May Fashion Forecast: MET Gala Edition

The 2025 Met Gala: A Celebration of Black Dandyism

The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5, was a historic celebration of Black fashion and identity. The theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," was inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The exhibition highlighted the history of Black dandyism, brinigng attention to how Black individuals have used fashion as a form of self-expression and resistance. This year's gala marked the first time the event focused exclusively on Black designers, showcasing its profound influence on global fashion, and the industry's community.

Laura Harrier in Zac Posen for Gap Studio

Starting off with a look that left everyone gagged, actress Laura Harrier dropped jaws in a custom ensemble by Zac Posen for Gap Studio. The outfit featured a voluminous white satin trouser paired with dramatic puffed sleeves and a structured corset bodice. The rich ivory tone exuded elegance, while the billowing fabric added a modern twist to classic tailoring. This outfit took the oversized baggy aesthetic and mixed it impossibly well with a beautifully fitted, deep V blazer, with mesh, flare sleeves to flow uniformly with the pants. There are simply no words to describe the level of perfection that this outfit attained.

Zoe Saldana in Thom Brown

Moving on to Zoe Saldana, now she understood the assignment and exceeded expectations in her custom Thom Brown creation that blended traditional tailoring with contemporary flair. The ensemble featured a razor-sharp silhouette, with a striking interplay of black and white that felt both timeless and forward-thinking. The sleek black mid section, reminiscent of a corseted tuxedo, hugged the torso with tailored authority, and highlighted layers with its bold white buttons . Pinstriped and contoured, it featured molded cups and a tiny mock pocket—details that felt like subtle winks to menswear, reinterpreted through a hyper-feminine lens. Her crips upper half extended into a sharply pointed white panel that gave the illusion of a cinched waist and elongated line.

White ribbed sleeves draped from the shoulders to the wrists, where delicate buttons mirrored those on the front, giving her an extra touch of elegance and well paired structure. And then there was the bow. Oversized and unapologetic, it bloomed from one shoulder like a piece of wearable art, breaking the symmetry in a way that felt deliberate and theatrical. The skirt, fluid but controlled, fell straight before splitting into a double-pointed train that skimmed the floor behind her. At the neckline, a crisp white collar added a final note of polish—a subtle reminder that every element here was intentional.

Rihanna & A$AP Rocky in Marc Jacobs

Starting with Rihanna on the left, her look plays with codes of traditional menswear, flipping them effortlessly. A black pinstripe skirt suit, reimagined with almost architectural control, hugging the body and accentuating a baby bump unapologetically. The fabric itself is formal, classic, but here, it’s molded into something much more defined. The skirt runs long into a pooling train, split high at the thigh. Above, a sharply cropped blazer sits over a corseted bodice, tailored with the same pinstripe fabric. The effect is layered and dramatic, but meticulously edited. A white collar peeks through, grounded by a bold, wide maroon tie printed with white polka dots—a choice that adds unexpected boldness to an otherwise razor-sharp silhouette. And then there’s the hat: excessively wide-brimmed, cinematic in scale. It’s not just an accessory, it’s armor. Altogether, it’s a power suit, a maternity look, and a fashion fantasy.

As for Rocky, This look is all control and ease, equal parts retro gangster and modern romantic. Rocky’s suit starts with a relaxed black double-breasted coat that’s dramatically draped, nearly clerical in volume, but cinched with a subtle touch of tailoring. Underneath, a structured waistcoat and sharply creased trousers maintain order, while his crisp white shirt and thin tie bring in a sense of classic menswear formality. The accessories finish the story: dark sunglasses, diamond-studded fingers, high-shine loafers. There’s a quiet opulence to it all, a look that knows its power and doesn’t need to overstate it.

Zendaya in Law Roach

Zendaya captivated the red carpet in a custom Law Roach ensemble that served monochromatic elegance. Composed of an all-white three-piece pantsuit that challenged and redefined traditional gendered silhouettes with grace and precision. At the core of the outfit was a sharply tailored white jacket, its exaggerated, sculptural shoulders adding architectural drama and commanding presence. The jacket was adorned with bold silver buttons that punctuated the clean lines of the design, offering a glint of ornamentation without overpowering the minimalist palette.

Beneath the jacket, she wore a matching white vest and a crisp white tie, leaning fully into the codes of formal menswear while simultaneously subverting them through a distinctly feminine lens. Her pants flared dramatically into a floor-length silhouette, creating movement with every step—a sweeping nod to classic glamour grounded in precise tailoring. The elongated proportions and careful construction gave the look both strength and fluidity, qualities often at the heart of dandy style.

Topping off the ensemble was a wide-brimmed white sun hat, a theatrical yet balanced flourish that framed her face and completed the look with quiet authority. The hat served as more than an accessory—it was a statement of poise and sartorial confidence, echoing the elegance of vintage menswear.

Team Louis Vuitton

Sabrina Carpenter turned heads in a striking custom Louis Vuitton look designed by Pharrell Williams, defined by its bold garnet hue and daring silhouette. The ensemble featured a sharp pinstriped cropped blazer paired with a matching bodysuit that swapped traditional pants for a high-cut bikini bottom, a bold, hyper femme choice that underscored her unique sense of style. Completing the look was a dramatic split-seam floor-length train that trailed behind her, blending tailored elegance with avant-garde edge. Every element of the outfit echoed the “Tailored For You” theme, reimagined through Carpenter’s signature flair and confident individuality.

Also in Louis Vuitton, Doechii delivered one of the night’s most memorable fashion moments with a custom ensemble that pushed the boundaries of traditional tailoring. Her structured black blazer, featuring dramatically oversized lapels and sharp shoulders, brought a fresh flair to a classic silhouette. Instead of traditional trousers, she opted for tailored high-waisted shorts, an unexpected choice that added a sense of bold playfulness while highlighting her creative spirit. The all-black palette kept the focus on the garment's architectural construction, allowing every sharp line and sculptural detail to stand out. Paired with sleek accessories and a confident presence, Doechii’s look was both polished and rebellious, a standout interpretation of Black dandyism that honoured its roots while confidently moving it forward.

The 2025 Met Gala was a groundbreaking event that honored the rich history and enduring influence of Black dandyism. Through their sartorial choices, celebrities paid homage to the tradition of Black dandyism, showcasing its significance in shaping modern fashion. The gala not only celebrated style but also highlighted the power of fashion as a form of cultural expression and resistance.