Met Gala 2025: Superfine Black Dandyism Heritage

Fashion’s biggest night returns on May 5 with the 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, a tribute to Black dandyism as a form of cultural resistance, identity, and artistic expression 

Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s Slaves to Fashion, this year’s Costume Institute exhibit explores how refined tailoring became a radical act for the Black diaspora, from 18th-century enslaved tailors asserting dignity, to today’s boundary-breaking designers.

Tailors at work, Frances Benjamin Johnston (American, 1864–1952), 1899–1900; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Gift of Lincoln Kirstein (859.1965.86).John Wronn

At HAY-HAY, we’re captivated by the way clothes carry heritage. This gala will spotlight twelve facets of Black dandyism - Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism, each revealing how style shapes stories of resilience and creativity. 

Willy Chavarria FALL 2025. Photo: Photographed by Acielle / Style Du Monde

Why it matters now

In an era demanding genuine diversity, “Superfine” centers Black voices in fashion, honoring a lineage of innovators who turned imposed European menswear into symbols of empowerment. From zoot suits in Harlem to contemporary collections by Pharrell Williams and Grace Wales Bonner, this is heritage tailored for the global stage.

Zoot Suits: Teenager in a “zoot suit”. 1943; Cab Calloway, Rue des Archives/ Granger, NYS; Rayfield McGhee, 1942

Inspired by the theme, HAY-HAY is curating a special collection of pieces that echo the sophistication, symbolism, and legacy of Black dandyism. From sharp tailoring and bold silhouettes to handcrafted accessories rooted in heritage, each item pays homage to the spirit of “Superfine.”

Join us as we trace the stitch-by-stitch evolution of Black elegance, where every seam tells a story of resistance, innovation, and pride. Because at the Met Gala, fashion isn’t just worn; it’s remembered.

Printed scarf; Black blazer; Reversible hat; Printed necktie; Black shirt; Ceramic green and white brooches; Black cardigan; Sleeveless blazer; Hematite necklace and bracelet.