Pinstripes and tailoring are a quintessential menswear staple seen on display at the MET Gala (from left to right): Emma Chamberlain in Courreges (Photo: John Shearer-WireImage); Doja Cat in Marc Jacobs (Photo John Shearer/Getty Images); Pharrell Williams in Louis Vuitton (Photo: Vogue/Getty Images); Janelle Monáe in Paul Tazewell x Thom Browne (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images); Khaby Lame in Hugo Boss (Photo: Vogue); Shaboozey (Photo: Robert Wun-Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images); Rihanna in Marc Jacobs (Photo: Vogue/Getty Images); Teyana Taylor in collaboration with Ruth E. Carter (Photo: Vogue/Getty Images); Ugbad Abdi in Michael Kors (Photo: Vogue).
MET Gala Fun Facts
The big MET Gala 2025 (May 5th) is over and Superfine: Tailoring Black Style opens today to the public ( Monday, May 12th). Knowing that Anna Wintour and her Costume Institute team plans out at least two years in advance for each show, I thought it would be fun to explore where inspiration for this year’s show originated. But before I do that, here are some fun facts about the Gala and its theme. Did you know that::
- The Gala, which began in 1948, was originally known as “The Party of the Year” and is a fundraiser for the MET’s Costume Institute.
- For decades the Gala was open to the public at a cost of $50. Today it’s by invitation-only at a cost of $75,000 per ticket and the invitation list is capped at 700 with 300 people walking the “Blue Carpet”.
- The dress code for this year’s Gala was “Tailored for You” in celebration of Black Dandyism.
- According to Merriam-Webster, “Dandyism is the style or conduct of a dandy, or a literary and artistic style marked by artificiality and excessive refinement, particularly in the latter part of the 19th century. Essentially, it’s about a focus on elaborate and fashionable appearances, whether in dress, manner, or artistic expression”.
- Anna Wintour, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief and lead chairperson of the Gala since 1995, has raised $250 million for the Costume Institute with around $30 million coming from this year’s event.
What & Who Inspired the Superfine MET Exhibition?
Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller (Image credit: Amazon.com)
In her book, Slaves to Fashion, Black Dandyism and the Styling of the Black Diasporic Identity, Dr. Monica L. Miller explores Dandyism’s roots which was initially imposed on black men in eighteenth-century England, as the Atlantic slave trade and an emerging culture of conspicuous consumption generated a vogue in dandified black servants. “Luxury slaves” tweaked and reworked their uniforms and were soon known for their sartorial novelty and sometimes flamboyant personalities. Her book served as one of the inspirational sources for this years’s MET exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
Co-curated by Harold Koda and Dr. Miller, they trace the history of the black dandy from his emergence in Enlightenment England to his contemporary incarnations in the cosmopolitan art worlds of London and New York. The exhibit chronicles the ways in which black people have used dress and fashion to transform their identities and imagine new ways of embodying political and social possibilities.According to the MET’s press release, “the exhibition explores the importance of sartorial style to the formation of black identities in the Atlantic diaspora”.
Black Indians by William Loren Katz (Image credit: Amazon.com)
Another inspiration for the exhibition is the book, Black Indians by William Loren Katz published in 2012. This book explores enslaved Africans and their descendants who have had a history of cultural exchange and intermarriage with Native Americans and their sartorial contributions to Black Dandyism. Fun fact: LL Cool J is of mixed ancestry.
Justin Jacob Louis, creative Director at Section 35 dressed Christian Allaire for MET Gala 2025 (Image credit: @JustinJacobLewis).
Justin Jacob Louis, creative director and founder of his brand Section 35 is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. He designs with the intention of using art and fashion to tell his peoples’ stories. For the Gala he dressed Christian Allaire, a Vogue staff writer and member of the Ojibwe Nation, who is an important voice for indigenous fashion. The three-piece pinstriped suit designed by Justin Jacobs Louis and worn by Christian Allaire features indigenous-style beadwork throughout, as well as a pocket chain and scarf tie by MDW Jewelry and a ring by NotAbove, also indigenous brands.
Dapper Dan
Dapper Dan wearing his custom Zoot suit emblazoned with the Sankofa symbol representing the Harlem Renaissance. (Photo: Theo Wargo/FilmMagic via Getty Images).
Dapper Dan, known as the “father of logo-mania” is an American fashion designer and haberdasher from Harlem. He is widely credited with introducing luxury fashion to hip-hop and streetwear from 1982-1992, shaping the visual identity of an entire generation. His story is one of resilience, creativity, and cultural innovation, earning him a place on Time’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in 2020 and as host committee member for the MET’s Superfine 2025 Gala. Today, Dapper Dan continues to inspire new generations of designers and remains a symbol of Harlem’s enduring influence on global fashion and its role in Black Dandyism.
Tailoring
The Met Gala provided a unique lens through which to view tailoring, blending high fashion with celebrity and often pushing creative boundaries. In next week’s blog I will be highlighting the craft and skills of the world’s best tailors alongside those red-carpet looks, offering a rich and insightful perspective. Stay tuned…
