Beyond the Red Carpet: The Met Gala’s 2025 Theme
This upcoming Met Gala is sure to explore a theme that challenges the boundaries of art, fashion, and cultural expression.
By Maya Zervigon
Photo Courtesy of Zoe Porcia
A month has passed since the Metropolitan Museum of the Arts announced the theme for next year’s Met Gala. We know the event well—an evening spent from the comfort of our couches with friends, judging our favorite stars' outfits and arguing who wore what best and who followed the theme better. However, the Met Gala is more than just a celebration of fashion. Its themes are purposeful, to offer a window into broader, more complex cultural and social conversations. The 2025 theme will be "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," a nod to a broader conversation about Black identity, fashion, and culture. This year’s chair members are made up of some of the most well known names in the industry, including A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and of course, Anna Wintour. The theme comes from a book that is far from a household name: Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity by Monica Miller, which explores the role of fashion in shaping Black diasporic identity.
Black dandyism isn’t exactly common lingo. In fact, most people who don’t have a well-versed understanding of fashion in the eighteenth and nineteenth century may find themselves a little confused. Black dandyism emerged as a form of resistance and self-expression for Black individuals in a racially oppressive world, dating back to times where slavery was a common part of life. Key concepts behind the style include intersections behind race, class, and fashion. The culturally relevant book Slaves to Fashion details all of this and the style’s evolution. It is the basis and theoretical framework behind the anticipated Met exhibit. Miller describes Black fashion to be both a personal and political statement, as dandyism stems from Black individuals using style to assert their autonomy and challenge mainstream beauty standards.
It’s no secret that fashion is an art form that has long been tied to identity, but the 2025 theme aims to shine light on how this is demonstrated throughout history specifically in terms of marginalized communities. “Superfine” as a Met Gala theme could not be more relevant; it offers a powerful commentary on the ongoing dialogue about race and beauty standards, while reclaiming and reshaping the narratives that have long been defined by those very standards. Black celebrities and designers have taken influence from the traditions behind Black dandyism through high fashion and street style, an excellent example being one of the chair members of the year—A$AP Rocky. His eccentric, polished, and tailored outfits combined with elaborate jewelry take direct influence from the evolution behind dandyism.
So, what can we expect to see at next year’s Met Gala?
Look out for plenty of custom tailored designs, such as suits that showcase the artistry that comes behind actually tailoring outfits. Expect references to historical Black fashion icons and to the origins of dandyism—reinterpreting classic menswear tailoring with contemporary twists. Anticipate the disparity in masculinity versus femininity in fashion challenged, as dandyism celebrates the defying of gender norms with sharp, androgynous looks. The event will undoubtedly offer plenty of bold statements on race, identity, and political engagement, a celebration of Black culture and history through the lens of fashion.