Instagram’s Eva Chen Talks Met Gala, ‘Superfine’ And The Menswear Rise

This year’s Met Gala theme celebrates the Costume Institute’s new spring exhibition, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” on view from May 10 to October 26 at the prestigious and historic Metropolitan Museum. The annual haute couture fundraising event and award dinner, formally titled the Costume Institute Benefit, is held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in Manhattan.

Co-chair by fashionable celebrities Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams, along with Anna Wintour and honorable co-chair Lebron James, the Met Gala is popularly regarded as the world’s most glamorous and esteemed fashion event.

The theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” spotlights the rich history and modern evolution of Black dandyism, suiting, and the cultural significance of menswear, in particular, as it pertains to the black masculine experience. As Eva Chen, vice-president of fashion partnerships at Meta, Instagram’s fashion authority, noted, “This year’s theme hits everything from today’s music aesthetics to the Harlem Renaissance, civil rights, and even 1800s servant uniforms.” The exhibit and the gala celebrated how ‘Black’ style has shaped global fashion while redefining masculinity and male aesthetics.

While the Met Gala red carpet delivers memorable fashion moments, the most compelling content comes from the unscripted, behind-the-scenes glimpses posted to Instagram accounts to global audiences. Chen, the former editor-in-chief of fashion magazine “Lucky,” is carrying the torch for Instagram’s continued social media support since 2016.

This year will be Instagram’s fifth edition of its creator watch party since 2021, and as Chen noted, “People crave intimacy, not just polished red-carpet shots.” On fashion’s most exclusive night, authentic storytelling is welcomed along with the red carpet accent to the Superfine exhibit and gala ballroom.

The suspense of the evening is built through real-time shares, mirror selfies, and hashtag ‘GRWM’ [Get Ready With Me] videos before hitting the carpet, candid reactions between friends waiting to enter the venue, and the unfiltered commentary from creators attending the event on the carpet. “Unscripted, authentic content always resonates,” Chen observed, pointing to how Instagram has transformed fashion coverage from passive viewing to an engaging, immersive experience.

With the official ‘Instagram Watch Party’ to gather the great style of modern-day dandies, commentary from the social media platform will help digest the style moments happening before viewers eyes,’ and refine their knowledge of what “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” represents.

“When you look at street style photographers like Tommy Ton, Tyler Joe, or Mark Henry III, these guys are in Paris, Milan, New York, Japan,” Chen describes. “You see a lot of joy when they’re covering Men’s Fashion Week, in particular. So I’m excited to see what they capture from the night as well.”

“This year, post-Met Gala, we’re doing a creator watch party,” she celebrated. “We host an annual one where we rent out the penthouse at The Mark Hotel, which is basically Met Gala headquarters. This time, we’re hosting our watch party with fashion editor Pam Boy.”

Hosting the Instagram Creator Watch Party is notable editor, and influencer Pam_boy, inviting a diverse group of fashion influencers in the menswear space. The honored influencer invitees include Upnextdesigner, Mark_Boutilier, Wesly Breed, Mysteryfashionist, Cjay1k, Fashionroadman, Luigigiaretti, Andyyyen, Koffi.w, Dnieccio, Papesan, Jaytibbitts, Armielchandler, Jake.fleming, Joefloww, and Thesavoiedaily.

Social media has democratized fashion, and Chen highlighted how Instagram creators are driving the menswear renaissance. “Menswear is having a big moment,” she remarks. “Suiting isn’t your grandfather’s. It’s your ‘cool uncle’s.’ Now, you can find your sartorial North Star on Instagram, whether it’s a stylist or just someone posting daily outfits.”

Chen continues, “Designers like Maximilian Davis at Ferragamo are pushing vibrancy and texture. Dries Van Noten’s menswear is brilliant – I often shop [in] the men’s section. And Pharrell at Vuitton challenges codes of masculinity, just like Virgil did.”

Stars like Janelle Monáe and Lil Nas X have embraced tailored suits with dramatic silhouettes, Chen points out, while designers like Maximilian Davis of Ferragamo and Dries Van Noten showcased vibrant, textured suits that defy conservative norms.

“Men today think about style as part of their day-to-day. My husband, the most regular guy, will say, ‘That’s not the right T-shirt for me.’ Instagram’s algorithm helps people discover personal style—it’s democratized fashion.”

With a nod to menswear traditions, names like André Leon Talley, Dapper Dan, and contemporary figures like Pharrell Williams and Billy Porter come to mind. Chen reflected, “The conversation on Instagram will be super lively. Historians dissecting André 3000’s references or Tyler Mitchell’s Harlem Renaissance nods.”

Instagram digital documentation holds a weight on this glamorous evening, providing immediacy and accessibility. Where traditional media offers curated perfection, Instagram provides the human moments for your favorite celebrity adjusting their outfit last-minute, or a designer’s proud smile as their creation walks the red carpet, the relatable struggle of moving through the gala in an elaborate gown. “Post the blurry friend photo,” Chen advises. “People want to feel like they’re with you.”

The infamous “bathroom selfie” where attendees snap selfies with friends away from the all the glitz, taking a moment to regroup, has become a symbol of this larger community Instagram helps build. “It’s where everyone helps each other; loaning lipstick, fixing straps,” Chen satirically describes. “People crave that intimacy, not just polished red-carpet shots.”

This authenticity extends beyond attendees to the broader fashion community online. Historians are breaking down cultural references in Stories, stylists share mood boards that inspired looks in Reels, and enthusiasts worldwide join the conversation through comments and recreations on the many related posts. The platform has become a dynamic extension of the event itself, where passive admiration is succeeded by collective participation.

Chen notes, “That’s how you build a community. Not just by looking at fashion, but by living it.” In an era where audiences crave connection, Instagram’s real-time, multi-perspective coverage ensures the Met Gala remains a spectacle to observe, and an experience to share.

Chen predicts the conversation will only grow, adding, “Menswear isn’t a trend. It’s just beginning.” From tunnel walks with professional athletes, to Paris Men’s Week where brands like Amiri and Loewe display tailoring as a canvas for identity.

This year’s gala proves “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” isn’t just a theme for archiving. It is a celebration of how Black creativity continues to redefine fashion’s future by remembering our collective past. “Style is now part of everyone’s daily statement,” Chen concludes. At the Met and beyond, menswear is more than just clothing, having a more cultural influence that is being recognized in a modern dialogue.