Inside Story

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.

Black Culture and Fashion Take Center Stage

As Because of Them We Can reports, for the first time in the event’s 77-year history, 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.

“Black style is really related to thinking about how fashion and power connect,” Miller said in a YouTube video about making Vogue’s Met Gala issue. “The way that people are styled or fashioned or fashioned themselves in response to the degree of agency that they feel.” Miller, who curated the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, brought Black dandyism into focus.

As NBC News reports, while the dandy was an 18th century term for a man who is meticulously dressed and appreciates the finer things in life, these days dandyism inspires myriad definitions. The dozens of Black actors, athletes, entertainers and other celebrities in the Vogue video described dandyism as everything from “Black excellence” to “confidence” to “expression.”  Black dandyism, which reaches at least as far back as the Harlem Renaissance from 1918 to the mid-1930s, celebrated life in times that were not socially or politically celebratory for Black people. Miller’s book illuminates that transformational power.  

Diljit Dosanjh Made his Grand and Historic Debut

In a moment of cultural pride and fashion history, global Indian superstar Diljit Dosanjh made a grand and historic debut at the Met Gala 2025, becoming the first Indian turban-wearing man to attend the iconic event. Dressed in a majestic Punjabi-inspired traditional outfit, Dosanjh paid tribute to his Punjabi heritage while making a bold fashion statement on one of the world’s most-watched red carpets. Dosanjh brought the vibrancy, richness, and legacy of Indian fashion to the forefront of global haute couture.

More than just a fashion statement, Diljit Dosanjh’s appearance represented a proud moment for the South Asian and Sikh communities worldwide. By wearing his turban on such a prestigious international platform, he broke new ground in cultural representation and redefined what global male style icons can look like.

Priyanka Chopra-Jonas Dons Enormous Bvlargi Emerald

Priyanka Chopra Jonas made jewelry history, not by her presence (it wasn’t her first rodeo), but with her jewelry. The actress, author, producer, and Bvlgari ambassador wore a piece from the Italian house that won’t officially make its debut until the end of May, when the Bvlgari High Jewelry collection is unveiled to press and clients at an event in Taormina, Italy. But the Met Gala is considered one of the most high profile red carpets of the year, hence this momentous preview.

The necklace Chopra Jonas wore to the event is centered around a rare emerald of 241.06 carats and is the largest faceted stone ever set by Bvlgari. It is inspired by the idea of harmony in diverse forms, specifically of the union between nature and design. It even has a name: the Magnus Emerald necklace. Chopra Jonas wore it with a Balmain Couture gown and with other Bvlgari High Jewelry pieces, including an emerald and diamond ring and diamond and platinum earrings.

Rihanna Debuts Baby Bump #3

Rihanna arrived to cheers and camera flashes at 10 p.m., close to an hour after the last attendees went inside the event. Though Mindy Kaling, Angel Reese and Megan Thee Stallion jetted out before her arrival, Rihanna’s entrance was not to be missed. With the Fenty Beauty founder’s newly announced baby bump on full display, Rihanna accentuated her curves with a voluminous pinstripe gown and a massive hat on top of her cascading braid.

Diana Ross’s Triumphant Return to the Blue Carpet

Forget about all those youngsters – Ms. Ross stole the show. For fashion’s biggest night, the Grammy-winning star – who had not been to the Met Gala in 22 years – wore a floor-grazing white crystal-embellished gown that quite literally took over the navy-blue carpet leading up the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The former Supreme completed the jaw-dropping look—which she designed herself—with a matching feather-boa-trimmed cape and a dramatic hat that towered above her signature voluminous curls.

She later revealed on the red carpet that the cape was embroidered with the names of all of her children and grandchildren. Multiple handlers had to help the superstar carry her dress up the stairs—but when you’re one of the world’s definitive divas, that’s the least that a couple of men can do!

Record Breaking Fundraising

Another record breaking moment: the legendary fashion event raised an unprecedented $31 million, the largest amount ever recorded in its 77-year legacy, The New York Times reports. But beyond the record-breaking fundraising and designer gowns, what will echo long after the flashes fade is the cultural shift this year represents. As Because of Them We Can reports, 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. The fashion certainly couldn’t, either. If you’d like to see ALL the blue carpet looks, PEOPLE magazine has them all for you here. If you’d like to hear one of the best fashion critiques around, check out Nicky Bell’s extensive rundown on Instagram.

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Photo Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock.com