Met Gala Celebrates Black Fashion with Dandyism Exhibit

The 2025 Met Gala marks the first time the event and the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute are centering Black fashion, with the exhibition 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' focusing exclusively on Black designers and the concept of Black dandyism. The exhibit, inspired by figures such as André Leon Talley and curated in part by Monica Miller, explores how Black individuals have historically used sartorial excellence and tailored fashion to assert identity, challenge stereotypes, and claim space. Dandyism, as highlighted by both designers and artists involved in the exhibition, is seen as a discipline that transcends labels and defies mediocrity and convention, blending personal image, artistic creation, and social commentary. The show features historical and contemporary figures, with garments and designs from icons like Frederick Douglass, Prince, and Pharrell Williams. Notably, Lewis Hamilton, a Met Gala co-chair, exemplifies the tradition by using fashion as a form of personal and cultural expression, and Ike Ude, a consultant for the exhibit, underscores the importance of rejecting fixed identities. This year’s Met Gala reflects a cultural shift, using fashion to celebrate Black excellence and agency while examining the broader impact of Black style on history and society.