2025 Met Gala celebrates Black culture with "Superfine" theme

The 2025 Met Gala was an exhibition of Black excellence. The theme – “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” – was based on the book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity” by Monica L. Miller.

When the theme and four co-chairs, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell, A$AP Rocky and Colman Domingo were announced back in October, expectations were high for how these four fashion moguls and the who’s who in pop culture would interpret tailoring and dandyism. The assignment was deeply personal for all four Black men who have carved their lane in fashion inspired by family, Black history and personal experiences.

The industry’s top designers, from historic European luxury brands to modern Black-owned powerhouses, focused on tailoring and creative takes on menswear. There was a surprising lack of color for a theme that celebrated the liveliness expressed by dandys, who are known for breaking boundaries of gender and social structure. But the accessories, including canes, jewelry and furs, were essential in separating the good looks from the great ones.

The evening served as a celebration of the Black fashion creatives, old and new, who made their mark against the odds. And we can’t forget the tribute paid to fashion mogul André Leon Talley, who broke barriers as a Black man in the industry with his own bold sense of style before passing away in 2022.

Here’s Kick The Concrete’s highlights of the 2025 Met Gala:

Lewis Hamilton wowed as co-chair in Wales Bonner

Lewis Hamilton continues to impress fans of pop culture in how he races in one of the fastest sports in the world, catches a flight and then stuns at the Super Bowl of fashion. This year, he was selected as one of the co-chairs for the Met Gala for the Superfine theme, which was right up his alley.

Hamilton said that Anna Wintour approached him about serving as a co-chair after he bought a table for the 2021 Met Gala to host young Black designers. The Ferrari driver said they spoke “on what the Met could grow to and what it could be.”

Hamilton furthered the conversation that he started by inviting Black women to his table, including Regina King, Jordan Casteel, Ming Smith, Adrienne Warren, Danielle Deadwyler, Lorna Simpson and Radhika Jones. Fans were delighted to see Ms. Lauryn Hill arrive as one of his guests. The music icon dazzled in a butter yellow oversized double-breasted suit by Cheney Chan with a billowing collar that had a halo effect, representing spiritual light and flight. She completed the look with a light blue Hermés bag.

For his look, Hamilton donned a thoughtful outfit from Wales Bonner inspired by Harlem Renaissance, Cab Calloway and portraits by Barkley L. Hendricks. The color ivory represented purity and the details, including conch shells and a pearl brooch, were stunning. 

“We really wanted to pay homage to the culture, particularly the culture of Africa by the power of adornment,” Hamilton told Teyana Taylor and Ego Nwodim for Vogue on the blue carpet. “The suit is so fly. I love this.”

Pharrell, Colman Domingo and A$AP Rocky deliver classic looks as co-chairs

Pharrell went with a luxe take on the theme. He wore a suit jacket adorned with 15,000 pearls lined in a pinstripe pattern paired with tailored trousers. All by Louis Vuitton, of course. He also had gold in his teeth that he revealed were actually Invisalign… drippy.

A$AP Rocky carried the theme of ownership by wearing his own brand, AWGE. He went with an all-black look that was nicely tailored and featured a structured tech coat. He paired it with chunky sunglasses from his Ray Ban line and an umbrella for that extra swag. It was all a tribute to his hometown of Harlem, a city that has been influential in American fashion culture. But all of this doesn’t compare to the announcement that Rihanna is pregnant with the couple’s third child.

Colman Domingo was a wonder in not one, but two looks from Valentino. The first, a gown of royal blue, was a tribute to the late fashion mogul André Leon Talley. The actor said that the gown was also an homage to the Black church. He then revealed a windowpane jacket with a hand painted polka dot scarf and flower.

“I’m representing a lot of men, so I wanted to make sure I stood up for them,” Domingo told E! on the blue carpet.

Superfine tributes to André Leon Talley

When the theme “Superfine” was revealed as a celebration of Black dandyism, fans thought of André Leon Talley. He was the first Black creative director at Vogue and broke barriers with his sense of style that combined expert tailoring with flowing overcoats.

Colman Domingo paid tribute to Talley with his blue gown to open the Met Gala, but many other celebrities and designers gave a nod to his influence.

Tessa Thompson wore a uniquely structured overcoat by Prabal Gurung that was perfectly whimsical. Her homage to Talley was a church fan by artist Chris Watts that featured his stately portrait. In 2012, Watts made a collection of fans featuring portraits of various Black trail blazers.

“It’s just to pay homage to the original fantastic dandy who we all love,” Thompson told GQ of her fan honoring Talley, “and we wouldn’t be here without him.”

Anne Hathaway was another star who ensured that Talley’s spirit was present at the Super Bowl of fashion. Her look was designed by Carolina Herrera, which is now run by creative director Wes Gordon. According to the brand’s Instagram page, Talley was the first person to interview Herrera as a rising designer in 1981 and they developed a strong friendship.The floor length black and white striped skirt was meant to evoke the sharp tailoring of a striped suit and the billowy white button-up shirt was a favorite of both Talley and Herrera’s. The brand said the way the shirt was tied at the waist was “a nod to the effortless style and individual cool of Dandyism.”

Tyla was also an embodiment of Talley’s groundbreaking fashion sense. The singer was one of stylist Law Roach’s clients for the Met Gala. He put her in a fitted Jacquemus dress with a flowing oversized shirt that trailed behind her. The shirt was a tribute to Talley’s signature looks and the blue pinstripe pattern recalled one of Talley’s signature pieces, a flowing white frock with blue stripes on the bottom.

Indian actress Kiara Advani's luxe dress by Gaurav Gupta featured a similar nod to Talley. The black and gold look was topped off with a white train invoking the frock that the fashion mogul wore to the 2010 Met Gala.

Athletes take over 2025 Met Gala

Having Lewis Hamilton as a co-chair of the Met Gala put sports in the spotlight of the Super Bowl of fashion. The presence of athletes has steadily grown throughout the years. Now, nearly every other celebrity on the blue carpet had a tie to sports.

In the world of basketball, New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones were all dapper in Sergio Hudson looks styled by Courtney Mays.

Flau’jae made her Met Gala debut in an elegant black and white dress by Walter Mendez. Angel Reese returned to the fashionable affair in a black tailored skirt and jacket pairing by Thom Browne.

“Versatile, chic, classy, tailored, tea,” Reese told BET about her Thom Brown look, which was topped off with exaggerated baby hairs.

The NFL was well represented. Former LSU teammates Joe Burrow and Justin Jefferson made their first appearances at the Met Gala. The quarterback wore a grayish blue suit and Cartier glasses, while the wide receiver embodied the dandy theme well with a textured and bustling gray three-piece suit from Public School. Darnell Booker styled the look with a flowing cape that really took it to the next level.

Saquon Barkley and Russell Wilson wore clean suits. Sports power couple Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles complemented each other well, but the white fur over his shoulder really stood out. Stefon Diggs also wore a statement fur as part of a look by Bianca Saunders. Jalen Hurts and his wife looked dapper in custom Burberry. Colin and Nessa Kaepernick wore regal looks from Ozwald Boateng and Moncler. DeAndre Hopkins wore a minimalist look from Fear of God.

Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson held it down for track. Lyles wore a smart Thom Browne outfit with a structured jacket and shorts. He got the pearl memo and wore a necklace and rings made with rare South Sea Pearls. Richardson donned a flowy dress from Valentino and completed the look with bows in her hair.

Pharrell, Olivier Rousting made impact as Black creative directors with looks for Doechii and Jenna Ortega

This year’s Met Gala highlighted Black designers making an impact at luxury fashion houses. There was a surprising lack of discussion about the late Virgil Abloh, who made history as the first Black creative director at Louis Vuitton in 2018. But two other designers showed Abloh was not the last of his kind.

Besides being co-chair for the Met Gala, Pharrell made his mark as creative director for Louis Vuitton. The brand dressed 10 stars from the worlds of TV and music. Skateboard P’s look showcased an incredible pearl jacket. Doechii had a standout look. Pharrell put her in a cream monogrammed jacket with a rounded coattail. There was a playful duality with checkerboard shorts and an intentionally messy neck scarf. The pièce de résistance was the LV logo subtly painted on her cheek.

Olivier Rousting has been making waves as a Black creative director at the Met Gala for several years now. Remember Tyla’s mesmerizing sand dress last year? He showed that Balmain is still a brand to look out for, especially with an eye-catching dress for Jenna Ortega that was made out of metal rulers. Quite a clever take on the tailoring theme! We have to give a nod to Cierra Boyd of FriskMeGood who made her own viral corset out of measuring tape last year.

Fear of God, Wales Bonner and Dapper Dan represented for Black-owned brands

While the historic accomplishments of Black designers at major fashion houses are deservedly applauded, it’s amazing to see how Black-owned brands have made their way into the high fashion space.

Grace Wales Bonner has climbed the ranks of the fashion world from winning the 2016 LVMH Prize, which came with a scholarship and mentorship, to being one of Kendrick Lamar’s favorite designers. She made her Met Gala debut this year and made her mark on history. She dressed co-chair Lewis Hamilton — the two collaborated for a meaningful look whose power was in the details. She also outfitted singer FKA Twigs in a flouncy dress with ostrich feathers that paid tribute to both the Harlem Renaissance and groundbreaking entertainer Josephine Baker. Photographer Tyler Mitchell donned another carefully crafted ivory suit with a pop of blue, actor Jeff Goldblum wore a black suit with a luxurious fur-trimmed overcoat and singer Omar Apollo looked fly in a beaded leopard print top and a tailored black jacket.

Jerry Lorenzo has transformed Fear of God from streetwear staples to American luxury. He made a statement of ownership and individuality when he first walked the Met Gala carpet in 2021 wearing a pair of his brand’s sweatpants. Lorenzo took the statement further by purchasing a table at this year's affair. This allowed him to invite guests who embody not only his personal brand but this year’s theme as well. He invited actress Yara Shahidi, painter Amy Sherald, activist and daughter of Malcolm X Ilyasah Shabazz, designer Andre Walker, filmmaker Arthur Jafa, artist Lauren Halsey, actor Adrien Brody and director Spike Lee, who accessorized his look with a New York Knicks hat.

"Sinners" director Ryan Coogler and his wife, Zinzi, looked sharp in a gray suit and form-fitting black dress. His braids that spelled “FOG,” done by Ty B, was hands down one of the best hair moments of the night.

NFL star DeAndre Hopkins was also part of Lorenzo's group. He previously walked in Fear of God’s Hollywood Bowl show and told GQ about his friendship with the designer while getting ready for the Met Gala.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Jerry even before we met, what he's done for the culture, for young guys like myself, who are motivated by people of color who break through it and do things that not a lot of people have done before," he said. "And if you know a little bit about Jerry, man, his background, where he comes from, everything about him is legit and it’s hard not to get behind somebody like that.”

Dapper Dan is a trailblazer of fashion. In the 1980s, he opened his own shop in Harlem where he combined luxury aesthetics with street-smart styles. He dressed the likes of Mike Tyson, Eric B and Rakim and Salt-N-Pepa. He went on to have collaborations with Gucci and Gap and is celebrated for his individuality. Dapper Dan was on the Met Gala blue carpet wearing one of his own creations, a black and white zoot suit with his signature logos all over. He had a sankofa symbol on the back, a Ghanaian phrase for returning and remembering. The designer used the moment to pass the fashion torch to his fellow Harlemite A$AP Rocky.

From here, we are going to do a rapid fire of the rest of our favorite looks of the 2025 Met Gala:

Teyana Taylor was the Rose in Harlem

Teyana Taylor wowed early in the night with this luxurious look by Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter. It featured a three-piece pinstripe suit underneath, a broad-shouldered red velvet cape, a hat and a durag. It was all inspired by Taylor’s song “Rose in Harlem” about overcoming hardships to find success in the music industry. After the singer’s arrival, this one was tough to beat.

Alton Mason channels Slick Rick

Another head-turning look was Alton Mason, who wore BOSS. His look consisted of a glitzy silver jacket and pant ensemble with the neckline cut out to mimic anime character Giorno Giovanna. The structured black cape and hat made the model look like a superhero. But the cherry on top was the bedazzled eye patch, which paid homage to hip-hop icon Slick Rick.

Joey King was colorful goodness

There was not a lot of color at the Met Gala, which had people scratching their heads. But actress Joey King saved the day in this bright green suit from Miu Miu. The mirrored accents, checkerboard shirt underneath and groovy yellow and red neck scarf screamed dandy.

Diana Ross celebrates legacy

Diana Ross made her grand return to the Met Gala after a hiatus of two decades. The music icon swept up the competition in a fitted sparkle dress from her own archives. Who else can do that? She accessorized it with a feathery hat and an enormous coat whose 18-foot train flowed behind her. She had the names of her family embroidered on the coat, which was a special touch.

Central Cee breaks down and attends Met Gala

“I ain’t putting no suit and tie on, I turned down the Met Gala.” That’s what Central Cee declared on "Our 25th Birthday,” a song from 2023. It’s a reflective track about how far the British rapper has come in life and how he is above fashion’s biggest night. Well, Cench broke down and did attend this year’s festivities amid his United States tour. And he did wear a suit and tie. His sharp outfit was done by Jacquemus with a Guyanese flag pin on the lapel and a polka dot pocket square and cane for a touch of dandy. He even dropped a freestyle from behind the scenes.

Ayo Edebiri honors family roots

Ayo Edebiri returned to the Met Gala with a thoughtful look. She worked with Maximilian Davis, creative director of Ferragamo, to craft a nicely tailored leather coat to go over a fitted white dress that was fashioned with coral beads, which have rich meaning in the Edo tribe. It was a tribute to Edebiri’s father and his wedding day outfit.

Demi Moore was a literal necktie

When Demi Moore showed up on the Met Gala’s blue carpet, commentators thought the look was okay, the black beaded Thom Browne dress was pretty, but they were confused as to what the halo thing around her head was. But then, after looking at their design notes, they realized the actress’ whole outfit was a literal necktie! A wonderful play on menswear on a night that was all about whimsy.

Stormzy looked dapper in clean look

Stormzy returned to the Met Gala in an effortless look from Tom Ford. The black high-waisted trousers were nicely tailored and the white dress shirt had a bit of a flow to it. Was it as good as the rap star’s all-white Burberry look from 2022? No. But it’s still cool and clean.

Maluma and Willy Chavarría pay homage to zoot suit

Willy Chavarría has been dominating the year with his New York Fashion Week show, adidas collabs and Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl merch. The designer again tapped into his Latin roots for the Met Gala. He and Colombian sensation Maluma strutted down the blue carpet in bright zoot suits, chains and wide-brimmed hats. The flowers they carried were the perfect accessory.

Cardi B is groovy in green

Another pop of color came courtesy of Cardi B. The rap star impressed in a velvet green ensemble from Burberry with beading on the trousers for a subtle hint of pizzazz. The overcoat flowed smoothly and the cummerbund made sure she was snatched.

Andre 3000 carries the Met Gala on his back

Besides André Leon Talley, another Andre was widely considered to embody the idea of dandyism throughout his career: André 3000. The rap star has been elusive the past few years, opting to play his flute on random street corners rather than be at celebrity functions. But fans were pleasantly surprised to see him pull up to the Met Gala, nonetheless with a piano strapped to his back. His jumpsuit was Burberry styled by Law Roach and he revived his own brand as benji bixby. He also released an EP called “7 piano sketches.” Go figure.