of freedom, joy, and defiance.
Organized around 12 characteristics of Black dandyism — a nod to Zora Neale Hurston’s 1934 essay “The Characteristics of Negro Expression” — the show features visionary work by designers like Grace Wales Bonner, the late Virgil Abloh, and Pharrell Williams himself. Expect reflections on colonial histories, cultural pride, and the art of turning fashion into political protest.
A History of Dandyism and Modern Day Swagger
Once a term reserved for aristocratic European fashionistas, dandyism took on new meaning as enslaved Africans and their descendants adapted European styles with personal flair.
From the polished Sunday-best tailoring of the 18th century to the flamboyant zoot suits of the Harlem Renaissance, it became a form of subtle rebellion and identity reclamation.
Today’s dandies — whether ascot-clad or sweatsuit-stylish — treat fashion as both discipline and dialogue, using clothes as a means to challenge stereotypes and own their narratives.
And yes, it’s not just for the fellas: Janelle Monáe and other stars rocked tailored, gender-bending looks that proved dandyism is alive, well, and gloriously inclusive.
Past Themes, Present Triumphs
In case you missed it, last year’s Met Gala embraced ethereal fantasy with “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” while 2023 paid homage to “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.”
But 2025 marked a bold, powerful shift — a night where fashion wasn’t just about spectacle but about reclaiming stories and celebrating identity.
