Fashion’s Biggest Night Finally Got Some Flavor

This years Met Gala spotlighted Black fashion and creativity like never before, marking what many see as a new chapter in the event’s history. This theme – Superfine: Tailoring Black Style – isn’t just another dress code; it represents a cultural shift at an institution long criticized for exclusivity. In this article, we’ll explore how the Met Gala evolved from its humble 1948 origins to today’s star-studded spectacle, and how Black attendees and creatives went from the margins to center stage. We’ll revisit iconic moments (Rihanna’s jaw-dropping 2015 look, anyone?) and consider why Superfine feels like both a celebration and a cautious turning point for Black inclusion at fashion’s biggest night.

From Midnight Suppers to the “Super Bowl of Fashion”

The Met Gala didn’t start as the pop-culture phenomenon we know today. The very first benefit was held in 1948 as a midnight supper organized by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, with tickets at just $50. It was a genteel affair for New York’s high society, aimed at raising funds for the Costume Institute’s new exhibitions. There was no elaborate theme or global media frenzy—just a charity dinner Lambert proudly billed as the “Party of the Year”.

Things began to change in the 1970s when former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland took the reins as a special consultant. Under Vreeland, the Gala introduced themed exhibitions (starting with a Balenciaga retrospective in 1973) and welcomed more celebrities into the mix. Legends like Diana Ross and Cher started showing up alongside society patrons. The event grew from a stiff fundraiser into a glamorous blend of high fashion and pop culture.

The modern Met Gala truly took shape after Anna Wintour entered the picture. In 1995, Wintour (the editor-in-chief of Vogue) became the event’s chair and transformed it into a glitzy spring tradition on the first Monday in May. Under Wintour’s reign, the Gala exploded in size and star power, drawing top names from film, music, sports and beyond. It evolved into “one of the most visible and successful fundraisers in the world,” often dubbed the Oscars of the East Coast or the Super Bowl of Fashion.

By the 2010s, an invitation had become the ultimate status symbol, with about 600–700 A-listers carefully vetted by Wintour each year. The Gala’s fundraising muscle also skyrocketed. Tickets that once cost $50 now fetch around $75,000 each, contributing to record-breaking multimillion-dollar totals for the museum.

Yet, even as the Met Gala’s profile soared, questions lingered about who got to be celebrated on this high-fashion stage. This brings us to the gradual (and sometimes bumpy) journey toward inclusion and the growing impact of Black culture at the Gala.

Black Style Enters the Spotlight

For much of its history, the Met Gala reflected the fashion establishment’s narrow lens, which often meant Eurocentric glamour and largely white guest lists. Black trailblazers did make appearances in earlier years (Diana Ross turning heads in the ’70s, for example), but these were exceptions in a predominantly white social scene. It wasn’t until recent decades that Black attendees and creatives began to shape the Gala’s cultural relevance in a significant way.

By the 2010s, some of the most memorable Met Gala moments were being delivered by Black artists, celebrities, and style visionaries. Consider 2013, when Beyoncé was named an honorary chair of the Gala, an early acknowledgment of her influence. From that point on, each year it often felt like the BuzzFeed headlines and Twitter chatter belonged to Black women redefining glamour on their own terms. If the Met Gala is “fashion’s biggest night,” figures like Beyoncé and Rihanna have often been its main event.

It became tradition that Beyoncé would arrive last on the red carpet and simply steal the show. In 2015, she famously showed up after everyone else, clad in a barely-there crystal Givenchy gown that shut down the carpet as cameras flashed furiously. By then, Rihanna had already made history earlier that same night with an entirely different look (more on that in a moment). The sheer anticipation for these mega-stars’ arrivals underscored how much Black women were driving the conversation (and viewership) around the Gala.

Behind the scenes, Black creatives also started leaving their mark. High-profile stylists like Law Roach orchestrated red carpet spectacles that people talked about for weeks. (Remember when Zendaya literally transformed into Cinderella on the Met steps in 2019? Her “Fairy Godfather” stylist Law Roach waved a wand and lit up her gown, in a feat that brought the entire crowd to a standstill.) Black designers, too, began to get their due on this platform as celebrities chose their work for fashion’s biggest night. By the late 2010s, it wasn’t unusual to see attendees celebrate Black culture through what they wore. There were references to hip-hop style, Afrocentric beauty elements, and outright political statements about Black identity.

In short, Black participation evolved from token presence to trendsetting force. The stage was set for a Met Gala theme that would overtly celebrate Black fashion excellence, though it took until 2025 for that to finally happen.

Iconic Black Met Gala Moments

It’s impossible to talk about the Met Gala’s rising inclusivity without highlighting some iconic moments created by Black attendees and creatives over the years. These are the red-carpet appearances that became instant legends, solidifying the influence of Black style at the Gala:

Rihanna (2015) – Dubbed the unofficial “queen of the Met Gala,” Rihanna arrived in a show-stopping golden cape by Chinese designer Guo Pei for the China: Through the Looking Glass theme. The dramatically long, embroidered cape inspired countless memes (omelet, anyone?) and established Rihanna as a fashion risk-taker who could dominate the night. She has continued to command attention at every Gala, whether pope-inspired chic in 2018 or bejeweled bridal looks in later years, but 2015’s yellow cape moment remains unparalleled in its cultural impact.

Beyoncé (2015) – The same year, Beyoncé showed up last wearing a sheer, jewel-encrusted Givenchy gown that practically broke the internet. Her daring “naked dress” turned heads and underscored that she was not just a music icon but a fashion icon who could own the Met Gala carpet. “Arriving last in 2015, Beyoncé shut down the red carpet in a sheer Givenchy gown,” one account noted. That image of Bey confidently posing in that barely-there dress is now part of Met Gala lore.

Zendaya & Law Roach (2019) – For the Camp: Notes on Fashion theme, actress Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach created pure Met Gala theater. Roach, dressed as her fairy godmother, literally made magic on the carpet, waving a wand to illuminate Zendaya’s Cinderella ball gown, which changed color and glowed as if by sorcery. The stunt “brought [the red carpet] to a complete standstill,” with onlookers cheering the Disney-worthy transformation.

It was a perfect blend of camp, tech, and Black creative excellence, dreamed up by a stylist-designer duo of color (Zendaya’s dress was by Tommy Hilfiger, but the concept was all Roach). This moment showed how Black creatives could bring innovation and whimsy to the Gala in a way nobody had seen before.

Cardi B (2018 & 2019) – Newcomer Cardi B made back-to-back splashes with her first two Met Gala appearances. In 2018 she debuted at 7 months pregnant, decked in a pearl-and-jewel Moschino ensemble that flaunted her baby bump in pure regal style. Then in 2019 she one-upped herself with an oxblood Thom Browne gown featuring a huge feathered circular train that required 10 handlers.

The extravagant design (complete with 44-carat ruby nipple covers!) was so over-the-top it practically became the red carpet . As Essence described, Cardi “stole the show” in that massive quilted gown, proving her fashion cred matched her musical prowess. In just two years, Cardi cemented her status as a Met Gala headliner, with looks that will be talked about for years.

Billy Porter (2019) – Also in 2019’s camp extravaganza, performer Billy Porter arrived carried on a litter by six shirtless men, evoking an Egyptian sun god in head-to-toe gold. With wings spread and a 24-karat headpiece, Porter’s theatrical entrance blurred the line between fashion and performance art. It was a powerful example of a Black queer creative seizing the spotlight to celebrate camp aesthetics and ancient African regal imagery all at once. Billy’s motto might as well have been “go big or go home,” and he certainly went big. In doing so, he expanded the idea of who and what could be the night’s centerpiece.

These moments (and many more) illustrate how Black stars and stylists have made the Met Gala their stage. By consistently producing the night’s most talked-about looks, they paved the way for the Met to finally center Black fashion itself as the theme.

2025: “Superfine” Marks a Shift in Inclusion

All of this history culminated in the 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” For the first time, the Costume Institute’s big spring exhibit (which dictates the Gala theme) explicitly celebrated Black fashion influence, focusing on the history of Black dandyism and tailoring across three centuries. The exhibition, guest-curated by Professor Monica Miller, delves into how Black men in the Atlantic diaspora used impeccable style as both self-expression and subtle resistance, from the 18th century to today. In other words, Superfine put the artistry and politics of Black style front and center at one of the world’s top museums.

Why is this such a big deal? As one fashion editor explained, “It’s incredibly significant, because this is the first time in the Met’s history that they are centering Black identity and Black designers.” Up to now, no Met Gala theme or Costume Institute exhibit had ever been devoted wholly to Black fashion. The acknowledgement felt momentous and perhaps a bit overdue. In recent years, calls for diversity in fashion have grown louder, especially post-2020.

The Met itself has been working to address its own Eurocentric biases, since the Black Lives Matter movement, the Costume Institute ramped up acquiring pieces by designers of color (about 150 new acquisitions by BIPOC designers since 2020) and committed to diversifying its curation. Andrew Bolton, the head curator, described Superfine as “a really important step” toward correcting historical biases and making fashion at The Met more inclusive.

From an institutional perspective, Superfine represents both a culmination and a turning point. It’s the culmination of years of increasing Black visibility at the Gala. All those show-stopping Rihanna/Beyoncé moments culminating into a night where Black style isn’t just attending the party, but is the very theme of the party. And it’s a turning point in that The Met is actively positioning Black fashion on equal footing with the European legends it has long enshrined.

As Complex editor-in-chief Aria Hughes noted, Black designers are now “getting the same treatment as their white peers, whose work is preserved in museums”, and the gala’s massive platform means mainstream audiences are finally “understanding the influence of Black identity on fashion.”

The 2025 Gala itself embodied this shift. The red carpet was filled with creative takes on Black tie (emphasis on Black). Attendees incorporated tributes to pioneering Black designers like Willi Smith and Patrick Kelly, and many donned modern dandy-inspired looks. Think bold patterned suits, vibrant colors, and exquisite tailoring in homage to the diaspora.

Even the dress code was telling: officially “Tailored for You,” it encouraged personal spins on suiting, essentially inviting guests to center Black sartorial excellence in their interpretation. There was a sense of pride in the air for what the night represented. The museum’s CEO even announced that the 2025 benefit broke the all-time fundraising record, pulling in $31 million; a sign that celebrating Black style is hardly niche; it drew support at the highest levels.

Celebration, Skepticism, or Both? – Black Reactions to the Theme

For many Black fashion lovers, Superfine was a moment to cheer. Seeing the Met Gala pay homage to Black style felt like a form of validation | a celebration of contributions that have too often been overlooked. It’s no secret that Black culture has long been a wellspring of global fashion trends (from streetwear to haute couture), so dedicating an entire exhibit to that legacy was met with excitement. Social media buzzed with anticipation about how stars would honor the theme.

The hope was that this spotlight would not only produce fabulous looks but also educate the broader public about Black fashion history and its unsung heroes. In a time when parts of Black history are being challenged or erased, the Met’s very public platform was seen as “acknowledgment… that is huge.” A chance to set the record straight about Black influence on style.

Yet alongside the celebration, there was also a healthy dose of skepticism from some corners. After all, symbolism is one thing; sustained change is another. Critics have pointed out that the Met Gala (and high fashion institutions in general) hasn’t always been welcoming to Black designers and professionals. The Gala’s expensive pay-to-play nature made it hard for many Black designers to participate in the past, effectively keeping some out of the room where it happens.

In 2021, for instance, the theme was American fashion, but European luxury houses still dominated the red carpet while Black American designers were largely missing. As one commentator put it, the Met Gala missed an “optimal opportunity to demonstrate greater diversity and inclusion” that year, choosing to maintain business as usual. Examples like this left some observers a bit jaded. Was Superfine a genuine commitment or a one-off gesture prompted by the cultural moment?

There’s also the question of execution: Would non-Black attendees approach the theme thoughtfully, or would there be cringey attempts at “Black style” from people who don’t understand it? (Nobody wanted a repeat of occasional cultural appropriation missteps that have happened with other themes.) The good news is that with a Black scholar curating the exhibit and Black tastemakers involved, the 2025 Gala had guidance to keep it authentic. And indeed, the night mostly avoided faux pas. It was clear many participants collaborated with Black designers and stylists, which itself is a form of progress.

In the end, the response in the Black community and beyond was a mix of cautious optimism and critique. Yes, it’s absolutely worth celebrating that Black fashion was given the Met’s highest honor ~ a sign that inclusion is making headway. And yet, the true measure will be what comes next: Will the Met continue to foreground designers of color in future exhibits? Will more Black creatives get a seat at the decision-making table? One themed gala can’t single-handedly fix decades of underrepresentation, but it can start conversations and set a precedent.

A New Chapter in Met Gala History

“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” will likely be remembered as a landmark Met Gala. The year the institution put its money (quite literally, given the record fundraising) and prestige behind Black fashion. It reflects how far the Gala has come from those exclusive 1940s dinners to an era where diversity and representation are front and center. The theme itself was both a tribute to Black creativity and a statement that Black style is central to the story of fashion, not an afterthought.

As culturally aware observers, we’re right to both applaud this moment and hold it to high standards. The Met Gala is often called fashion’s time capsule, capturing where the culture is at a given moment. In 2025, that meant acknowledging a rich heritage that had been underrepresented in those halls.

Whether this moment is a peak or just the beginning of greater inclusion, one thing is clear: Black excellence didn’t just arrive at the Met Gala. It’s been there, steadily moving from the sidelines to the spotlight. And now that it’s shining, there’s no going back. The hope is that future galas will continue in this inclusive direction, so that everyone who influences fashion can see themselves celebrated on that famous Met staircase.