logo

Met Gala 2025 When Tailoring Told the Story

On May 5, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art became a stage for legacy, identity, and fashion precision as the Met Gala 2025 unfolded. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” honoured the tradition, innovation, and cultural significance of Black sartorial excellence. 

India’s Presence Makes History

Shah Rukh Khan in Sabyasachi Met Gala 2025

The 2025 Met Gala also stood out for its remarkable Indian representation. From cinematic royalty to fashion visionaries, Indian celebrities made powerful statements that fused tradition with global relevance

Shah Rukh Khan, making his long-awaited Met Gala debut, arrived in a black Sabyasachi sherwani. The look featured a custom sceptre with the Bengal tiger emblem, layers of traditional jewellery, and a bold "K" pendant. His presence marked a major cultural moment on the global fashion calendar.

Kiara Advani in Gaurav Gupta Met Gala 2025

Kiara Advani arrived in an emotive creation by Gaurav Gupta. The gown’s structure included two sculpted hearts joined by a delicate chain resembling an umbilical cord, a tribute to her upcoming motherhood. A soft cape completed the look, offering a gentle salute to fashion legends past.

An Evening Steeped in Elegance and Purpose

Guests arrived under a canopy of white narcissus petals while orchestral music filled the air, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that set the tone for a night of deep cultural reflection. The focus shifted from exaggerated spectacle to intentional style. This was an evening where silhouettes spoke volumes and details carried historical weight.

Tailoring the Moment: Best-Dressed Highlights

The 2025 Met Gala, themed "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," showcased a myriad of ensembles that paid homage to Black sartorial excellence. Here are some standout looks that encapsulated the evening's essence:

Colman Domingo in Valentino, Met Gala 2025

Colman Domingo

As a co-chair, Colman Domingo donned a custom royal blue cape by Valentino, designed by Alessandro Michele. The outfit featured a sharply tailored suit beneath a flowing cape, subtly nodding to the grandeur of the late André Leon Talley. Styled by Wayman + Micah, Domingo's look exuded reality and reverence for Black fashion icons. 

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams in Louis Vuitton Met Gala 2025

Pharrell Williams, another co-chair, wore a custom double-breasted pearl blazer of his own design, brought to life by his Louis Vuitton design team. The jacket, adorned with 100,000 pearls, took 980 hours to create, exemplifying meticulous craftsmanship. He paired it with black flared dress trousers, showcasing a modern take on classic tailoring. 

Diana Ross

Diana Ross Met Gala 2025

Making a triumphant return, Diana Ross wore a floor-grazing white crystal-embellished gown, complemented by a feather-boa-trimmed cape and a dramatic hat. The ensemble, a collaboration between Ross, her son Evan Ross, and Nigerian designer Ugo Mozie, featured an 18-foot train embroidered with the names of her descendants, intertwining personal legacy with fashion. 

Zendaya

Zendaya in Louis Vuitton Met Gala 2025

Zendaya embraced the theme with a custom white three-piece suit by Louis Vuitton, styled by Law Roach. The ensemble, inspired by 1970s icons like Bianca Jagger, offered a refined take on tailoring, balancing authority and elegance. Her look was a testament to the power of simplicity in fashion. 

Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe in Thom Browne Met Gala 2025

Janelle Monáe captivated attendees in a custom Thom Browne creation. Her ensemble featured an overcoat with trompe l'oeil details, which she later removed to reveal a deconstructed suit beneath. The look paid homage to 1930s fashion, blending structure with innovation. 

Lauryn Hill Met Gala 2025

 

Making her Met Gala debut, Lauryn Hill wore a butter yellow suit, complemented by jewellery from designer Emefa Cole. The ensemble, featuring a standing collar that extended into a train, celebrated Black dandyism and tailoring, aligning perfectly with the evening's theme.

Natasha Poonawalla

Natasha Poonawalla delivered sustainable couture in a sari-inspired silhouette designed by Manish Malhotra. Made from repurposed Parsi Gara saris, her outfit was an elegant intersection of tradition, sustainability, and innovation.

Isha Ambani in Anamika Khanna Met Gala 2025

Isha Ambani chose an intricately beaded jacket and bralette combination by Anamika Khanna. Her ensemble glistened with real gemstones and balanced old-world richness with youthful modernity

Diljit Dosanjh in Prabal Gurung Met Gala 2025

Diljit Dosanjh wore a Prabal Gurung sherwani layered with a diamond-lined turban and a ceremonial kirpan. His look honoured Sikh heritage while introducing a bold vision of Indian masculinity to the international red carpet.

Natasha Poonawalla in Manish Malhotra Met Gala 2025

The red carpet served not just as a showcase of fashion, but as a powerful tribute to Black menswear and its evolution across time. Co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour, the evening drew on the scholarship of Monica L. Miller, whose book Slaves to Fashion provided the intellectual foundation for the exhibit. Her work traces the history of Black dandyism, reinterpreting tailoring as a medium of resistance, pride, and personal storytelling.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas Met Gala 2025

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, alongside husband Nick Jonas, embraced retro glamor in a white polka-dotted Balmain gown. Her striking emerald Bulgari pendant added a dramatic green accent that elevated the monochrome palette

Why This Gala Will Be Remembered
 
The 2025 Met Gala proved that tailoring is more than technique. It is a language of resilience, memory, and self-definition. This year’s event reminded us that garments can carry history and hold space for identity in a world that often overlooks nuance. Indian celebrities did not simply attend. They contributed to the conversation with intention, artistry, and emotional depth. Their presence underscored a global shift in fashion narratives, where heritage is not diluted for the mainstream but celebrated on its own terms.
 
The Final Thread
 
Met Gala 2025 was not just about what people wore. It was about what their clothing meant. This was fashion as documentation, as storytelling, as legacy. In a year defined by tailored lines and cultural richness, the red carpet became a runway of reclamation. The silhouettes were sharp. The symbolism was sharper. And together, they created one of the most meaningful Met Galas in history.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katen Doe

Anjna Kaur

Anjna Kaur is a prominent fashion columnist for Sri Lanka’s Daily Mirror, where her column, “The Fashion Room by Anjna Kaur,” offers readers insightful commentary on contemporary fashion trends and personal style. Her articles cover a diverse range of topics, from seasonal fashion trends to the influence of social media on fashion, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the evolving fashion landscape. Anjna is a post-graduate student at Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design (UK).

Press ESC to close