These dandies definitely understood the assignment!
The 2025 Met Gala celebrated the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 5, 2025 in New York City.
LOVE: Doechii sporting Louis Vitton print; Cynthia Erivo’s gem covered jacket; Colman Domingo’s cloak aka Leon Talley; Ncuti Gatwa, noble in purple; Jeremy Pope’s muscles; and Justice Smith’s stunning finger waves ala Josephine Baker.
The winner? Smart suits and jackets by Louis Vuitton gave us all a masterclass in dandyism.
Note: In the 1880s, Black dandys used fashion to position themselves in society after being subjected to racial segregation and discrimination.
Let’s take a brief moment to honor Gladys Bentley and André Leon Talley, two of our favorite dandys.
Gladys Bentley consistently and unapologetically broke the unspoken rules of gender norms. She did not hide the fact that she was a lesbian—she was proud and out in a time when social norms made it dangerous to be Black and Queer. A top entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance, she headlined at The Cotton Club and The Clam House where she openly flirted with the women in the audience.
André Leon Talley was the first African American male creative director and later Editor-at-Large at Vogue. His love for opulence, theatricality, and historical references brought a richness to fashion journalism and made the world take notice of the power of Black elegance. Talley died in 2022.
Live at the Met Gala 2025 with Vogue
Singer and actor Teyana Taylor, actor and producer La La Anthony, and actor and comedian Ego Nwodim hosted this year’s livestream.
The 2025 Met Gala livestream was hosted exclusively by Vogue and broadcast live across its digital platforms, as well as on YouTube. Watch the entire gala at www.vogue.com/article/watch-the-2025-met-gala-livestream.
