The first Monday in May is a hallowed day for fashion lovers everywhere, as it is the day of the Met Gala. On Monday, May 5, celebrities donned their finest attire and flocked to the Costume Institute’s annual fundraiser, turned cultural event. The night is always covered in the media, leading to discourse amongst viewers.
Every year, the Met Gala has a theme that attendees’ outfits are supposed to follow. This year’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style celebrated black dandism. The Gala’s co-chairs were Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams; Lebron James was the honorary co-chair.
Going into the night, I was concerned that the theme could lead to some celebrities wearing problematic looks or appropriating cultures. Luckily, my fears did not manifest. The online consensus was that celebrities respected the theme and allowed black men, the night’s honorees, to shine.
I agree that the gala’s stars were men, which starkly contrasts with other red carpet events where it feels like they all look the same (black tux, black tie, black shoes – boring). I saw all sorts of beautifully tailored suits, which allowed men to express themselves through fashion. The theme was successful and inspired all kinds of creativity.
To properly report on the event, I watched Vogue’s official live stream from my home since my invite to the gala somehow got lost in the mail. I have rounded up the standout looks from the night and compiled a list of the good, bad and plain ugly. Let’s start with the best looks of the night!
Damson Idris
To be frank, I’m not 100% sure who Damson Idris is; what I am 100% sure of is that his outfit and its reveal were among the best from the Met Gala. Idris took a page out of co-chair Lewis Hamilton’s playbook, driving up to the gala in an F1 car and jumpsuit, before dramatically stripping down to a crisp red suit. Idris’s look was polished, and his outfit change was incredibly smooth. I hope to see him on many more red carpets in the future!
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton had a very eventful start to May, competing in the Miami Grand Prix (and capturing third place during the sprint race!), and then flying to New York City for the Gala the next day. As a race car driver, Hamilton is undoubtedly used to the rush, and seemed calm, relaxed, and incredibly well put together on the red carpet. The F1 driver looked dapper in a white suit containing many elements such as pearls and brooches. His outfit was on point and perfectly followed the theme of the Met Gala.
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid’s dress was absolutely stunning and was my favorite look from a woman all night. Her dress looks fluid, as if she were wearing liquid gold, not fabric. Her hair and makeup make her look like a mix between a 1940s pin-up model and a Bond girl. Everything about her look is sheer perfection.
Bad Bunny
I need to give a quick shout-out to my favorite accessory of the night, worn by Bad Bunny. The singer wore a modern rendition of a straw jibaro hat worn by Puerto Rican farmers. As a fellow Puerto Rican, I really enjoyed seeing how Bad Bunny used his outfit to embrace his heritage.
As always, not everyone’s looks can be perfect. While most celebrities got through the night without any issues, there were several fashion faux pas at this year’s Met Gala.
Zendaya and Anna Sawai
I spy with my little eye a pair of twins. Both Zendaya and Anna Sawai wore matching suits and identical white granny gardening hats. While I am a fan of their outfit, the fact that they both wore the same thing detracted from the look.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry’s Met Gala look was divisive and made many people online feel “grossed out” with its revealing nature. I feel the term “grossed out” is an overstatement that would not have been made if a younger celebrity wore the look. That said, I am in no way a fan of the look. It is plain the dress is plain ugly, and the mini mourning hat and crop motorcycle jacket feel out of place. Where are you going, Halle? A gala, the funeral at the end of Sabrina Carpenter’s Taste music video, or a Harley-Davidson convention?
Lisa
Blackpink star Lisa’s Met Gala caused quite a stir. Lisa wore a lovely power suit top along with a pair of underwear, which caused an uproar on the internet. People realised that what initially appeared to be an abstract pattern was a series of faces, one of them looking an awful lot like civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Obviously, people slammed the panties, saying that they were tasteless. Soon, the print’s designer, Henry Taylor, clarified that the woman seen wasn’t Ms. Parks, but rather a neighbor of his (Honestly, I find that really bizarre as well. I mean, I would not like it if my neighbor stuck my face on a pair of undewear and then gave it to a celebrity to model at the Met Gala.)
The 2025 Met Gala celebrated Black Dandism and inspired many celebrities to embrace fashion as a form of expression. While it may not have been my favorite gala of all time, it was an enjoyable watch, and several outfits made a lasting impression on me. I look forward to seeing what the theme will be next year!
