On May 10, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute will open “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a landmark exhibition tracing over 300 years of Black fashion through the lens of dandyism. Co-curated by Monica L. Miller and Andrew Bolton, the show delves into how Black individuals have harnessed style as a form of resistance, identity, and cultural expression.
But first, on Monday, the Met held its annual benefit, more commonly known as the Met Gala, to celebrate the exhibition and raise money for the institution.
This year’s event called for attendees to interpret, reimagine, or otherwise embody the theme of “Black dandyism.” While there was the usual parade of A-list celebrities, from Nicole Kidman and Meghan Thee Stallion to Spike Lee, this year also saw strong attendance from blue-chip contemporary artists like Rashid Johnson and Jordan Casteel—who were on the Gala’s star-studded host committee. Amy Sherald and Arthur Jafa were also in attendance, among others.
After last year’s clichéd floral theme, this year’s Gala was a breath of fresh air. Below, are a few unmissable looks from this year’s Met Gala red carpet.