While most of us are busy figuring out our Halloween costumes or stressing over Christmas shopping, the fashion world has moved on to its favorite holiday: the Met Gala. Yes, it feels like the last one just happened, but the Met Gala runs on its own calendar—one that’s all about outdoing the year before, with bigger themes and more outrageous outfits. And now, the 2025 theme is official: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
This year’s theme was announced on October 9, 2024, and it’s all about celebrating Black dandyism—specifically, how Black men’s fashion has shaped style from the 18th century to now. The exhibition takes its cues from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. Basically, it’s a deep dive into how Black men throughout history have mixed European tailoring with African aesthetics to create something totally unique and deeply influential.
The Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition will include garments, paintings, photographs, and more, all tracing the evolution of Black dandyism. And according to Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s curator in charge, this show is a major step toward diversifying the museum’s fashion exhibits. “The Met is committed to making fashion more accessible and inclusive,” Bolton said, noting that Black designers are at the forefront of redefining how we think about identity in fashion.
As for who’s co-chairing the gala this year? Pharrell Williams is back—this time alongside Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, and A$AP Rocky, with Anna Wintour holding her usual spot. Oh, and LeBron James will be joining as an honorary co-chair. No big deal, just one of the world’s most famous athletes helping to steer fashion’s most important night.
What should you expect on the red carpet? Tailoring will be huge. Think sharp suits, luxurious fabrics, and details that reference everything from Harlem Renaissance style to contemporary Black designers like Grace Wales Bonner and the late Virgil Abloh. If you’re already dreaming of who’ll wear what, imagine Janelle Monáe or Zendaya showing up in an androgynous tux with a modern twist—or maybe Pharrell pulling out something wild from the Louis Vuitton atelier.
But beyond just looking great, the theme comes with a political edge. Black dandyism has always been about more than just clothes—it’s a statement about self-expression, resistance, and reclaiming dignity through style. So, don’t be surprised if we see looks that tap into that history and make a bigger point.
The exhibition, which opens on May 10 and runs through October 26, 2025, will be the first men-focused show since Men in Skirts in 2003, and it’s already generating buzz for how it tackles race, gender, and fashion. With seven months to go before the big night, the clock is ticking—and everyone’s wondering just how next year’s stars will interpret Superfine: Tailoring Black Style on the world’s most exclusive red carpet.
