Tailored for the Culture: How Black Stars Rewrote the Red Carpet at the 2025 Met Gala

Credit: Black Film Wire

On Monday, May 5, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art transformed — not just into a red carpet, but into a cultural runway. And while the 2025 Met Gala served its usual helping of high fashion and headline-worthy drama, it was Black excellence that owned the night — no debate, no notes.

Under the Costume Institute’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” with the accompanying exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the Met didn’t just tip its hat to Black fashion — it gave it the crown, the throne, and the good lighting.

Image: Ciara and Rihanna at the Met Gala 

Tailored, But Make It Personal

Let’s start with the man of the moment: Colman Domingo. Serving as one of the evening's co-chairs, he made a grand entrance in a royal blue Valentino cape, exuding majesty and reverence. Beneath the cape, he revealed a black-and-white ensemble that paid homage to fashion icons Chadwick Boseman and André Leon Talley, known for their signature capes at previous Met Galas. Domingo's look was not just sartorial splendor but a heartfelt tribute to those who paved the way.

Image: Colman Domingo at the Met Gala

Teyana Taylor followed with a visual poem titled “Harlem Rose.” Draped in deep red velvet with the words proudly stitched across her cape, she gave us romance, legacy, and a little bit of “don’t you forget where I came from” realness. The roses weren’t just decoration — they were declaration.

Image: Teyana Taylor at the Met Gala 

And then there was Zendaya. Who made a memorable appearance in a custom white three-piece Louis Vuitton suit, complete with bell-bottom pants, a tailored blazer featuring silver snake detailing, a matching vest and tie, and a dramatic wide-brimmed hat. The ensemble, styled by her longtime collaborator Law Roach, paid homage to Bianca Jagger's iconic 1971 Saint Laurent wedding suit.

Image: Zendaya at the Met Gala 

The Culture in the Cut

The magic this year wasn’t just in the fit — it was in the meaning. Black stars didn’t just wear beautiful suits and gowns. They wore pride and heritage. And yes, they wore it better than anyone else.

Black tailoring has always had a little more edge, a little more soul. It’s zoot suits with swing. It’s church hats with attitude. It’s velvet in July and not a drop of sweat. From A$AP Rocky’s always-quirky layering to Janelle Monáe’s slick, sharp tailoring, this year’s looks didn’t just fit the theme — they flipped it, remixed it, and sent it home with a satin lapel.

The Brains Behind the Looks

Of course, none of this slayage happens without the behind-the-scenes visionaries. Stylists like Law Roach (aka the man behind Zendaya’s fashion domination) and designers like Kenneth Nicholson and Wales Bonner reminded everyone that Black creativity is the backbone of red carpet innovation.

These aren’t just clothes. They’re stories. And this year, the stories said: “We’re not dressing up for you. We’re dressing up for us.”

Image: Stars at the Met Gala

Final Stitch

The Met Gala has always been a spectacle — feathers, trains, drama, the works. But this year, amid the pageantry, something deeper unfolded. Black stars didn’t just attend the ball — they threw it, spun around the dance floor, and stole the chandelier on the way out.

And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.