The Met Gala, the fashion world’s biggest Red Carpet sailed into New York City on raining day. The yearly first Monday in May event has morphed into celebrity media circus where A listers throng the stairs for photographers to raise money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The evening presided over by Vogue Editor Anna Wintour placed Black fashion on a glossy stage. This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style was inspired by the African American Fashion.
I think the memo go lost in junk mails. Instead of being inspired, the looks came across as Gothic. Was there a will reading before or after the party? Then there was the other extreme of monochromatic white. I guess prints and color made the “not to do” list.
African American fashion has been influenced by a “we are not you” tradition with a sense of pride, dignity while existing in a hostile place. Clothes were a way of quiet expression against societal oppression. Dressing up was a form of telling the world we are human beings.
Sanitised Style
The sanitised interpretations of style felt overly calculated, all ready for the global press. For some it was about the optics, even if the look lacked imagination. Diana Ross in white with a 5.5 metered train took control or Andre 3000 with a piano on his back felt a little bit too attention seeking. Co-host, singer and LV menswear designer Pharrell played it safe to the edge of a yawn in a white jacket. Coleman Domingo showed his flair with an oversized flower on his black and white stripped jacket. Zendaya’s all white suit, fine, but not a knock out look from the Fashion Diva. On the other end, Teyana got it right with help from Oscar winner Ruth E. Carter.
The Met Gala 2025, inspiring would be a stretch, using the word “trivialising”, too harsh. I could settle for a mild mannered attempt at putting Black Style front and center.
If you are really inspired by Black Fashion, check out reruns of Soul Train on YouTube. To see live original unrestrained Black Dandy style, attend Pitti Uomo in Florence.
