Met Gala 2025

Every year on the first Monday of May, I trade my pajamas for an imaginary Prada power suit and transform into Miranda Priestly from “The Devil Wears Prada.” My standards skyrocket, my tolerance for fashion mistakes disappears, and suddenly, the inclusion of a waistcoat feels like a matter of national importance. Welcome to the Met Gala: fashion’s biggest night. 

This year’s dress code was “Tailored for You,” inviting guests to explore the individuality of tailoring. It was inspired by the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a tribute to how Black communities have historically used fashion as a symbol of self-expression, resistance, and reclamation. The exhibition highlights everything from zoot suits to Savile Row craftsmanship, showing how tailoring has always been political when worn by Black bodies.

This was a theme with a lot of depth and meaning as an homage to culture and intentional design. As explained in Vogue’s article on Black dandyism, Black style is more than fashion; it’s a rebellion against norms. The best looks on the carpet understood this, like Alton Mason, for example, who channeled classic dandyism with a futuristic twist. Or Colman Domingo, who wore tailoring that was both very grand and majestic, but at the same time, radical, honoring the exhibit while adding something new.

But some attendees missed the theme entirely. It’s very hard for me to forgive a classic tuxedo with just a bit of floral embroidery when the entire theme (and event) is supposed to celebrate a legacy of innovation. The Met Gala isn’t just about wearing a suit; it’s about telling a story with it. Too many looks felt like missed opportunities, especially in a year where the dress code was designed with men and menswear in mind.

Now let’s get to specific people. Those who impressed me, and those who stood out to me (not in a good way).

Lewis Hamilton, my F1 king. As the co-chair, he understood the assignment. Lewis showed up in a cream-colored custom suit by Wales Bonner that looked like it was plucked straight from a vintage portrait session, but with elevated detailing. The beret. The brooches. The cowrie shells. The rings. Everything had a meaning. Designer Grace Wales Bonner pulled inspo from artist Barkley Hendricks and traditional Afro-Caribbean spirituality. It wasn’t just about looking sharp (though he did) it was about storytelling through style. A+ for purpose and presence.

Zendaya came in a custom Louis Vuitton white zoot suit styled by Pharrell, complete with a wide brimmed hat and sparkly collar brooch. The sharply tailored silhouette paid homage to 1940s jazz and Harlem Renaissance flair. The oversized shoulders and wide legged pants added drama, while the pristine white fabric kept it feeling fresh. I honestly thought it was clean, crisp, and 100% dandy, blending masculine energy with the signature Zendaya elegance and confidence.

If Colman Domingo didn’t own the Met steps, I don’t know who did. His bold, cobalt-blue Valentino cape was giving full-on regal energy, well before he ripped it off to reveal a checkered suit with a polka-dot tie and floral pin underneath. He said the color blue meant “choir” and “king,” and his inspiration included André Leon Talley and Othello. All the fashion critics loved it, including me. 

Kim Kardashian did her own thing, as per usual. She showed up in Chrome Hearts, dressed in a black, crocodile-textured corset top, dramatic train, heavy chains, and a wide brimmed hat she could barely see through. Was it cool? Kind of. Was it on theme? Not really. It gave more vampire cowboy than Black tailoring. She also looked like she couldn’t breathe, let alone walk up the Met stairs.

Shakira went full on Barbie meets Glinda in a Prabal Gurung pink gown with cutouts, a shiny cape, and sheer gloves. It was sparkly and floaty, and to be fair, very pretty, but not even close to the assignment. It sort of looked like my pink comforter after I wake up in the morning. It was a beautiful dress, but the wrong exhibit. People dragged her online. I even saw a Tiktok creator say  that it felt like she was dressed for the “Wicked” movie premier, not the Met, and I have to agree. She looked great, but she missed the point.

Dua Lipa said Josephine Baker, and I said “Yes!” She wore a custom Chanel look: black chiffon, a structured tweed jacket, a sheer cape, and more crystals and pearls than I could count. This outfit took over 2,000 hours to make, and you could tell. Her stylist made it clear this was a tribute to Baker’s blend of masculine and feminine style. Her look felt rich, researched, and Met carpet ready. It was a win in my book; it was both rooted in fashion and theme.

Amelia Gray Hamlin wore red lace everything. From the bodysuit, thigh high tights, and a train to Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses and a lace durag, everything was shockingly scarlet. Valentino made it, but Amelia made it confusing. The vibe leaned more towards a YouTube video titled, “Gen Z chaotic thrift outing,” instead of the sophistication of dandyism or tailoring. Twitter/X had a field day with it. “Yikes,” “Girl, what?” and “Where are your pants?” were just a few comments floating around. In conclusion: it wasn’t it.

Then Diana Ross, the queen herself, made a return. It was personal. Diana Ross wore a white Ugo Mozie gown with a cape and 18 foot train embroidered with the names of her children and grandkids in crystals. It was emotional, elegant, and felt like a legacy in motion. Everyone was stunned. She might not have gone traditional dandy, but she honored the theme of personal tailoring by literally tailoring her family history into the outfit.

Lupita Nyong’o gave us aquamarine heaven in a Chanel suit with a blouse, cape, and wide leg pants. The look popped on the carpet, and she talked about how her muse was Little Richard, a bold Black pioneer of performance and style. Her team said it best; the look symbolized how Black Americans “insisted on dignity through dressing.” It was intentional, vibrant, and effortlessly on-theme. As always, Nyong’o understood the deeper meaning.

Thom Browne dressed Whoopi Goldberg in an embroidered, sequin-covered overcoat (350,000 matte sequins, by the way) over a tailored black dress and curved-heel boots. The whole thing was topped with a top hat and netted veil. It was theatrical, dramatic, and gender-defying in true Browne fashion. The outfit was tea; you don’t have to love it, but you do have to respect it. 

And finally, we need to talk about the fashion goddess herself: Anna Wintour. Anna’s look at the 2025 Met Gala was pure classic elegance. Dressed in a custom Louis Vuitton gray satin gown, she gave off that signature Vogue polish we all know and love, but something about this outfit stood out. The gown was embroidered with floral details that were delicate and a bit bold, perfect for someone like Anna who always knows how to blend sophistication with a modern edge. However, what really caught everyone’s attention was the mysterious crimson stain on the gown. People were buzzing about it all night, trying to figure out if it was intentional, or just an accident. It reminded everyone that no one, not even Anna Wintour, is perfect all the time. And honestly, that’s what made her look even more interesting. That little unexpected detail turned the whole outfit into something to talk about. Was it a statement or just a slip-up? Either way, it had people talking.

So, where does that leave us?

The 2025 Met Gala was a hit, with a theme that was bold, overdue, and quite important. Some celebrities really got it, showing up in outfits that weren’t just fashionable, but made a statement. You could feel the care, the culture, the story stitched into every seam. Others… wore clothes. Expensive ones, sure. But just clothes. Not stories.

Still, next year I’ll be on my couch again, watching the 2026 Met Gala with snacks in hand, Miranda Priestly mode activated. Because when fashion meets meaning, it becomes something more than just fabrics sewn together. The Met Gala reminds us why style matters and what it can be when it’s personal, original, and tailored.

And if we’re lucky, it’ll also remind a few guests that the theme is not just a suggestion.