Met Gala attendees, prepare your best ensembles!
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced the dress code for its highly anticipated fashion celebration this May: “Tailored for You.” This theme reflects the upcoming exhibit that spotlights suiting and menswear, particularly highlighting Black styles throughout history.
This year marks the first time in over two decades that the Met Gala will showcase an exhibition entirely dedicated to menswear. The chosen theme invites a diverse range of interpretations, paying homage to the evolution of Black fashion in menswear over the years.
Additionally, the Costume Institute revealed on Tuesday the reintroduction of a long-held tradition—a “host committee.” This new group of prominent figures enhances the previously disclosed gala hosts, which include Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and LeBron James. The esteemed Vogue editor Anna Wintour will once again guide the event.
The newly formed committee comprises an array of influencers from different domains: athletes such as Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens, Angel Reese, and Sha’Carri Richardson; filmmakers like Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, and Regina King; actors Ayo Edebiri, Audra McDonald, and Jeremy Pope; musicians Doechii, Usher, Tyla, Janelle Monáe, and André 3000; notable author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; artists Jordan Casteel, Rashid Johnson, and Kara Walker; playwrights Jeremy O. Harris and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins; and fashion icons Grace Wales Bonner, Edward Enninful, Dapper Dan, and Olivier Rousteing.
Prominent chef Kwame Onwuachi will curate a special menu for the gala. This annual event, which serves as a major fundraiser for the Costume Institute, set a record last year by raising over $26 million. The gala not only celebrates fashion but also inaugurates the spring exhibit. This year’s display, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will be available for six months, a longer duration than recent exhibitions, and draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s scholarly work, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”
Usher expressed that the theme of this year’s gala is particularly relevant and celebrates the richness of Black culture. Richardson further emphasized that Black style transcends mere clothing; it’s about movement, presence, and storytelling. Both of these remarks were part of a statement released by the Met.
The museum explains that the exhibition will provide a cultural and historical analysis of Black style, tracing its development from the 18th century to the present day through the lens of dandyism. Miller, a professor at Barnard College and guest curator, paired with the Met’s eminent curator Andrew Bolton, noted that during the late 1700s, “dandies” were characterized by their meticulous attention to their attire.
Miller elaborated that definitions of dandyism range from strict adherence to sartorial elegance to extravagant and flamboyant styles. This exhibit will specifically explore Black dandyism, in addition to illustrating how the African American community has historically harnessed fashion to reshape their identities.
Artists Torkwase Dyson and Iké Udé will contribute to the exhibit’s design, with Dyson employing her recognizable “hypershapes” to create impressive sculptures or “architectural zones.” Udé will curate a section that pays tribute to Julius Soubise, an early Black dandy who defied societal conventions in 18th-century London.
The exhibition will be divided into 12 distinct sections, each embodying a unique attribute associated with “dandy” style: ownership, presence, distinction, disguise, freedom, champion, respectability, jook, heritage, beauty, cool, and cosmopolitanism.
The Met Gala is set for May 5, with “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” opening to the public from May 10 to October 26.
