The carpet where the adorned fight in resistance
By Jack Vincent
White daffodils speckled the midnight blue carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where iconic names walked the renowned carpet for the annual Met Gala fundraiser on May 5. From Alton Mason to Teyana Taylor, the stars shined bright under the flashing cameras in their jewel-dappled finery.
The Met Gala is a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The event traditionally marks the opening of its annual fashion exhibit. It hosts many designer brands, musicians, politicians and artists on its iconic, not-so-red carpet.
Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” was the lead inspiration for this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The book explores the rich cultural and historical background of Black dandyism and how it was a form of resistance to fight the stereotypes that depict those of African descent, specifically due to diaspora, as unadorned.
The style consists of wide-brim hats, fedoras, tailored and striped suits, tight-fitting silhouettes and flared base slacks. Each element creates a diverse display of high fashion while challenging degrading stereotypes.
From the biggest hits to the fashion flops, The Avenue has you covered on all fronts. Here are our writers’ takes on the 2025 Met Gala.
Pharrell Williams’ show-stopping contributions
By Ailish Coughlin
As this year’s Met Gala co-chair, Pharrell Williams’ influence was stitched into every corner of the event’s fabric.
In a Met Gala carpet interview, Williams revealed he had prepared for this moment for two years. Anna Wintour first approached him in 2023 after one of his own dandy-inspired outfits sparked the idea for this year’s theme. Since then, Williams carefully curated how best to bring Black dandyism to life through his personal fashion choices and creative direction.
His vision was embodied by Zendaya’s striking all-white Louis Vuitton ensemble, one of the most expensive, talked-about looks of the night. Designed by Williams himself, the outfit featured a custom three-piece suit with a sharply tailored blazer, a crisp vest and wide-leg trousers, topped with an oversized floppy white hat.
Williams extended this elegant tailoring to Pusha T, who donned a burgundy pinstripe Louis Vuitton suit embellished with crystal detailing that sparkled from collar to breast pocket. The look exuded a sense of refined extravagance: another facet of the creativity embedded in Black-tailored style.
Together, the two looks offered a visual duality: Zendaya’s pristine, monochromatic simplicity on one end; Pusha T’s rich, embellished luxury on the other.
Williams also designed an outfit for his wife, Helen Lasichanh. He countered his pearl suit with Lasichanh’s Louis Vuitton all-black leather ensemble.
If these looks don’t speak to the vastness of Pharrell Williams’ influence over the night, Anna Wintour’s look might. Williams had her dressed in a bespoke Louis Vuitton gown in tribute to the late Virgil Abloh.
As the face of the Met Gala since 1995, Wintour’s outfits are finely selected and always fabulous. Her floor-length dress paired with a light blue overcoat, stepped away from the suit style and provided a softer, more feminine look for the night.
Overall, Pharrell Williams was a fashion asset for the inspiration and execution of this year’s Met Gala.
Best gender-neutral looks
By Autumn Johnstone
Embracing the event’s theme and her own gender identity, musician Lorde arrived in a silver jacket over a two-piece ensemble with an open back. The outfit was inspired by a cummerbund, blending traditional masculine tailoring with “superfine” femininity and encouraging the artist to expand her understanding of gender.
Her design, cultivated by Thom Browne, was said to be an Easter egg for her upcoming album, “Virgin.” While men have stereotypically donned suits, this year’s Met Gala marked a beautiful shift toward gender-neutral fashion. Unlike many stars who wear more strikingly noticeable makeup, Lorde has shown us she is comfortable letting her natural features shine, even at the biggest fashion night of the year.
Emma Chamberlain has served as a red carpet special correspondent for Vogue since 2021, interviewing icons left and right. She left viewers speechless this year, rocking a blonde pixie cut that contrasted her dark, hazy eye makeup. With a sexy allusion to dandyism, Chamberlain wore a black backless and pinstriped dress that dripped all the way to the floor.
With every twist and turn to the cameras, Chamberlain’s edgy, androgynous look proves fashion is now viewed as a form of self-expression rather than a gendered “one size fits all.”
Just the Tie: Demi Moore ditches the suit
By Allison Bonnemaison
In a sea of sharp silhouettes and smart suits, actress Demi Moore made waves at the 2025 Met Gala by interpreting the theme in one of the most surprising ways.
Moore took a more conceptual approach. While many of the guests chose to wear sculptured suits and avant-garde dresses, she showed up wearing the most iconic piece from a suit: the necktie.
Her glistening black gown was shaped like a tie with white diagonal stripes wrapped around her body. The dress had a dramatic structure looped around her shoulder and behind her head, mimicking the collar of a tie.
Moore embodied the concept of the night by taking a traditionally feminine garment and making it much more masculine.
The look defied conventional expectations of suiting and tailoring, reimagining fashion norms and tying the whole theme together.
Not Just a Look: the Met Gala’s deeper impact
By Isis Snow
The Met Gala is known for its bold fashion and celebrity appearances, but there’s more going on behind the scenes. Each year, the star-studded event raises money for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Fundraising efforts broke records by bringing in more than $31 million. This staggering figure underscores the gala’s role as one of the most influential cultural fundraisers in the world. The occasion is more than just a party. It fuels exhibitions that allow fashion to be preserved, studied and celebrated as art.
The record-breaking total also highlights how fashion can mobilize philanthropy when tied to cultural storytelling and historical preservation. In a year when the spotlight was on Black style and craftsmanship, the fundraising success affirmed cultural representation isn’t just timely — it’s valuable.
