On May 5, celebrities attended the 79th annual Met Gala, an event that raises funding for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This year, the outfits took inspiration from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s latest spring exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which celebrates the diversity of the African diaspora and how it has been shaped and reinterpreted over time. 

The range of looks serves as a reminder of Black culture’s influence on modern fashion. The different interpretations of the theme reflect the vastness and complexity of Black fashion and how it has evolved, been influenced by others and continues to be acknowledged and appreciated. 

         According to the Met, Black dandyism has long been an expression of status and self-definition. It has been used to navigate social barriers and gain visibility, maintaining relevance in modern media for its versatility and association with progressive ideals. A dandy is traditionally a man who dresses in neat, stylish clothing. 

According to Monica Miller, author of  “Slaves to Fashion,” the identity they construct through fashion becomes a way of life. For many people of color, dandyism has functioned as a way to progress in society. Faced with racism, Black dandies have often used style to meet or challenge Western standards in pursuit of recognition and opportunity.

“Slaves to Fashion” provided inspiration for this year’s Met Gala theme as the book explores dandyism’s cultural implications throughout history and its increase in popularity during the 1800s. As Miller details, Black individuals leveraged fashion to conform to white standards to gain social leverage and success in a racist society. 

         Andrew Bolton, a member of the Costume Institute, clarified that “this show will explore both the Black dandy as both a concept and an identity signifier.” 

        “The exhibition explores how the history of Black dandyism illustrates the transformation from being enslaved and stylized as luxury items, acquired like any other signifier of wealth and status, to autonomous self-fashioning individuals who are global trendsetters,” said Miller.   

         The story of grit and self-belief behind Black dandyism has paved the way for self-expression to flourish, as seen at the 2025 Met Gala. The event and exhibition captured the essence of a dandy through fashion and revealed how people of color have continuously shaped the fashion world.