Context:

The 2025 Met Gala, scheduled for May 5, is themed 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style', marking the first focus on menswear since 2003. This theme draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller's book, 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity', and emphasizes the role of sartorial style in shaping Black identities. The event's dress code, 'Tailored for You', encourages personal style expression while paying homage to the theme through creative interpretation. Dandyism, historically associated with aristocratic elegance, has been redefined as a symbol of liberation and resistance, highlighting exuberant self-expression. The gala aims to explore and celebrate the significance and spread of Black dandyism in modern fashion culture.

Dive Deeper:

• The 2025 Met Gala is set to occur on May 5, with the unique theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style', focusing on menswear for the first time since 2003. This theme is inspired by Monica L. Miller's 2009 book, which delves into Black Dandyism and its impact on Black identity.

• The dress code for this year's event is 'Tailored for You', designed to align with the theme by offering guidance while encouraging creative personal expression. Vogue interprets this as an invitation to wear styles that reflect individual identity and aesthetics.

• The theme seeks to explore how sartorial choices contribute to the formation of Black identities, particularly through the lens of Black dandyism, which emphasizes elegance, sophistication, and individuality.

• Historically, dandyism was linked to the aristocracy, exemplified by figures like Beau Brummell of Regency England. Over time, it has been recontextualized to represent freedom and rebellion, marked by bold self-expression.

• The gala will not only focus on the historical aspects of dandyism but also its contemporary relevance and the way it has proliferated within Black fashion and cultural narratives, celebrating its role as a form of resistance and identity expression.

• The 2025 Met Gala is tonight (May 5), and we’re bringing you the info you’ll want to know!

• As previously announced, the annual event – held on the first Monday in May each year – will have the following theme for 2025: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” It’s the first Met Gala to focus on menswear since 2003 and it draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller‘s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.

• This year’s dress code is noted as “Tailored for You.” The Met shared that the code pays homage to the theme and is “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation.” Vogue notes that the theme basically breaks down to: “embracing looks reflective of one’s personal style.” It’s meant to “explore the role of sartorial style in forming Black identities, focusing on the emergence, significance, and proliferation of the Black dandy.”

• According to CNN, “Once used to describe the aristocratic style and leisurely pursuits of figures like Regency England’s Beau Brummell, dandyism has been recontextualized over the years to embody liberation and resistance through exuberant self-expression.”

• Keep reading to see who will co-chair…