Cue the cameras and the lights under Fifth Avenue, because as the evening dawns on the 5th of May 2025, the stairs of the Met will be filled with the glorious lineup of couture like never before. 

Yes, Ladies and gentlemen, we have returned to “the biggest night of fashion” once again, where stars rise to the title of style icons to celebrate the Met Gala 2025. 

Every year for the past decade, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute has held the Met Gala, a haute couture/luxury fashion fundraising event, for its benefit. The event also marks the opening of the annual fashion exhibit. Year after year, it has raised an astonishing eight-figure sum of money.  

And now the big theme reveal, I’m just kidding, the theme was already unveiled to be “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, according to Vogue, the theme was inspired from from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibit has promised to delve into the significance of clothing in shaping black identities, it features 12 sections that represent the various characteristics of dandy style across multiple art forms besides fashion garments, there will be photographs, paintings and more from artists like Tanda Francis, André Grenard Matswa, and Tyler Mitchell etc. 

The hosting committee for the Met Gala 2025, is a star studded affair, co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour with LeBron James serving as an honorary chair while the committee also consists of other members likeAndré 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jordan Casteel, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Edward Enninful, Jeremy O. Harris, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Rashid Johnson, Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, Audra McDonald, Janelle Monáe, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Tyla, Usher, and Kara Walker.

Now, the main question on everyone’s mind is, What to expect from the Met Gala 2025? 

Keep in mind the beautiful theme of fine tailoring honouring black dandyism, so you may ask what exactly dandyism is. Don’t worry, I got you. 

Dandy was a term used to refer to a person, mostly a man, who was extremely devoted to fashion and approached it with discipline. Dandyism referred to black men in 18th-century Europe, where the rise of consumerism created a trend of well-dressed, fashionable, and dandy servants. 

This new approach led to the rise of opportunities for black men to change their identities using fashion, wit, and gestures, which may change the course of political and social thought. According to Elle magazine, all these narratives offer a broader view on Black dandyism as a discrete phenomenon that reflects broader issues of power and race in the Black diaspora. 

Since the 2025 Met Gala theme is initially focusing on merging history with luxury fashion, we can expect a lot of personalized tailored looks, along with many designers drawing inspiration from the dandy fashion of the 18th century, like the zoot suits which included wide legged pants, chains or long coats, the Harlem Renaissance which was fedoras, vests, pocket watches. 

Since the dandy fashion was mostly suited for menswear, we can look forward to seeing gender fluid looks, along with traditional African prints, fabric cuts, and embellishments. Statement jewelry like pocket squares, watches, and flourishes will be the finishing touches to many contemporary looks of the night. One notable aspect would be the heavy influence of African styling mixed with luxury fashion and contemporary designs, therefore Met Gala 2025 is a homage to black fashion and pushing the boundaries of luxury fashion. 

Since we’re just a month away from the Met Gala 2025 and also almost at the end of this article, let us look at some of the best past Met Gala looks. According to Anna Wintour, Editor of Vogue, some of the best Met Gala looks were Cher in Bob Mackie [1947], Rihanna in Guo Pei, for China through the looking glass in 2015, wearing Maison Margiela with Chadwick Boseman in Versace for Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and catholic imagination, as well as Oprah in Oscar de la renta in 2010 which was one of the most shocking met appearances, and last but not least Liv tyler and Stella McCartney in custom Stella McCartney t -shirts in 1999 for Rock Style. And now for some of the most loved audience Met Gala looks, we have Zendaya in Dolce and Gabbana [2017], Blake Lively in Versace [2022],

Anne Hathaway in Versace[2023], and Rihanna again in Valentino [2023]. 

After all, I’m pretty sure the expectations for Met Gala 2025 are off the charts, and rightfully so. Every year, the attendees have shown up with some of the most incredible pieces of luxury fashion, and this year should be no different. This year should be even more interesting as this year’s theme has risen in light of the black lives matter movement, after the institute received much criticism over the lack of black representation. Will this theme finally bring peace to the raging wars of racism, or will it bring more chaos over the respectful representation of the black community? We will have to wait and see.