The first Monday in May has become one of fashion’s most-watched and iconic nights. Last night, A-listers and industry leaders alike took to the dandelion-adorned blue carpet to showcase their top-of-the-line looks. The annual fundraising gala thrown by Vogue, Anna Wintour, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition serving as this year’s theme titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This theme draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The exhibition is broken into twelve sections, each representing a characteristic that defines “dandy style,” which inspired each set of looks for the night. With a highlight on expert tailoring and suiting, which happens to be one of the season’s most forward trends, the stars showed this theme with innovative, classic, and daring looks – from glistening gowns to head-turning dresses, here’s a few of this year’s standout moments.
The night kicked off with Teyana Taylor being the first to take the carpet in a dramatic custom Marc Jacobs suiting look draped with a red, jewel-embellished cape and coordinating feather-embossed top hat complete with a walking cane while Emma Chamberlain followed her up in a pinstripe suit-inspired dress with mesh gloves and a long train by Courrèges. Arguably one of this year’s best, Diana Ross made a surprise arrival after a 22-year hiatus in one of the most dramatic looks of the night – a glistening silver and white, hand-beaded gown with an extra long 18-foot cape and train that covered almost the entirety of the Met steps adorned with feathers and embroidered with her family’s names and a hat to match. The dress is proudly from Ross’ personal archives. Nicole Kidman stunned in a sweeping, custom Balenciaga couture gown that paid homage to Earth Kit, an iconic black Hollywood movie star. The vintage-inspired look was complete with short black gloves and an edgy hairstyle. Lana Del Rey made her way onto the carpet dressed in a remarkable Valentino gown by newly appointed Creative Director, Alessandro Michele. The color blocking dress features a giant feather detail on the shoulder of her velvet bodice that descended to a satin skirt. A sheer lace panel adorns the back giving this piece a sexy finish.
Demi Moore leaned into the theme, literally, when she wore a dress shaped as a neck tie featuring over one million beads designed by Thom Browne. Another highlight of the evening, Jodie Turner Smith turned heads in an oxblood Burberry look with a top hat and a tailored, oversized leather overcoat with thigh-high boots. Madonna channeled her old school, androgynous self and wore a crisp satin suit made by Hader Ackermann at Tom Ford. Pamela Anderson stunned in an iridescent silver metallic gown by Tory Burch hand-sculpted with boned interior, corsetry, and a floating neckline making this piece like futuristic yet ethereal. Zendaya showed up in true Zendaya fashion in a custom white, impeccably tailored Louis Vuitton suit with a matching oversized hat. While the suit played off a masculine trend, the fitted tailoring juxtaposed her look to give a sexy and feminine silhouette. Gigi Hadid paid homage to Josephine Baker, the first black actress to star in a major film, in a liquid gold metallic gown by Miu Miu with teardrop jewel adornments all over. Kylie Jenner channeled old Hollywood glamour in Ferragamo with a constructed dress highlighting tailoring and corsetry in a stunning gown with mesh gloves, a mesh bodice, and a wool skirt that mirrors that of men’s suiting. Cynthia Erivo made her way through a look by Givenchy with a long black train and multi-colored bodice. Sydney Sweeney arrived in a tone-on-tone black crystal dress by Miu Miu that gave off a Jazz age-inspired energy.
Lorde, who has been currently teasing her long-awaited album release, attended the star-studded night in a stain blue Thom Browne look featuring a two piece set made up with ribbed bandeau and matching maxi skirt that laces up the back paired with a coordinating oversized blazer jacket. Anne Hathway arrived alongside Wes Gordon, Creative Director of Carolina Herrera, in a two-piece look by him – a white collared shirt worn with a shimmering striped maxi skirt. Classic and tailored to the theme, airing on the side of casual. Black-and-white continued to be a consistent theme for the night, with both Jenni and Hunter Schaefer arriving in Chanel looks curated within that color palette. Sabrina Carpenter stepped out looking tailored and flirty in a Louis Vuitton tuxedo-inspired bodysuit with a matching cropped blazer. Tracee Ellis Ross punctuated the black-and-white looks with a bright pink larger-than-life pink tonal suit complete with an oversized bow while Doechi made her Met Gala debut in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton in the form of a short jacket blazer with the House’s signature logo and their checkered shorts. Sofia Richie Grange wore a white bow-tied dress by Tommy Hilgifger – a fitted satin gown inspired by a men’s white tuxedo. Also, like Tracee’s, complete with an oversized bow in the back.
After a highly successful year and straight from four sold-out shows in Brooklyn, Charli XCX arrived in an all black two-piece set complete with feathers custom made by Ann Demeulemeester. Kendall Jenner wore a sophisticated, tailored grey suiting set by up-and-coming black designer Torishéju. Hallee Berry strutted onto the carpet in a mesh striped form-fitting gown by LaQuan Smith with a cropped overcoat. Laura Harrier stole the crowd in a breathtaking look by Zac Posen at GapStudio. The all white look featured silk extra wide leg trousers paired with an oversized fitted vest and long sheer blouson sleeves. An ethereal yet dramatic look with an emphasis on movement. Kim Kardashian arrived in an alligator-like leather two-piece set by Chrome Hearts with a coordinating hat. Ms. Lauryn Hill closed out the show with an extravagant butter yellow suit with a major cape moment.
