Met Gala 2025: The Best, Worst & Most Unforgettable Looks

We were recently invited to Kanpai Classic, the Japanese restaurant that opened last year in the heart of Soho, London, to experience first-hand the wonders of Wagyu and the art of Yakiniku cuisine. As the newest Japanese steakhouse on the scene, Kanpai Classic offers an extraordinary selection of 15 cuts of Wagyu beef — from delicate sliced cuts to richly marbled steaks — and presents them in ways both surprising and elegant, from Wagyu-topped sushi to indulgent caviar pairings. Opting for the 14-course Signature Wagyu Cuisine Omakase, I settled in for an unforgettable tasting journey through one of the most luxurious beef experiences available in London today. Kanpai, meaning “cheers” in Japanese, is more than clever branding. It’s a philosophy of hospitality woven into every corner of the experience. The moment you step inside Kanpai Classic, you’re enveloped by the aroma of gently sizzling beef, an intoxicating welcome that lingers in the air. Soft lighting dances across the dark interiors, while an open kitchen hums with quiet precision, framed by a glittering glass wine cellar. Even before the first bite, the mood is set: you are here to be transported. We were invited to experience the Signature Wagyu Cuisine Omakase , a 14-course tasting menu that reads like a love letter to Yakiniku — the Japanese art of grilling meat in small, exquisite bites. At Kanpai, this is done with an almost cinematic flair: each table is outfitted with its own smokeless charcoal grill, where your personal waiter cooks, guides, and educates you through the experience with graceful expertise. You can book the experience here , with 30% off food until 11 May during select hours. The journey begins with Wagyu Tallow Truffle Chips — a lesson in restraint and balance. The earthiness of truffle glides over the crisp, tallow-kissed chips, offering an elevated take on a familiar pleasure. Next arrives the Wagyu Treasure Caviar , an opulent arrangement of sea urchin, king crab, and salmon roe — a shimmering jewel box of the sea. By the time the Wagyu Tartare with celeriac purée and salmon roe arrives atop a sheet of crisp seaweed, you are fully immersed in Kanpai’s world of textural play and precision. Then comes the dish that divides — beef tongue — but in the hands of Kanpai’s chefs, skepticism melts away. The cut, taken from the middle and back where the fat marbles just so, yields a bite so tender and complex, it reshapes your understanding of this humble ingredient. The tempo picks up with the arrival of Sugatayaki Chuck Flap , dressed with Yakiniku sauce and garlic purée, and a trio of marvels: Negiyaki from the hind leg, with a house-made spring onion sauce that soaks into the just-seared meat; Karubi , the crown jewel of Yakiniku, its snowflake marbling melting into an umami crescendo; And Rib Finger (Geta) , a delightful dance of chewy, fatty, and lean, served with lettuce, miso sauce, and a spicy miso kicker. By the time the Mizoreyaki arrives — delicately grilled with grated daikon — the ritual of fire and flavour has become hypnotic. The Sugatayaki Tri Tip , grilled tableside and paired with Nanatsuboshi rice from Hokkaido, is a masterclass in simplicity: the meat speaks, the sauces whisper, and the wine — a silken pinot noir from Spy Valley, New Zealand — completes the conversation. The evening crescendos with the Moriawase Platter , showcasing three more cuts, each an ode to Wagyu’s incredible versatility. And just when you think you’ve reached the peak, a playful Wagyu Gyoza arrives, nestled in a delicate tomato Surinagashi soup with Japanese yam noodles. But it’s the final savoury course — the Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak, Filet Mignon, and Rump — that delivers the showstopper moment. The filet, so tender it nearly dissolves on the tongue; the rump, richly flavoured and assertive. It’s an unforgettable demonstration of why Wagyu has become the global symbol of indulgence. As a gesture of generosity, the chef sends out an off-menu Wagyu Beef Curry , its fatty richness infusing the sauce with a depth that lingers. Then, a thoughtful nod to tradition: Chicken Kamameshi Rice (a classic iron-pot rice served at the end of a meal), perfectly cooked and steeped in broth, the kind of simple perfection that punctuates a meal with quiet satisfaction. And finally, dessert: a dark chocolate soufflé , crowned with strawberry powder, raspberry jam, and delicate chocolate flakes. It’s less a sweet ending and more a joyful exclamation point, designed to be mixed, matched, and devoured in one perfectly indulgent spoonful. What elevates Kanpai Classic beyond its (already lofty) culinary ambitions is the passion that runs through the entire experience. The staff are not just servers; they are storytellers, educators, and guardians of a tradition honed over decades. It’s no surprise — the Kanpai Group, with 68 restaurants across Asia and a Michelin-starred Yakiniku outpost in Shanghai, has arrived in London with something to prove. For those eager to enter this world, there’s even more reason to book now: Kanpai Classic is offering 30% off food until May 11, in partnership with The Fork, for both lunch and select dinner seatings. In a city where culinary experiences are increasingly vying for your attention, Kanpai Classic doesn’t just demand it — it earns it. This is not a place you visit casually; it’s a destination for those who seek the rare, the refined, the truly exceptional. So here’s my advice: book the table , clear the evening, and let Kanpai Classic take you on a journey you won’t soon forget. Kanpai, indeed.

It’s the Super Bowl of fashion, it’s the fashion Olympics, it’s the night newly rising stars solidify their place on the world stage—or fall into oblivion. The stakes are high, and the heels are higher. Who is falling, and who is flying this season? This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” , is a revelatory exploration of Black dandyism—a style movement that redefined elegance, sophistication, and self-expression against the backdrop of historical and societal challenges. Dandyism, often associated with European aristocracy, was reclaimed and revolutionized by Black men in the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming it into an act of resistance, autonomy, and cultural pride. The accompanying dress code, “Tailored for You,” invites attendees to embrace their personal style through tailored silhouettes, reimagining the world of menswear. From Kim Kardashian’s audacious spin on the theme to Sabrina Carpenter’s chic take on classic tailoring, the red carpet was awash with statements both bold and beautifully restrained. Teyana Taylor pushed the envelope with an avant-garde silhouette, while Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in refined homage to Black sartorial heritage. Then came Diana Ross, dazzling in a self-designed creation that nodded to her iconic Mahogany era — a reminder that no one commands a room quite like Miss Ross. Throughout the night, celebrities paid tribute to Black fashion pioneers, weaving history and contemporary flair into looks that sparked conversation worldwide. As the evening wore on, it became crystal clear who nailed the brief — and who left us scratching our heads. Ahead, we break down the most buzzed-about looks of the night, from the showstopping triumphs to the ensembles that faltered under the spotlight. The Best The Boring List The Worst Dressed

The first Monday in May isn’t just another date on the fashion calendar — it’s the Met Gala, a night when celebrities, designers, and stylists converge on the Metropolitan Museum of Art for what’s arguably the most extravagant red carpet of the year. Unlike the Oscars or Cannes, the Met Gala thrives on spectacle, where the goal isn’t just to look polished, but to make a statement. It’s a night where fashion goes beyond beautiful gowns and sharp tailoring and dives into the realms of art, performance, and occasionally, pure chaos. This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style , promises to celebrate the craft, influence, and cultural impact of Black fashion. But before we get swept up in the anticipation, it’s worth looking back at the unforgettable moments that have defined the Met Gala over the years — because this isn’t a red carpet that rewards playing it safe. Rihanna’s sweeping yellow Guo Pei cape in 2015, Solange’s latex Iris van Herpen gown and halo in 2018, Sarah Jessica Parker’s tartan McQueen moment in 2006, and Kim Kardashian’s dripping wet-look Thierry Mugler dress in 2019 didn’t just stick to the brief — they set new standards. From Princess Diana’s sleek Dior slip in 1996 to Lady Gaga’s theatrical Brandon Maxwell striptease in 2019, these looks weren’t just fashion — they were cultural milestones. And whether it’s Zendaya’s light-up Cinderella moment, Bad Bunny’s daring Margiela, or Blake Lively’s dramatic Versace gown, the Met Gala’s greatest hits are the ones that continue to shape how we think about style, spectacle, and risk on the red carpet.

This spring, Saatchi Yates presents a solo exhibition of American painter Peter Saul, organised in collaboration with his New York gallery, Venus Over Manhattan. Known for his bold colours and satirical style, Saul turns his attention to the art world itself, offering a critical and often humorous examination of the systems and personalities that shape it. Spanning more than six decades, Saul’s career has produced around 800 paintings that blend elements of Cubism, Surrealism, and Expressionism. His work is often described as provocative, frequently combining cartoonish imagery with sharp social commentary. This exhibition brings together works from the 1960s to the present, offering an overview of Saul’s evolving critique of art, commerce, and the cultural forces around them. In Bad Day at the Gallery (2023), Saul depicts three agitated art dealers in a tangle of limbs, paintings, and cash. One pins a dollar bill to the wall as though it were a prized artwork; another holds a hammer between his teeth. The scene is chaotic and exaggerated, using humour to highlight the intersections of money and art—a recurring theme in Saul’s work. Woman Artist Painting Three Pictures at Once (2021) takes viewers into the studio, where a green-haired artist juggles three canvases, brushes flying from her hands, mouth, and even under her arm. Two male assistants struggle to keep up—one ducking under paint, the other caught mid-punch—offering a playful but pointed commentary on gender dynamics and the tropes of art history. Saul’s work has long challenged the conventions of contemporary painting. While he emerged during the rise of Abstract Expressionism, Saul developed a distinct visual language, influenced by Surrealism and early Pop Art, that often takes aim at politics, social movements, and popular culture. His paintings are included in major international collections, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. The decision to show Saul’s work at Saatchi Yates aligns with the gallery’s interest in presenting both emerging and established contemporary artists. Since its opening in Mayfair in 2020, and its subsequent move to St James’s, the gallery has developed a programme that brings together younger voices alongside artists with longstanding careers. Peter Saul’s exhibition at Saatchi Yates invites viewers to reflect on the art world’s inner workings, from the commercial pressures that shape it to the myths that continue to circulate around artists themselves. With its combination of humour and critique, the show offers a timely and relevant look at the cultural landscape. Peter Saul is currently on view at Saatchi Yates, St James’s, London, until June 9th.

Some plays dazzle you from the first moment; Paper Swans enchants you gradually, drawing you into its strange, delicate world until you’re utterly spellbound. Staged at Soho Theatre, this one-hour piece written and performed by Vyte Garriga is part absurdist theatre, part slow-motion ballet, part dream you don’t want to wake from. It begins quietly: a woman in a tutu folding paper swans on a park bench, a security guard trying to coax her away. They circle each other, again and again, caught in a looping encounter that subtly shifts with each repetition. Our rating: 5/5 The magic lies in how it builds. Without realising, you’re pulled deeper into their hypnotic push and pull — so much so that when the actors finally take their bows, you’re startled the hour has flown by. Garriga is captivating to watch, every tiny movement charged with meaning, while Daniel Chrisostomou’s guard moves from comic to quietly heartbreaking. Director Simon Gleave keeps the staging minimalist, allowing the intensity of the performances to shine, and Nick Hart’s beautifully understated score adds a shimmer of atmosphere, weaving in echoes of Lithuanian folk music. Paper Swans doesn’t offer easy answers. It invites you to reflect: on freedom, identity, trauma, the cycles we’re all caught in. Inspired by Vyte Garriga’s own experience as a Lithuanian artist in the UK, it’s a piece that lingers long after you’ve left the theatre — haunting, thought-provoking, and quietly bold. If you’re craving an experience that’s both beautiful and layered, Paper Swans is not to be missed. It runs at Soho Theatre from 28 April to 3 May 2025. For tickets, visit sohotheatre.com .

In what can only be described as a meeting of British craftsmanship and motorsport heritage, Brixton-based footwear brand Duke + Dexter is joining forces with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team for a limited-edition capsule collection, timed to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Best known for reimagining classic styles — including their cult penny loafers — for a modern audience, Duke + Dexter has steadily expanded into apparel with a distinctly vintage touch. Now, they’re stepping fully into the fast lane. The collaboration builds on the success of Duke Racing, the brand’s first foray into motorsport-inspired fashion, and marks a natural progression: a collection that fuses the technical precision of Formula One with the relaxed confidence of British streetwear. Launching on 30 April to coincide with the opening of the Miami Grand Prix, the drop features four hero pieces. Expect graphic tees and racing jackets stamped with Duke Racing iconography in Alpine’s unmistakable pink; vintage-style jerseys emblazoned with driver Pierre Gasly’s number 10; and, perhaps most notably, the first co-branded edition of the recently released "Plus Duke" sneakers. Designed with a nod to Duke + Dexter’s signature loafers, the sneakers include a removable lace guard and a screen-printed Alpine “A” logo — a detail clearly designed to resonate with motorsport obsessives and sneaker collectors alike. Speaking about the collaboration, Archie Hewlett, Founder of Duke + Dexter, said: “We’ve had ties to F1 and racing since the very early stages of the brand — an iconic world and lifestyle I've always loved. It was the theme of our first apparel collection: D+D Racing. So when BWT Alpine Formula One Team reached out about designing a capsule together, it felt like a no-brainer — especially with our connection to Michael B. Jordan, who's now an investor in the team.” It’s a smart play for both parties. While Alpine may have French roots, its operations in Enstone, Oxfordshire, point to a shared British sensibility — and a mutual appreciation for sharp engineering, whether in the form of race cars or hand-finished footwear. An Alpine team spokesperson called the project a "perfect synergy," pointing to the collection’s blend of “classic heritage through a modern lens.” It’s a phrase that neatly captures both brands’ ambitions: to honour legacy without getting stuck in the past. While Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix may be relatively new, it has quickly become one of the sport’s most high-profile events, with a celebrity-studded paddock and a distinctly fashion-forward crowd. For Duke + Dexter, it’s the perfect place to show off a collection that feels as at home at a race track as it does at a rooftop party later that night. The collaboration also nods to a broader shift in Formula One’s cultural cachet. Thanks to the rise of driver profiles and an increasingly global fanbase, F1 is no longer just a petrolhead’s pursuit — it's now firmly part of the fashion conversation.