The theme of the 2025 Met Gala has been announced

The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art has revealed the theme for the 2025 Met Gala: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The exhibition will explore the rich history of Black dandyism, highlighting the role of fashion in African American culture. This will be the Costume Institute's first exhibition solely dedicated to Black American designers and the first in over twenty years to focus on menswear. Andrew Bolton, the head curator of the Costume Institute, explained that the theme aims to spark discussions on the intersections of ethnicity, identity, and fashion. The exhibition explores the concept of the "dandy"—historically embodied by figures such as Beau Brummell in Regency England—and examines its evolution within the context of African American culture. Bolton worked closely with Monica L. Miller, professor of African studies at Barnard College, who participated as a guest curator and authored the book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, which provided much of the conceptual framework for the exhibition. Scheduled for May 5, 2025, the gala will inaugurate the exhibition, which will open to the public on May 10. The dress code for the event has yet to be revealed, but predictions suggest that this evening will be an opportunity to shine for all designers from the Black community—hopefully including independent and emerging talents.

The exhibition will offer an immersive experience structured around twelve distinct themes such as “ownership,” “caricature,” and “cosmopolitanism.” It will illustrate the tradition of Black dandyism in both Britain and the United States from the 18th century to the present day. The clothing and accessories will be paired with artworks, videos, and historical documents. For example, a velvet livery worn by an enslaved servant in Maryland will be displayed alongside a contemporary suit by Grace Wales Bonner, adorned with cowrie shells, a symbol of African heritage and currency. Pieces from around 30 designers will be featured, including Virgil Abloh, Olivier Rousteing, Grace Wales Bonner, and Foday Dumbuya. The installations will also showcase visual works by renowned artists, such as Iké Udé as a special consultant and Tyler Mitchell, the first African American photographer to shoot a cover for Vogue, who will curate the photography for the catalog. ASAP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour will be the co-chairs of the 2025 Met Gala, while LeBron James will serve as honorary chair. Louis Vuitton will be the main sponsor, with support from Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Africa Fashion International, and Tyler Perry. The dinner menu will be curated by Nigerian-American chef Kwame Onwuachi.