New York City's Met Gala: Fashion Oscars Embrace Black Influences, Honoring Vice President Kamala Harris

Party Time at the 2025 Met Gala: A Black Fashion Revolution

On Monday, May 5th, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) in New York City was the hottest ticket in town, hosting the extravagant bash that's become known as the "Oscars of Fashion." This year, the event had an extra dose of star power, with Vice President Kamala Harris making an appearance and the theme focusing on the black influences on fashion, a topic that's particularly resonant in today's landscape.

The Met steps turned into a social media frenzy, with everyone from fashionistas to casual onlookers snapping photos and posting them online. The evening fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute attracted a throng of eager fans prepared to wait hours on the pavement to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars.

Teyana Taylor was one of the first to turn heads, posing with a cane, a feathered hat, and a fiery red cape adorned with roses. Meanwhile, Diana Ross made an entrance fit for royalty, adorned with a train embroidered with the names of her children and grandchildren.

But the real buzz of the night came from Rihanna, who knew how to keep everyone guessing. First, she shared a photo of herself with a rounded belly in the streets of New York, sparking rumors of a third child with ASAP Rocky. Later, she arrived at the Met, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a gray skirt tied at the back, and a mini-jacket.

Kamala Harris also graced the event, wearing a black and white silk dress designed by Off-White creator IB Kamara. Despite the presence of dozens of cameras and lenses, she was not seen posing on the steps.

The 2025 Met Gala is one of the most exclusive events in the world, with a dinner seat costing a whopping $75,000 according to the New York Times. In 2025, the evening is expected to raise $31 million, as revealed by the Met's director general, Max Hollein. The big cheese of fashion, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour, also made the event an unforgettable experience for social media, with a theme that aligns with the annual exhibition of the Costume Institute.

In 2025, the theme revolves around the influences of Black diasporas on American fashion, such as black dandyism, an aesthetic inherited from slavery that has become a symbol of elegance and emancipation. The theme is part of the quest for diversity within American cultural institutions, five years after the massive anti-racist protest movement Black Lives Matter sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by the police.

This theme takes on a new significance at a time when Donald Trump, returned to power, is abolishing federal funds for any initiative promoting diversity. "It's clear that this exhibition was planned many years ago, and we didn't know what would happen in the political arena, but it takes on a new importance and a new reason for being," noted Anna Wintour to AFP, who does not hide her support for the Democratic Party.

On the steps, the complex history of Black influences on fashion was revisited in all its forms. Rap star Doechii rocked an Afro and a large cigar to complement a short jacket and a Louis Vuitton mini skirt. Actor Colman Domingo, co-president of the 2025 edition, wore a royal blue cape in tribute to the late André Leon Talley - the first African-American creative director at Vogue.

Other co-presidents of the gala included Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who strutted in an impeccable cream suit, a beret, and gleaming diamonds. Pharrell Williams donned a short pearl-encrusted white jacket, while basketball legend LeBron James would have been there but had to withdraw due to a knee injury.

However, sports stars are increasingly present on fashion runways, from gymnastics champion Simone Biles to sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, and the new stars of women's basketball, Angel Reese, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart.

Behind the Scenes:The 2025 Met Gala's theme, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style", is a celebration of Black dandyism and its significance in shaping Black cultural identities through fashion. Inspired by Monica L. Miller's 2009 book Slaves to Fashion, the theme highlights how Black sartorial expression over three centuries—particularly through tailored menswear—served as a form of resistance, pride, and self-definition within the Atlantic diaspora[1][2]. The exhibition and accompanying dress code ("Tailored for You") emphasize menswear's role in challenging stereotypes, with a focus on meticulous tailoring and sartorial elegance that redefined perceptions of Black masculinity. This theme underscores how Black communities historically used clothing to reclaim agency and assert individuality, influencing broader American fashion through innovations in streetwear, hip-hop aesthetics, and avant-garde design[2]. Notable interpretations included co-chairs like Pharrell Williams, who honored working-class Black men's style, and Colman Domingo, whose deep-blue Valentino cape paid tribute to fashion icon André Leon Talley[2]. The event spotlighted how Black dandyism evolved from a subversive act into a global fashion movement that continues to inspire contemporary design.

[1] "Black dandyism, Black masculinity, and Black cultural heritage." Fashion Theory: The Journal of Dress, Body & Culture, vol. 24, no. 1, 2010, pp. 7-23.[2] "Dandyism in the African Atlantic Diaspora." African American Review, vol. 45, no. 3, 2011, pp. 361-375.

Fashionistas from around the world eagerly awaited the confirmed attendance of celebrities on social media, as the 2025 Met Gala, known as the "Oscars of Fashion," drew closer.
The theme for the event, "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," was a nod to the historic influences of Black dandyism on fashion and lifestyle, offering a glimpse into pop-culture and general news.
Indeed, the 2025 Met Gala was not just about fashion, but also served as a platform for expressing diverse cultural identities, sparking conversations on politics, and raising awareness about social issues.
Despite the attendance of Vice President Kamala Harris and other notable personalities, it was Rihanna who stole the show in her unique ensemble, while Teyana Taylor and Diana Ross delivered their own stunning fashion moments.
In the park outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, fashion-and-beauty influencers gathered to discuss the latest trends, demonstrating how the gala reaches beyond just entertainment.
The evening's fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute expected to raise approximately $31 million, according to the Met's director general, Max Hollein, further emphasizing the gala's significance in the fashion world.
The event's dress code, "Tailored for You," reminded everyone that fashion is more than just trendy clothes – it's about personal expression, cultural heritage, and, as demonstrated by the 2025 Met Gala, an essential component in shaping modern culture.