New York, NY – May 6, 2025 – The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted the 2025 Met Gala on Monday, May 5, marking the opening of the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This year’s event, often dubbed “fashion’s biggest night,” celebrated Black dandyism, focusing on the style, elegance, and creativity of Black men, a historic first for the gala. Reports from CNN, ABC, and NBC provide a detailed look at the evening’s highlights, themes, and standout moments.
The theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” drew inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The exhibition, curated by Miller, a professor at Barnard College, examines Black style from the 18th century through the Harlem Renaissance to its modern global influence. The dress code, “Tailored for You,” encouraged attendees to interpret the theme through menswear and suiting, emphasizing personal style and creativity. According to NBC, the exhibition highlights how “Black style is really related to thinking about how fashion and power connect,” with Miller noting that the Black dandy represents a “matrix in identity: race, gender, class, sexuality and sometimes nation.”
The gala was co-chaired by actor Colman Domingo, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and musician Pharrell Williams, with NBA star LeBron James serving as honorary chair. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has overseen the event since 1995, also co-chaired. ABC reported that the co-chairs, all Black men known for their distinctive style, included Pharrell as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, Colman Domingo as a red-carpet standout, Lewis Hamilton for bringing high fashion to sports, and A$AP Rocky for his fashion-forward approach alongside partner Rihanna. A host committee featuring luminaries like Usher, Janelle Monáe, and Spike Lee added to the night’s celebration of Black culture.
The red carpet, which NBC noted was blue this year and covered due to rain, saw celebrities arriving between 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET. Despite the weather—NBC New York reported a full day of rain with up to a half-inch accumulation—the event proceeded seamlessly. CNN highlighted some of the best looks: Colman Domingo made a dramatic entrance in a floor-sweeping Valentino cape, referencing kings and the late stylist André Leon Talley’s 2011 Met Gala outfit, later revealing a bold black-and-white blazer ensemble.
Lewis Hamilton stunned in a custom white Wales Bonner tuxedo, with ivory symbolizing “purity and status,” adorned with ancestral beads and garnet-colored diamonds. Zendaya, styled by Law Roach, channeled ‘70s Bianca Jagger in a custom white silk Louis Vuitton tuxedo, complete with a felt hat and platform pumps. Diana Ross, returning after a 22-year absence, wore a 60-pound, 18-foot-long gown embroidered with her family’s names, a last-minute but showstopping choice.
NBC reported on the couple’s moment between Al Roker and Deborah Roberts, both covering the event for NBC and ABC respectively. The pair, married since 1995, shared a lighthearted exchange on the carpet, both wearing black top hats. “I didn’t know you were going to be here!” Roberts exclaimed. The Carlyle and The Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side served as preparation hubs for celebrities, as noted by NBC.
The livestream, hosted by Teyana Taylor, La La Anthony, and Ego Nwodim for Vogue, with Emma Chamberlain as a special correspondent, was broadcast across Vogue’s platforms, including YouTube, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET. ABC and CNN confirmed that the event maintained its no-phone policy inside, with Wintour discouraging social media use to keep the focus on the exhibition and dinner. The seating chart, meticulously crafted by Wintour, ensured a curated experience for the A-list attendees.
The gala, a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, raised significant funds, with CNN noting that it generated nearly $22 million in 2023. Individual tickets reportedly cost $75,000, reflecting the event’s exclusivity. NBC emphasized the cultural significance of the night, with the focus on Black dandyism being a milestone for representation in fashion. “This Met Gala in particular,” celebrity stylist Avon Dorsey told NBC, “means everything” to those who have worked in fashion, honoring the legacy of Black men who “have always come and shown up and shown out.”
The “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition opens to the public on May 10 and will run through October 26, 2025, offering a deep dive into the historical and cultural impact of Black style. As CNN reported, the night was a “lesson in exuberant suiting and Black style,” setting a new standard for how fashion intersects with identity and power on the global stage.
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