The Application of Black Dandyism to 2025 Met Gala Looks

This year’s Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, spotlights the influence of Black dandyism and puts menswear center stage—shaking up red carpet expectations for both men and women.

by Cian Moss

Graphic by Josie Zevin

There’s no doubt that the Met Gala remains fashion’s most significant night each year. Its theme and looks often influence entire collections from the industry’s top houses. For 2025, Anna Wintour and her team at Vogue announced the theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style—“a cultural and historical examination of the Black dandy, from the figure’s emergence in Enlightenment Europe during the 18th century to today’s incarnations in cities around the world.”

The theme is centered around black men and their influence in fashion, a focus reflected in Wintour’s selection of co-chairs: A$AP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and LeBron James. But what might this mean for the rest of the guest list?

At the heart of this year’s theme is the tailored suit—an item deeply rooted in the history of black dandyism, originating during the transatlantic slave trade, when enslaved Africans were sometimes dressed in European garments. This year, men will be front and center at the Met, a rare spotlight in an event typically dominated by womenswear.

Looking at the co-chairs offers a glimpse of what’s to come. These men have redefined what a suit can be. A$AP Rocky’s 2023 Met Gala look, which featured a blazer and tie styled with bedazzled jeans and a plaid skirt, is a perfect example. This kind of bold reinterpretation of traditional menswear will set the tone for this year’s red carpet.

We can also expect guests to pull from Louis Vuitton’s menswear archives, especially the work of Black designers Virgil Abloh and Pharrell Williams. I anticipate Tyler, The Creator and Frank Ocean will tap into past LV collections, given their close ties to the brand and to Abloh’s legacy. Travis Scott may arrive in custom Vetements. Other likely attendees include Kendrick Lamar, Timothée Chalamet, Jonathan Bailey, Lil Nas X, Bad Bunny, Alton Mason, Patrick Mahomes, Billy Porter, and Paul Mescal.

On the women’s side, I expect many to accompany dates—and possibly embrace the theme through masculine silhouettes and suiting. As obvious as it may seem, I believe we’ll see a strong wave of women wearing suits and tuxedo-inspired looks. In 2024, we saw a surge of women embracing menswear on the red carpet, led by stars like Billie Eilish. The Met Gala may be the culmination of that trend.

I predict Zendaya will attend alongside her longtime stylist Law Roach, and Cardi B with her stylist Kollin Carter. Rihanna, of course, will be a headline-making presence as she accompanies co-chair A$AP Rocky. I also believe Beyoncé will end her Met Gala hiatus, arriving with Jay-Z in custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell.

Doechii is poised to make a striking debut, possibly in custom Thom Browne. Other guests likely to grace the steps include Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Nicki Minaj, Tyla, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Anok Yai, Chappell Roan, Angel Reese, Nicole Kidman, Demi Moore, Ayo Edebiri, Margaret Qualley, and many more.