Rating: 

x1 Djembe drum = Ovo-no

x5 Djembe drums = K Dot-yea 

Introduction 

If you know anything about the film Mary Poppins, you know that in times when you are lost for words, there is always one word that is simply perfect for the moment: “Supercalifrag…”. 

With that said, for the annual fashion fundraiser that is always held on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style was a highly anticipated and hot ticket event for Black celebrities – especially those that have pushed the boundaries within the fashion arena as part of their world-building image – fashion’s movers and shakers, social media fashion fan favourites and everyone else. 

For those of you who have no idea what this year’s Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, means, this is the perfect opportunity for you to read last month’s The Tark blog, The Rise of Black Dandyism: How Tailoring Became a Cultural Movement, for the background understanding and historical context, before coming back to this review. 

The ‘Super’ Bits 

Funds galore 

Firstly, the Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute to support the many hundreds of workers behind the scenes whose literal job is to manage garments for historical preservation and curation, because costume and fashion design – in all its forms – is still an art form at the end of the day. 

Thankfully, hours before the event even took place, it was announced by The Met organisers that they had broken the record – previously $30 million – for their fundraising amount for the first time in its 77-year history. Over $31 million raised so far with more funds still to come in. Not only a win but proof again that when you bet on Black, we will succeed. 

 5 Djembe drums | K Dot-yea

Designers – The Best Ensemble Look and Feel For Their Celebrity Group

With the dress code being ‘Tailored for You’ as the creative prompt to highlight Black Dandyism within the realms of the African diaspora and menswear, some designers understood the assignment, while others somehow missed the mark completely. 

For the tailoring technicalities – including intricate details/finishes – and/or incorporation of Black Dandy elements or cultural touchpoints, while partnering with the right creative teams (stylists – the Oscar-winning Paul Tazewell, plus Eric McNeal; milliners – Stephen Jones; props specialists – Cameron Hughes for Janelle’s functional clock monocle; jewellers; make-up and hairstylists); and celebrity personalities that could bring life and flamboyance to their creations; the joint winners for me by a country mile are British designer Grace Wales Bonner and American designer Thom Browne. Runner-up: American designer Marc Jacobs. 

Wales Bonner dressed the following guests: 

Omar Apollo, Jeff Goldblum, Sir Lewis Hamilton, Monica L. Miller, Tyler Mitchell, Antwaun Sargent, and FKA Twigs. 

Thom Browne dressed the following guests: 

Saquon Barkley, Walton Goggins, Whoopi Goldberg, Lorde, Noah Lyles, Nicki Minaj, Janelle Monáe, Demi Moore, Mona Patel, Angel Reese, Zoe Saldaña, Tramell Tillman and Anok Yai. 

 Marc Jacobs dressed the following guests: 

J. Balvin, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Rihanna. 

5 Djembe drums | K Dot-yea

Independent and Renowned Signature Black Designers 

Black designers from across the global African diaspora brought their A-game for one or more specific celebrities on the red carpet, and they did not disappoint. Colour, texture, layering and Black Dandy-esque accessories brought a level of African-Diasporic swagger not ever seen on the Met Gala’s red carpet before. Shout out and round of applause to the following: 

Ahluwalia, Ozwald Boateng, Bishme Cromartie, Nicholas Daley, Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo, Jude Dontoh for Tribe of God – who was blessed to dress the empress that is Miss Lauryn Hill – Hanifa, Charles Harbison for Harbison Studio, Sergio Hudson, Laur, Jovan Louis, Thebe Magugu, Ugo Mozie for Eleven Sixteen, Orange Culture Nigeria, Maxwell Osborne for anOnlyChild, Christopher John Rogers, Martine Rose, Olivier Rousteing for Balmain (the sewing machine bag he was carrying was a work of art), Bianca Saunders, LaQuan Smith, Torishéju and Pharrell Williams. Special mention to Tolu Coker for the pre-Met Gala dress – from her Spring/Summer ’25 collection – worn by singer Tyla. Forgive me if there is anyone else, I may have missed. 

Another Oscar-winner, Ruth E. Carter, who has been at the cornerstone of championing the Black Dandy and Afrofuturism visual identity through costuming on screen, collaborated with creative multi-disciplinary artist Teyana Taylor to bring us a reimagining of the Queen of Harlem in both look and feel, and also model Jasmine Tookes in divine cream. It was such a feast for the eyes and camera lenses! 

If you are not familiar with the above fashion designers' respective work, I highly recommend you start to get to know their brand identity, silhouette style and earlier fashion week collection presentations. In the case of costume design Oscar winners Ruth E. Carter and Paul Tazewell, there is a treasure trove of films, theatre performances, and dance shows to watch. 

5 Djembe drums | K Dot-yea

Some of my other personal favourite outfits were worn by; Miss Lauryn Hill (Jude Dontoh); Khaby Lamé and Evan Ross (Eleven Sixteen); Cardi B, Angela Bassett and Jodie Smith (Burberry); Ugbad Abdi (Michael Kors); LaKeith Stanfield (Ferragamo); Willy Chavarria (wearing his name brand); Bad Bunny (Prada a la Criollo); Barry Keoghan (Valentino); Joey King (Miu Miu); Damson Idris (Tommy Hilfiger); Jeremy O. Harris (Balmain); Mindy Kaling (Harbison Studios); Chance the Rapper (Versace); Jamie Seros (Sergio Hudson); Tessa Thompson (Prabal Gurung), Iman Hammam (Magda Butrym); Zendaya (Louis Vuitton); Jennifer Goicoechea (Ralph Lauren) and Rev Al Sharpton repping for the elders. 

The ‘Hmmm’ Moments 

So much source material, yet ‘beige’ was the outcome 

Not the literal colour but the energy the outfit was giving. Far too many Hollywood A-listers and others simply did not push the boat out and take any creative chances, which resulted in bland, copy-and-paste – or should that be ‘safe’ – silhouettes and styling. Especially given that these are some of the same individuals who have wowed us in a beautiful way with their earlier looks at the gala over the years or have been accused of appropriating Black, Latino or Asian culture in the past and therefore can – and should – do better. 

Have they, their management teams or friends not ever been exposed in some way to the Haitian and American Revolution, Victorian England, Harlem Renaissance, Madame CJ Walker – who walked so Rihanna could run -, The Civil Rights era, the Jackson family’s mega vault of Black Dandy imagery through songs, videos, short films, movies, tours etc., Prince, Prince and the Revolution, 1970s Funk, Earth, Wind and Fire, Ralph Lauren preppy and sailing-wear as streetwear in Hip-Hop, the ballroom scene, basketball suiting, OutKast, Steve Urkel in Family Matters, Steve Harvey modern-day zoot suits and the First Ladies plus female congregations of the millions upon millions of Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Pentecostal churches all across America, the Caribbean, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, West and South Africa…the list goes on. You see, this is why education matters! 

I am not sure if it was out of a fear of being hit with a racism/cultural appropriation tag due to the event theme, the current political climate in America that is rolling back – at a rapid rate – hard-won civil rights and DEI laws or a mixture of both.

Either way, it came across as lazy and not taking the opportunity to rise to the importance of the theme because let us be clear, if ever there was a time for the celebrity individuals to ‘show up and show out’ for the arts industry that they are a part of, this was the one! 

 1 Djembe drum | Ovo-no

The Missing 

Brands 

Giorgio Armani, Celine, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Gucci, Loewe, Rabanne and Bottega Veneta appeared to all be missing, which was odd. Some have said it is a recession indicator, but I highly doubt that. I do not think they were interested. 

Nil point (it is Eurovision season after all) 

Who the people wanted 

Wisdom Kaye NOT being invited was a nonsensical decision considering my last five paragraphs above. His adornment and styling takes on all things from Black Dandyism, Japanese anime and manga characters, to fonts has been a visual and creative delight across social media. While Wisdom handled the many questions across his social media platforms – about why he was not attending – like a champion, I wish him and his modelling career/future creative brand partnership deals nothing but the best. 

No Janet Jackson, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliott, or Jidenna (screams in Cardi B, "…what was the reason?"). 

Finally, rest in peace, André Leon Talley, Prince, Luther Vandross, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Whitney Houston, Robin Williams, Tito Adaryll Jackson, and Michael Joseph Jackson and so many others; who are still sorely missed, but had they been alive and invited, I truly believe they would have embraced this theme and dress code to its maximum potential, feeding us creatively for decades because no one wants to be left starving. Not even Anna.

To view all the looks visit: Vogue: Met Gala 2025 Red Carpet Looks