THE annual haute couture fundraising fashion festival known as the Met Gala has revealed its theme for 2025 — Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
Here we take a look at what that means and who the co-chairs are.
The 2025 Met Gala theme was announced on October 9, 2024 — Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
It takes the black dandy as its subject, exploring the influence of black men’s fashion from the 18th century to the present day.
The theme draws inspiration from the book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism And The Styling Of Black Diasporic Identity (2009), written by professor and chair of Africana studies at Barnard College, Monica L Miller.
Every year Anna Wintour – along with her co-chairs – preside over the gala and the museum exhibition.
Exhibition focus
The Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition will showcase a variety of items, including garments, paintings and photographs, all of which delve into the enduring style of Black men in the context of dandyism.
This exhibition marks a significant step in diversifying the Met’s collections and addressing historical biases in curatorial practices.
Andrew Bolton, the Curator in Charge, emphasized the importance of making fashion at The Met more accessible and inclusive.
He said: “At the vanguard of this revitalisation is a group of extremely talented Black designers who are constantly challenging normative categories of identity.
“While their styles are both singular and distinctive, what unites them is a reliance on various tropes that are rooted in the tradition of dandyism, and specifically Black dandyism”.
The exhibition will explore how Black individuals transformed from being viewed as luxury items during slavery to becoming autonomous, self-fashioning trendsetters on a global scale.
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What dandyism means and historical context
Dandyism is a cultural and aesthetic movement characterized by an emphasis on refined style, elegance, and individuality, particularly in men’s fashion.
Originating in the late 18th century, dandyism celebrates the art of dressing well and the cultivation of personal identity through clothing.
Dandies often challenge societal norms, using fashion as a means of self-expression and social commentary.
It served as a powerful form of resistance against oppression, allowing individuals to assert their identity and reclaim agency through their sartorial choices.
Dandyism, as defined by Monica L. Miller, can be understood as “dressing wisely and well”.
She also described black dandyism as “a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context. To really push a boundary — especially during the time of enslavement, to really push a boundary on who and what counts as human, even”.
The exhibition will trace the evolution of Black dandyism from enlightenment-era England to contemporary representations in cities such as London and New York.
It is the first time since 2003 that a Costume Institute exhibition will focus solely on menswear.
Met Gala co-chairs
The 2025 Met Gala co-chairs represent a diverse group of influential Black men in various fields:
Additionally, NBA legend LeBron James will serve as an honorary co-chair, marking his first appearance at the Met Gala.
