The 2025 Met Gala might be over, but the buzz around it is still alive and kicking. Fashion lovers, art buffs and historians alike can’t stop chatting about the standout moments from the star-studded affair in New York City. Everyone’s trying to figure out who really stole the show this year.
The best-dressed celebs were those who truly embraced the theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” along with the dress code, Tailored for You. The co-chairs—A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo and Lewis Hamilton—each added their own unique twist to tailoring, presenting a modern take on suiting. A$AP Rocky showcased a stylish double-breasted technical wool jacket from his own AWGE label, inspired by the outdoor Marmot jackets he wore in his youth in Harlem. In an interview with Vogue during his fitting, he explained, “Marmots are a Harlem tradition. That was our teenage jacket.”
The night was filled with an impressive mix of blazers, pants and ties, from shorts suits (shoutout to Doechii in Louis Vuitton!) to formal tailcoats and even vests worn solo, suiting was definitely the star of the evening in all its diverse forms. But, many looks from incredible Black designers were also beyond worthy of a best-dressed nod this year.
Take Zuri Hall’s custom blazer gown by Baltimore’s own, Bishme Cromartie – it was a standout! Tems looked stunning in a vibrant piece by British-Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng, who’s known for flipping traditional silhouettes on their head. Since his days at Givenchy Homme in the ‘90s and being the first Black designer to open a shop on London’s Savile Row, he’s made a colossal mark on the fashion scene.
And how could we forget the legend herself, Diana Ross? Muva floated up the Met steps in a breathtaking Ugo Mozie design featuring an 18-foot train, all embroidered with the names of her children and grandchildren.
Overall, the event turned out to be one of the most stylish and unforgettable Met Gala carpets ever. It also didn’t hurt that all that Black excellence truly paid off in meaningful ways: it raised a record-breaking $31 million, making it the biggest fundraiser ever in the Met’s history.
This year’s theme focused on the vital role that clothing plays in defining Black identities, while emphasizing the emergence, importance and expansion of the Black dandy. It honored the reclaiming of this tradition where fashion serves as a powerful means of self-expression, an idea that dates back to the 18th century when slave owners would dress up their slaves to flaunt their wealth. Fast forward to Monday evening, many Black attendees honored that enduring legacy while presenting modern takes on the style. It was a bold tribute to the culture’s strength, resilience and creativity, and how fashion pioneers utilized clothing as a form of resistance against oppression.
“It means a lot to me because it represents all of us,” Colman Domingo told Good Morning America’s Deborah Roberts on the red carpet. “It’s like the idea of Dandyism, I think, it is a revolution.”
Mr. Domingo did not disappoint with his tribute to the late fashion icon, André Leon Talley, rocking an eye-catching blue Valentino cape.
Fellow attendees Regina King and Kerry Washington shared the same sentiment. “It’s just [a} connection to your ancestors,” King said. “You are able to stand up, lean on them.”
Washington added, “It’s about, you know, knowing that the world can be a difficult place, but you can still show up as your best self, and know that nobody can take your beauty and your value away.”
Fashion’s biggest night focused on the major impact that Black fashion has on the broader style landscape, once again countering the stereotype that Black people simply follow trends. Below, discover some of the best-dressed Black stars at the 2025 Met Gala, and how their influence and our history has made this event one of the most stylish and memorable occasions ever.
