Stars Shine at Met Gala Celebrating Black Dandyism
News Desk
Islamabad: The Met Gala, New York’s most prestigious fashion event, brought together Hollywood, music, sports, and fashion’s brightest stars on Monday. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” highlighted the subversive elegance of Black dandyism, exploring its rich and complex history. The event also marks the opening of a related exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
The gala, held annually on the first Monday in May, has become one of the most anticipated events on the global fashion calendar, attracting celebrities from across various industries.
Co-chairs of the event, Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, led the early arrivals alongside Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue. Domingo paid tribute to the late Andre Leon Talley, Vogue’s first Black creative director, wearing a striking royal blue Valentino cape with a sparkling white collar, paired with a black and gold jacket and grey tweed trousers.
Hamilton turned heads in a sharp cream suit and matching backward cap, accessorized with diamonds on his lapel, cuffs, and ears. Musician and designer Pharrell Williams also made an impression in a pearl-encrusted white jacket and flared black tuxedo trousers.
Tailored suits, jeweled brooches, canes, and stylish hats were in full display, setting the tone for the evening’s celebration of dandyism. Among the women in attendance, actress Teyana Taylor stole the show in a black suit with red pinstripes and a dramatic red coat.
Rapper Doechii made a bold statement in a Louis Vuitton cream shorts suit with burgundy accents, while actress Zendaya, known for her stunning Met Gala looks, wowed in a slim white suit with a wide-brimmed hat. Last to arrive was Rihanna, who revealed she was pregnant with her second child, stunning in an all-black ensemble.
The Met Gala’s focus on Black dandyism holds significant cultural weight, especially in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement and ongoing debates over diversity and inclusion.
The event underscores the importance of Black representation in fashion and culture, with the exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exploring how Black men have historically used dandyism as a form of defiance, empowerment, and social mobility.
The exhibit draws inspiration from Barnard professor Monica Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, which details the emergence of Black dandyism in the 18th century and its evolution through movements like the Harlem Renaissance.
This year’s gala also marks a significant step in the Costume Institute’s spotlight on male fashion, particularly Black designers and artists. The Met Gala, which began in 1948 as an exclusive gathering for New York’s elite, has evolved into a high-profile fundraiser for the Costume Institute. The museum expects to raise $31 million this year.
