Every first Monday of May, you can find me in comfy PJs with an iPad open to Vogue’s livestream of the Met Gala and my fingers scrolling between TikTok, Instagram and X to keep myself as updated as possible.
The theme of this year’s Met Gala exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is based on the book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity” written by Monica L. Miller. A total of 12 sections, each one representing a characteristic of dandyism and dandy style: ownership, presence, distinction, disguise, freedom, champion, respectability, jook, heritage, beauty, cool and cosmopolitan.
Colman Domingo quoted George C. Wolfe at a press conference before the Met Gala:
“God created Black people and Black people created style.”
This year was culturally significant with a full Black host committee, excluding Anna Wintour, and many notable black artists walking the blue carpet, and I loved every minute of it.
Here’s how this is going to work: with 306 attendees, and it looks there’s only so much room we can cover, here are six of my favorites.
John Imah
I had no idea who you were before this Monday, but oh, I think you were my favorite menswear look. The founder and CEO of SpreeAI, Mr. Imah also knows how to serve looks. Dressed by Sergio, Hudson Imah’s look was not shy of color, presence, heritage and distinction. The stark presence of the lilac color throughout his suit and cape-like jacket, nails studded with oversized metals and big chunky orange beads around his neck in this look captivated me.
Dapper Dan
A fashion legend, of course, turned up to this year’s Met in his own design. He wore a sequin-covered zoot suit embellished with reminders of his home in Harlem. The Sankofa bird emblem on the back of his suit refers to an expression in Ghana, “Go back and get it!” My understanding of the expression is that you can’t be afraid of going back to your past to understand and come back with what you forgot to move forward. Dan’s whole outfit related to this message with his pinky ring holding a pyramid-cut diamond in reference to the Italians of Harlem and a multi-strand gold chain necklace referencing the Latinos and West Indians of the neighborhood.
Burna Boy
An exuded champion, and for some reason, he’s receiving hate for it online. With a yellow dress shirt, dark red suit, tie and matching oxblood eelskin cape, this is a man who is not afraid of expression, and in my opinion, life’s not just full of black and whites, so normal people, please expand your color palette! Let me remind you of the Gala’s theme, “Tailored for you: embracing looks reflective of one’s personal style”. Who cares if you don’t like the color Burna decided—this was a reflection of himself, and I think it was a powerful display of African design.
Ugbad Abdi
A Somali, Muslim, Hijabi supermodel, Abdi is the current pinnacle of representation in fashion. She worked with Michael Kors to create her look inspired by one of the ultimate fashion dandies, Andre Leon Talley, who passed in 2022. Inspired by Talley’s cape obsession and dramatic flair, Abdi wore a stunning, sleeveless, silver paisley-patterned cape lined with fur on top of a gemstone suit and pants with a tuxedo tie, keeping her sharp. In reflecting the themes of the dandy characteristics, Abdi oozed cosmopolitanism, disguise and ownership.
Laura Harrier
Wearing a custom Gap outfit by Zac Posen, Harrier was ethereally dandy. I think this is a perfect representation of the fluidity of dandy style and how it allows for so much expression. The silk white pants, cream vest and poofing sleeves were so well structured, but instead of giving rigid, it gave an elegant angel with wings.
Teyana Taylor
The mother of the carpet and I will die on that hill. While most of everyone did the theme justice, Teyana served the theme with camp. Her pinstripe suit was an ode to the Zoot suit, an icon of Black culture in the 30s and 40s. Her cape was a showstopper with “Harlem Rose” stitched on it, and someone referred to her outfit as “Harlem Renaissance,” and I couldn’t agree more. Taylor was hands down the boldest dandy look on the blue carpet.
Just for a little extra critique fun, here are some looks I wasn’t really feeling.
Eaddy Kiernan Bunzel
Wearing Balmain, a black dress made to look like a deconstructed tux or suit? I’m not sure she, or whoever styled her from Balmain, understood that the tailoring aspect meant it should look flattering.
Law Roach
This one pains me, but sometimes the stylists don’t do justice to themselves. This year, he unveiled a new blonde look as well as a velvet, custom-made Burberry suit. I’m unsure if the blonde is completely throwing me off or if the velvet is rumpy, but this wasn’t a hit for Mr. Roach, who I usually love.
Sofia Richie
Her whole rebrand is this soft, clean girl style, but I feel like the Met Gala would be an exception to the norm. She wore a well-tailored, white Tommy Hilfiger tied by a large bow in the back. It was understated, which is gorgeous, but this is a night of style, and comfort zones should have been left at the Carlyle.
Polishing off the night with some honorary mentions and Met Gala debuts.
Lauryn Hill debuted in a butter yellow suit with a structured cape, Doechii wore a Louis Vuitton short suit tailored to be cool and Keith Powers in BOSS wore his suit with beautiful jewels and chain details.
Shah Rukh Khan debuted as the first male Bollywood actor at the Met Gala wearing Sabyasachi. And if I have to tell you who he is (cough, cough, the most famous man globally), then, reader, you’ve disappointed me as much as the interviewers did Monday night. Go do some research.
To put a bow on all this, fashion’s biggest night had a turnout of looks I loved more than I hated. This year mattered more because it wasn’t just a night of dressing to impress but a night to elevate Black culture and spotlight representation.
