Vogue boss Anna Wintour made some noise by tapping some of the most stylish Black men in the game – Coleman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams – to co-chair the 2025 Met Gala, with LeBron James as honorary co-chair.
The announcement of the theme got swift reaction online, with some fashion lovers seeing this as an exciting opportunity to platform Black designers and stylists often overlooked on fashion’s biggest night. But others are worried that some culturally inappropriate white folks might ruin the whole thing for everyone.
“While I’m excited for an exhibit like this, to what it actually ends up looking like in the end, I am very, very nervous for the Met Gala,” said one Black TikTok user. “And by that I mean people’s looks for the Met Gala and how they interpret it.”
Some on social media are giving specific dos and don’ts for anyone thinking about interpreting the theme too literally.
“The way the celebrities are going to do this theme has me concerned,” said one user on TikTok. “This is not a call to cosplay Black men. This is not Halloween. This is not a costume. You do not need to braid your hair. You do not need to put on an afro wig. You do not need to darken your skin.”
“Girl..Kim K Better Not be trying to Squeeze her Ass in a Dorothy Dandridge or Lena Horne Dress! lol,” cosigned someone in the comments.
Even white people are worried that everyone won’t come correct.
“I pray i pray my fellow YT people! Please do this properly! Do NOT make a mockery of something so important! If you are NOT sure how to come properly with the theme, just wear a nice suit or gown! Ask somebody! Hire a stylist who understands the theme! Thank you,” wrote someone on Instagram.
“’Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,’” will take the Black dandy as its subject, examining the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora,” Vogue Magazine wrote in an October 9 Instagram post announcing the 2025 Met Costume Institute Exhibit.
Monica Miller, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University, and author of the 2009 book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” will serve as guest curator for the Met exhibit, which will “explore the indelible style of Black men in the context of dandyism, from the 18th century through present day,” according to a statement.
Still others are excited to see how their favorite stars will show up on the big night.
“Can’t wait to see who @dapperdanharlem dresses. This assignment is made for him,” wrote someone on Instagram.
Although the dress code for the Met Gala, which raises funds for the Costume Institute, hasn’t been announced, it’s usually inspired by the theme of the exhibit. So let this be a word of caution to stars who may not know exactly what to wear to the 2025 Met Gala, if you have any doubt, ask yourself what would André Leon Talley do?