Black Excellence Takes Center Stage at Historic Met Gala/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The 2025 Met Gala made history by celebrating Black style and designers for the first time, blending fashion with cultural reverence and powerful messages about identity and resilience.
Met Gala 2025 Celebrates Black Style: Quick Looks
- Theme First: The Gala spotlighted Black fashion and designers in a historic first
- Star Voices: Spike Lee, Whoopi Goldberg, and Baz Luhrmann praised the overdue tribute
- Powerful Exhibit: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” explored Black menswear and dandyism
- Tributes Made: André Leon Talley was honored for his lasting influence
- Cultural Relevance: Guests said the night sent a timely message on diversity
- Aesthetic Design: Guests dined under suspended petals and narcissus-inspired installations
- New Faces: First-time attendees expressed awe and inspiration
- Musical Moments: Live orchestras and brass bands added soulful flair
Black Excellence Takes Center Stage at Historic Met Gala
Deep Look
NEW YORK — Under a ceiling of cascading floral petals and surrounded by stars of fashion, film, and art, the 2025 Met Gala made history by placing Black style, designers, and cultural identity at the heart of fashion’s biggest night.
“We’re here now, that’s what matters,” said director Spike Lee, his signature Knicks cap matching his orange glasses as he surveyed the Met’s Great Hall during cocktail hour. This year’s Met Gala marked a powerful milestone: for the first time, the gala formally celebrated Black style and the designers behind it.
The evening centered around the new Costume Institute exhibit, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, which traces the evolution of Black menswear from the 1700s to the present through the lens of dandyism — a concept encompassing bold self-expression, elegance, and resistance through fashion.
“This is a monumental night,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, praising the decision to highlight diversity “at the highest cultural level” while such values are being “undermined by the highest office in the land.”
Style Meets Substance
The gala’s message resonated deeply with attendees like Baz Luhrmann, who reflected on the cultural omission the event sought to correct.
“Why hasn’t this light been shone before?” the director asked while browsing the exhibit, curated by Barnard professor Monica L. Miller, author of Slaves to Fashion, the definitive work on Black dandyism.
Whoopi Goldberg, draped in a full Thom Browne ensemble from mini top hat to spats, was there in honor of her late friend and fashion icon André Leon Talley — whose signature caftan featured in the exhibit. “They did him proud,” Goldberg said. “This is exactly how he should be remembered.”
Defining Dandyism
Each guest brought their own interpretation of dandyism. For Spike Lee, it meant “doing your own thing.” For Audra McDonald, it was about reclaiming identity. Sharpton called it “silent activism,” a refusal to bow despite adversity.
“Even in the midst of being in a socially limited situation,” Sharpton said, “we celebrate — we rise.”
Alex Newell, attending their third consecutive Met Gala, said it was the most personally meaningful:
“To be represented in this way — now, when it’s needed most — is everything.”
A Celestial Welcome
The Met’s Great Hall was transformed with thousands of silky narcissus-like petals suspended from the ceiling, echoing the myth of Narcissus and reflecting pools below. An orchestra, backed by gospel-style singers, welcomed guests with soulful renditions of Al Green and Stevie Wonder classics.
Some guests explored the exhibit. Others mingled in the Engelhard Court under starry lighting, sipping cocktails beneath the floral sky.
Sarah Snook, now starring as all 26 characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway, wore an aristocratic black suit nodding to one of history’s great dandies — Oscar Wilde. “Oscar would be pleased,” she smiled.
Awe and Inspiration
Newcomers to the gala were visibly moved. Model Christian Latchman, just 19, described the experience as “astonishment.” His image graces the cover of the exhibit’s hardcover catalog.
Keith Powers, a first-time guest, admitted feeling overwhelmed:
“It’s intimidating, inspiring, and surreal — all at once.”
A Sonic Send-Off to Dinner
The transition to dinner was led by the High and Mighty Brass Band, filling the museum with horns, drums, and joy. Guests then made their way to the meal curated by chef Kwame Onwuachi:
- Starter: Papaya piri piri salad
- Main course: Creole roasted chicken with lemon emulsion, BBQ greens, and honey-curry cornbread
- Dessert: A playful take on childhood nostalgia — cosmic brownie with powdered sugar doughnut mousse
The dinner also featured a live performance, adding a final layer of sensory indulgence to an evening already rich with texture, sound, and meaning.
A Cultural Reclamation
The 2025 Met Gala did more than celebrate fashion. It served as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Black creative contributions — not just to style, but to resistance, identity, and global culture.
As Spike Lee hinted, the night wasn’t just about the past — but about setting a precedent for the future:
“There will be reverberations around the world.”
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