On May 5, the 2025 Met Gala will be hosted at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The Met Gala tends to create very specific themes every year, and guests are highly judged on whether or not their outfits follow the theme.
This year's theme is derived from Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” Dandyism is defined as “a literary and artistic style of the latter part of the 19th century marked by artificiality and excessive refinement.”
Black Dandyism specifically recalls the era during the trans-Atlantic slave trade when “Black slaves became fixtures of wealth for white slave owners.”
“(Dandyism) asks questions about identity, representation, and mobility in relation to race, class, gender, sexuality, and power,” Miller said when asked about dandyism in a Vogue article.
The Met’s goal is to diversify its exhibitions and will be the first to exclusively feature menswear.
An often criticism toward men during red carpet events is their lack of exploration when it comes to their wardrobe, especially when they show up to the most prestigious carpet of the year in just a suit. This year's theme is forcing men to break boundaries and reach out of their comfort zones.
Vogue states when searching for inspiration, guests should look to co-chairs such as, “Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, along with honorary chair LeBron James.”
The theme this year will bring many exciting works to the table. The Met is showcasing that though fashion may seem like a more woman-dominated field, fashion is utilized by everyone and can be a key expression of identities for individuals and time periods.
The dress code for the event is “tailored for you,” which can seem very vague without any direct interpretation. However, Vogue describes it as “embracing looks reflective of one’s personal style.”
Most looks will likely be menswear-inspired, with many interpretations of the classic suit. Hopefully, guests will have unique elements in their looks that contribute to their styles to prove the flexibility of menswear attire and contribute to the dress code.
This year's theme is one for the books, and viewers are eager to see how guests execute this year's theme and most importantly, if they are successful.
