Met Gala 2025: A Tailored Triumph in Fashion and Fundraising
Celebrities at the 2025 Met Gala in New York City, Photo by The Hollywood Reporter
The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, celebrated the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," focusing on Black dandyism—a distinctive fashion and cultural movement. Think: velvet tuxedos remixed with pearls, structured silhouettes gone sculptural, and every shade of swagger imaginable. From the red carpet to the after-parties, the night was a masterclass in high-concept dressing — and it raised record-breaking funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the process.
The Business of the Ball
This year’s Gala wasn’t just a fashion spectacle — it was a fundraising powerhouse. Thanks to high-profile co-chairs (Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour), coveted brand tables, and digital buzz reaching stratospheric levels, $31 million was raised — the most in Met Gala history. Contributions came from individual tickets (rumored to cost $75,000), corporate sponsors, and a wave of brand activations tied to the Costume Institute’s latest exhibition.
Red Carpet Royalty: The Best Looks of the Night
Let’s talk standout moments:
Zendaya paid homage to the zoot suit in a custom white Louis Vuitton ensemble designed by Pharrell Williams. The sharply tailored suit featured exaggerated shoulders and wide-leg trousers, capturing the essence of 1940s Black fashion with a modern twist.
Rihanna, made a fashionable entrance, revealing her third pregnancy in a custom Marc Jacobs pinstripe ensemble. The look combined classic tailoring with a contemporary silhouette, highlighting her baby bump and reaffirming her status as a style icon.
Lisa of BLACKPINK made a bold Met Gala debut in custom Louis Vuitton: a crystal-embroidered lace blazer paired with matching monogrammed tights and an audacious pearl-accented pantsless look that turned heads.
Janelle Monáe embraced avant-garde dandyism in a custom Thom Browne deconstructed suit. The bold red, black, and white ensemble, complete with a monocle and top hat, reimagined traditional tailoring with a futuristic flair.
Doechii made a striking debut in a Louis Vuitton logomania suit, featuring a white blazer and matching shorts adorned with the brand's monogram. She accessorized with a burgundy bow tie and a cigar, blending classic dandy elements with modern femininity.
Gigi Hadid graced the carpet in a custom Miu Miu gown inspired by 1940s fashion designer Zelda Wynn Valdes. The golden dress, embellished with clear crystals and featuring a halter neckline, paid homage to the legacy of Black women in fashion.
Laura Harrier in Gap Studio custom look by Zac Posen, Photo by StarStyle.
Laura Harrier’s Modern Dandy Moment
One of the evening's most talked-about ensembles came from Laura Harrier, who redefined modern elegance in a custom look by Zac Posen for Gap Studio. Her outfit featured a raw denim vest cinched at the waist, paired with voluminous silk satin trousers and sheer organza sleeves, blending classic tailoring with contemporary flair. The design paid homage to her family's sartorial legacy, drawing inspiration from photographs of her father and grandfather dressed in their Sunday best.
Mona Patel in Thom Browne with AI Robotic Dog, Photo by Mona Patel.
Mona Patel’s Robotic Runway Moment
Entrepreneur and tech visionary Mona Patel delivered one of the most talked-about entrances of the night in a custom Thom Browne look: a sharply tailored black suit with a hand-embroidered corset and a dramatic silk panel. But it was her companion — a robotic dog named Vector, gliding beside her on a diamond-encrusted leash — that stopped traffic. The AI pup, inspired by Browne’s iconic dachshund Hector, was designed in collaboration with MIT, blending high fashion and high tech in signature Patel style. Watch the moment on Instagram here.
Mona Patel's appearance at the Met Gala 2025 was a testament to her ability to merge tradition with innovation, making her one of the evening's most talked-about attendees.
The After Parties: Where the Real Drama Began
After midnight, the heels got lower, the hemlines got higher, and the looks got louder.
Rihanna, now comfortably in her second trimester, switched to a sleek, all-black ensemble that showed off her bump with signature attitude.
Sabrina Carpenter turned heads in a bright yellow Louis Vuitton trench and nothing underneath — a party-stopping silhouette made for flashbulbs.
Jenna Ortega flipped the tailoring theme with a blazer-style bodysuit and platform loafers, giving “fashion intern gone rogue” in the best way.
Keke Palmer served futuristic glam in a metallic miniskirt and shimmering corset, proving, yet again, she never misses.
Lil Nas X (never one to go unnoticed) went full chrome warrior at the after party, staying on theme and off the charts.
Katy Perry Fake AI Photos at the Met Gala 2025, Photo by Daily Mail
The Fake-out of the Night
Katy Perry may have been absent from the 2025 Met Gala, but an AI-generated image of her in a sleek black latex gown and pinstriped blazer went viral, convincing many fans—and even her own mother—that she had attended. Perry humorously addressed the deepfake on Instagram, clarifying she was on her Lifetimes Tour in Houston and joking that her mom was "safe from the bots" this time.
The Met Gala 2025 reminded us that fashion is more than spectacle — it’s storytelling, strategy, and cultural currency. As the night fades, the legacy of these looks is just beginning.