It was a night of cultural reverence!
The 2025 Met Gala didn’t just make headlines—it made history with the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” based on the recently published Met Museum book of the same name by Barnard College professor Dr. Monica L. Miller. The legendary fashion event raised an unprecedented $31 million, the largest amount ever recorded in its 77-year legacy, The New York Times reports.
For the first time, the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition was entirely dedicated to Black culture and fashion, with a sharp focus on the art of Black menswear and 300 years of Black Dandyism. This year’s theme marks a bold departure from the institution’s Eurocentric past and a long-overdue celebration of designers and creators of color. It is also one of the rare exhibitions to center men’s fashion, highlighting the artistry, innovation, and elegance that Black men have brought to the style landscape across centuries.
With the exhibit as its centerpiece, the 2025 gala drew an exceptional lineup of Black excellence. Co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams—with LeBron James serving as honorary chair. The evening brought out some of the most influential figures in entertainment, sports, and fashion, from Stevie Wonder to Spike Lee, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and a surprise appearance from Andre 3000. Their presence on the famed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art wasn’t just about couture—it was a declaration that Black culture, particularly Black style, is worthy of study and essential to the global conversation.
Domingo held a press conference ahead of the big event to discuss the moment’s importance and pay homage to some notable figures in contemporary Black Dandyism before quoting renowned playwright George C. Wolfe.
“I stand here on the shoulders of André Leon Talley, of Bayard Rustin, of Dapper Dan, of Ozwald Boateng, of Sidney Poitier, Prince, Harry Belafonte, James Baldwin, and so many others. There’s a quote from the great George C. Wolfe that I’d love to share, ‘God created Black people and Black people created style,’” said Domingo.
With individual tickets reportedly costing $75,000 and tables starting at $350,000, the night was poised to garner enormous philanthropic contributions to the institute. Major sponsors like TikTok, Instagram, and Louis Vuitton also threw their weight behind the event as funders and amplifiers. Though the glamour often overshadows the purpose, the gala remains the lifeblood of the Costume Institute, the only department at the Met required to fund its own operations.
But beyond the record-breaking fundraising and designer gowns, what will echo long after the flashes fade is the cultural shift this year represents. While this year’s gala didn’t land without its fair share of valid critique, excluding scholars like Shantrelle P. Lewis, who laid the groundwork for much of the scholarly work on global Black Dandyism today, the “Superfine” exhibit still worked to serve as both tribute and triumph. A homage to the tailors, the trendsetters, the icons, and the everyday people who have defined and redefined Black fashion, menswear, and masculine presenting aesthetics and elegance on their own terms. Still, the centering of Black creativity made for even more fanfare for this gala, and that much could not be denied.
As Barbara Paxton of BoardStrong reflected, “Would all those people be showing up and giving money to the Metropolitan Museum if they weren’t sitting next to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky? Probably not.”
But perhaps the better question is: Would the Met Gala be what it is today without Black culture driving the style, sound, and spectacle? After this year, the answer is clear, and they’ve got double-digit millions to prove it.
Cover photo: Met Gala Raises Record-Breaking $31 Million, Most Ever in Seven Decade History of Event/Photo credit: Getty Images