This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” honored the artistry and heritage of Black tailoring and dandyism. The accompanying dress code, Tailored for You, invited guests to reimagine traditional suiting through personal and cultural lenses.
2025 Met Gala Theme
At the heart of the theme was Black dandyism. It is a movement of bold self-expression that reclaims the sharp tailoring of the European gentleman with unmistakable Black flair. Rooted in defiance, sophistication, and individuality, Black dandyism has long served as both armor and art, from the Harlem Renaissance to modern red carpets. This year’s Met Gala proved it’s not just alive but it’s thriving.
And no one embodied the moment better than these Black women who showed up and showed out on the Met steps.
Rihanna
Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy in a 1920s flapper-inspired look, featuring a gray two-piece set, a cloche hat, and a mink stole embellished with a vintage Briony Raymond brooch. She accessorized with Messika High Jewelry, embodying the theme’s celebration of Black style and personal expression.
Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor wore a stunning custom look by Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, featuring a rich burgundy zoot suit-inspired ensemble with feathers, lace, crystals, and a matching feather-adorned hat and du-rag. Her flowing cape was embroidered with lyrics from “Rose in Harlem,” connecting her artistry with Black fashion history. “Taylor-ed to you,” she teased—a perfect play on the theme and her name.
Zendaya
Zendaya, styled by Law Roach and designed by Pharrell for Louis Vuitton, turned heads in a crisp white, custom three-piece suit. The ensemble included a tailored coat, wide-leg trousers, and a waistcoat, accessorized with a white tie, a wide-brimmed hat, and a sparkling brooch. Inspired by Bianca Jagger’s iconic 1971 wedding suit, the look was a flawless homage to suiting’s subversive side. Red nail polish added a bold pop of color. Always fashion-forward, Zendaya delivered another Met Gala win.
Coco Jones
Coco Jones exuded elegance in a custom Manish Malhotra cream suit with lace embroidery, pearls, and floral beadwork in shades of silver and white. The dramatic coat—with sharp lapels and a long train—was worn shirtless, channeling a daring, fashion-week energy. She paired the look with a long, slicked-back braid and a show-stopping sapphire-and-diamond necklace, cementing her place among the night’s best-dressed.
Diana Ross
In a rare return to the Met Gala, Diana Ross dazzled in a shimmering silver gown and a feathered white hat. The true highlight? Her 18-foot feathered shawl, with the names of her five children and eight grandchildren embroidered underneath—a deeply personal and glamorous tribute. At 81, the original diva reminded us all what legendary looks like.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat and Marc Jacobs brought maximalist magic to the carpet with an ’80s-inspired look: a pinstriped bodysuit featuring dramatic shoulder pads and a tiger-print bustier. Her sheer tights, platform boots, and teased, voluminous hair completed the statement. But the look had deep roots, paying homage to Selina Lazevski, a Black equestrian from the Belle Époque era. With Victorian silhouettes and embossed leather, Doja once again redefined red carpet rebellion.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Jodie Turner-Smith brought regal sophistication to the Met steps in a custom burgundy velvet Burberry suit, complete with sharp lapels, flared trousers, and a sculptural Esenshel hat that nodded to Caribbean heritage and modern Black avant-garde. The rich texture and precise tailoring celebrated both British and Afro-diasporic style, while her beauty look, featuring a deep wine lip, bronzed skin, and sleek sculpted edges, added a soft-glam contrast. Turner-Smith’s choice to partner with Burberry reflected her personal roots, making her look not just fashion-forward, but deeply intentional.
Doechii
Making her Met Gala debut, rapper Doechii wore Louis Vuitton in a powerful homage to 18th-century dandy Julius Soubise, inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion.” Her white LV monogrammed jacket and checkered Bermuda shorts were paired with burgundy accessories: a silk bow-tied scarf, knee-high socks, and loafers. She completed the look with Tiffany & Co. diamonds and a cheeky LV logo on her face. Her natural afro and intentional styling screamed: “I’m everything.” And she was.
Lizzo
Lizzo turned heads with platinum blonde curls and a curve-hugging black-and-white gown featuring a corset bodice and fishtail hem. The white shoulder fabric mimicked a suit jacket casually draped over her shoulders—an elegant nod to tailoring. Finishing the look with drop earrings and a playful tobacco pipe, Lizzo brought classic glamour and cheeky charm.
Cardi B
In her sixth Met Gala appearance, Cardi B arrived in a jaw-dropping ivy green Burberry pantsuit with a plunging neckline and coordinating trench. Her green nails, matching contacts, and dramatic beauty transformation added even more flair. Cardi’s sharp tailoring and commitment to the theme proved she’s a Met mainstay for a reason.
Janelle Monáe
As a host committee member, Janelle Monáe collaborated with Paul Tazewell and Thom Browne on a custom look honoring her ancestors and family’s history with suiting. Details are still under wraps, but Monáe teased a symbolic ethical diamond brooch from 1800 Tequila and a design process she called “a group project of Black brilliance.” Expect sharp lines, strong messages, and unmatched elegance.
Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer returned to the Met in a deconstructed tuxedo gown that merged menswear structure with full red carpet drama. Voluminous, architectural, and on theme, the look was proof that Keke understands how to make a Met moment. She twirled in excitement while heading to the carpet—and we would’ve too.
Ciara
Ciara turned heads in a daring cut-out gown by LaQuan Smith, blending Harlem Renaissance glam with ’80s edge. Her black and silver look featured strands of crystals draped across her bodice and legs, contrasted by sculptural black satin and a sweeping train. Styled with sleek short blonde hair and black pumps, Ciara exuded power and polish. Beside her, husband Russell Wilson brought his own dapper energy in a tuxedo with a long black coat, cane, sunglasses, and a crystal brooch.
Savannah James
Savannah James made a powerful and elegant statement in a custom Hanifa creation that reimagined suiting as high fashion. Her burgundy pinstripe gown fused classic tailoring with dramatic couture: a cropped blazer-style bodice with structured lapels, oversized white French cuffs, and a bold midriff cutout led into a mermaid-style skirt that flared into a voluminous train. Tied together with a burgundy necktie and a silver brooch, her ensemble was both commanding and refined.