Met Gala 2025: “black dandyism”, the theme of the year
After “Sleeping Beauties,” the grand event dedicated to fashion and overseen by the formidable Anna Wintour has announced its new theme. This year, men’s fashion will take center stage.
Each year, celebrities eagerly await their invitation to the year’s most anticipated event: the Met Gala. Some receive their coveted invites from the fashion mogul Anna Wintour, the powerful editor-in-chief of Vogue, while others are left hoping for a chance next year. Once the invitation arrives, the elite of the celebrity world must set aside their day to attend the Met (short for the Metropolitan Museum of Art), the most prestigious museum in New York, on May 5th. The most critical part? Choosing the perfect outfit.
The Met Gala is known for its thematic approach. Arriving in front of the throngs of photographers in a simple tuxedo or a standard evening gown simply won’t do. Attendees must fully embrace the theme or risk being criticized by fashion journalists and possibly facing a permanent blacklist from Anna Wintour. For 2025, the theme will be “Black Dandyism,” which offers a unique spotlight on men’s fashion in line with an exhibition organized by the Costume Institute at the Met, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The last time the Met Gala focused on men’s fashion was in 2003, during the “Men in Skirts” event.
Black dandyism is a broad theme that explores how Black men in the Atlantic diaspora dressed from the 18th century to the present day, encompassing everything from the stylish everyday man’s attire to representations of this style in the arts and media.
This exhibition draws inspiration from Monica Miller’s book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. For any man interested in his wardrobe, being a dandy is not just about dressing up; it’s about making a cultural and political statement through elegant attire, where attention to detail and accessories plays a fundamental role.
