The 2025 Met Gala wasn’t just about high fashion – it was about reclaiming space and celebrating the brilliance of Black style. The theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, spotlighted the beauty and depth of Black dandyism. This year’s red carpet wasn’t just a showcase – it was a statement.
Inspired by the book Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller, the night stitched together fashion, identity, and resistance. It reminded the world that for Black communities, style has always been more than just clothes – it’s legacy, activism, and power.
Our top 5 red carpet moments
These looks didn’t whisper. They roared:
- Halle Bailey in a navy structured coat dress, dripping in cascading pearls – regal, bold, ethereal.
- Janelle Monáe in a pinstripe power suit with exaggerated shoulders and red satin lining – classic tailoring meets Afrofuturist edge.
- Damson Idris in an F1-inspired racing suit, then transformed into a sleek Tommy Hilfiger tux – storytelling through style – a clear promotion of the F1 movie that he stars in.
- Rihanna confirms she is pregnant with baby number three, turning heads by wearing a voluminous Marc Jacobs outfit, rich with texture and symbolism.
- Zendaya delivered moody, sculptural drama – gothic glamour with a romantic twist, cementing her red carpet reign.
So, what is Black dandyism?
At its core, the Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Held annually and raises millions to support exhibitions, acquisitions, and scholarship around the art of fashion. More than just a glamorous night out, the Gala channels celebrity attention into funding the preservation and celebration of global fashion history.
So, what is Black dandyism?
Black dandyism isn’t just about sharp dressing – it’s about flipping the script. It reclaims Eurocentric fashion ideals and transforms them into something soulful, joyful, and rooted in the Black experience.
Its roots trace back to the 18th and 19th centuries, during the era of transatlantic slavery. Even while enslaved, African people found ways to express individuality and dignity through clothing – reworking hand-me-downs and plantation-issued garments into personalised symbols of pride and resistance. This wasn’t just survival. It was “style” as self-determination.
One of the earliest examples is Julius Soubise, a formerly enslaved Afro-Caribbean man in 18th-century Britain who became a flamboyant figure in London’s high society. He defied racial expectations through his elegance and flair, becoming an early Black dandy. Centuries later, the spirit lived on in the Harlem Renaissance, where poets, jazz musicians, and artists like Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington used style to assert intellect, pride, and cultural power.
Today, Black dandyism lives on in movements like La Sape – the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People in Brazzaville and Kinshasa, Congo. These modern-day Congolese dandies wear bold, colourful suits with intention. For them, fashion is more than appearance – it’s identity, dignity, and social commentary. Every colour, cut, and accessory declares: “I’m here. I matter. I own this.”
As curator and author Shantrelle P. Lewis puts it, this is more than fashion – it’s style activism. It’s using elegance to challenge stereotypes, assert visibility, and show up with purpose. Black dandyism is creative resistance, stitched into every detail.
Fashion’s quiet truth: slaved to fashion
While the Gala dazzled with elegance, it also delivered a deeper message – a powerful reminder of how Black labour and creativity have shaped global fashion.
The phrase “Slaved to Fashion” holds weight. It points to the countless unnamed Black hands that picked cotton, stitched garments, and inspired trends – often without credit or compensation.
It raises necessary questions:
- Who gets celebrated in fashion?
- Who gets copied without credit?
- Who gets left out of the story?
From picking cotton in plantation fields to walking fashion runways, Black people have always contributed to the industry’s growth. Yet too often, their stories are sidelined.
Why this moment matters
Met Gala 2025 wasn’t just a fashion event – it was a cultural shift. A celebration of legacy. A reminder that Black style isn’t a seasonal trend – it’s a statement of power, creativity, and identity.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for educational and cultural commentary. It is not affiliated with the Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or anyone or brands referenced. All views expressed are our own. Referenced materials are cited under fair use.
References:
- Miller, Monica L. (2009). Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Duke University Press.
- Lewis, Shantrelle P. (2017). Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style. Aperture Foundation.
