Black dandyism has historically been a style worn by Black men to command respect and project elegance, in a time where white society degraded their mere existence. In the 1600’s-1800’s, enslaved people were elaborately dressed in fine fabrics, polished gold, and expensive jewelry, so that they would look like accessories to their wealthy, white enslavers. They had no autonomy over their appearance, and their entire purpose was to promote the image of their enslaver’s affluence. However, in the early 1900’s, after freedom was granted to enslaved people, men such as Langston Huges and W.E.B. Dubois wore tailored suits, sculpted glasses, and patterned pocket squares to reclaimed the style and project elegance. 

This year, the Met Gala’s theme was “Tailored for You” inspired by the Metropolitan Museum's new exhibit, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, that explores Black style and the history of dandyism. It is an annual fundraiser for the museum, and this year, $31 million dollars were raised. Co-chairs included Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, Dapper Dan, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Anna Wintour, and LeBron James. 

The most notable moment of the evening is the red carpet: celebrities including Zendaya, Tyla, Rihanna, Doechii, Emma Chamberlain, Andre 3000, Janelle Monae, Ayo Edebri, Chance the Rapper, Quinta Brunson, Lauryn Hill, and Questlove ascended the Great Hall Steps. Visitors wore deconstructed and reconstructed suits, collars, and flares, in accordance with the theme. Diana Ross, lead singer of the Supremes, arrived in an white ballgown with an 18 foot train. She has not attended a Met Gala since 2003, and is 80 years old. Rihanna, an annual star on this runway, fashionably debuted her baby bump. Her partner, A$AP Rocky, accessorized with an engraved pistol. Zendaya and Anna Sawai, a Japanese actress and singer, wore nearly identical white suits, gloves, and hats, although their pants were tailored slightly differently. 

After the red carpet, guests proceed into the Temple of Dendur for dinner and dessert. What is normally an exhibit displaying ancient Egyptian artifacts was transformed into a London suit shop, with cabinetry, floral arrangements, and patterned seats and tablecloths. James Beard-winning chef Onwuachi prepared hoecakes with crispy chicken, mini chopped cheeses, cornbread topped with caviar, curry chicken patties, papaya piri piri salad, creole roasted chicken with lemon emulsion, BBQ collard greens with bacon, and cornbread with honey curry butter, and a “Bodega Special Cosmic Brownie.” 

The celebration continued into the night, with afterparties hosted by Pharrel Williams, Tyla and Doja Cat, Stella McCartney and Charlotte Tilbury, Baz Luhrmann, Burna Boy, Alex Consani, and Ayo Edebiri. Celebs played Uno and partied until dawn.