There was tailoring, there were debuts, and most of all, it was over too quickly. Can we watch the Met Gala all over again?

In the city that never sleeps, a lot can happen in one night, and on the first Monday of May, the Met Gala annually causes fashionable havoc upon New York. With the dress code reading ‘Tailored for You’, this year’s guests got suited and booted, paying homage to the Costume Institute’s upcoming exhibition: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, tracing the history of Black Dandyism through the lens of Monica L Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. 

As always, the carpet was theme appropriate – drenched in swathes of royal blue, ivory flowers dusted the paparazzi-laden stairs. We saw Riri’s second Met Gala pregnancy announcement (cue the ‘if she had a nickel for every time that happened, she’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?’ memes), jumbo hats and canes were in no shortage, and, Lisa from BLACKPINK wore a Rosa Parks’ face on her… crotch? There’s so much to debrief on, so let’s get straight into it, these are our trail-blazers from the night (pun intended).

Zendaya in Louis Vuitton

Ok, so the Zendaya theory might have some legs to it (for those of you clueless at the prior statement, it’s probably a good thing that you’re not brain rotting on TikTok), the Met Gala darling arrived in a dashing custom Louis Vuitton suit that looked so well-constructed that it might as well have been her second skin. Of course, she donned a rather large hat, she inadvertently wore the same outfit as Anna Sawai, and left a lot of us wanting a tad more, but you know what they say about overworking art, sometimes less is more. Yes, we’re used to extravagant ballgowns worn by Zendaya at the Met Gala, but maybe this pared-back, intricately tailored suit was exactly what this year’s theme called for.

Doechii in Louis Vuitton

Some celebs wear big coats to hide their outfit before they get to the Met steps, but as soon as a life-size box rolled out of The Mark Hotel, covering up somebody’s outfit, probably in the most conspicuous way possible, we just knew it had to be containing our Swamp Princess. And right we were, as Doechii served up on the carpet. It was the rap-diva’s debut on the steps, as she stunned in another custom Louis Vuitton look, this time, with a cigar in hand, as a chunky maroon bow divided up her monogram LV suit. Chequered jorts were confronted with cherry red mary-janes and a matching pair of stockings, as, despite her usual affinity for a funky braiding style, Doechii honoured her natural hair, sporting a well groomed afro.

Rihanna in Marc Jacobs

We’re getting some Met Gala déjà vu: Rihanna, once again, was one of the last guests to step onto the carpet, and she stole the show whilst doing it – taking the opportunity to announce her third pregnancy, the second time she’s used the Met as a baby-reveal moment. After a flurry of pre-Met paparazzi pictures, Riri was spotted in a Miu Miu FW25 look, and at the tailend of the night’s antics, she stepped out in a custom, swoon-worthy Marc Jacobs look. Featuring a rather dramatic hat, a corseted top, and a skirt which deconstructed the classic suit blazer, as the arms tied themselves around her back and emanated a Regency-era bustle. 

Colman Domingo in Valentino and OMEGA

A moment for our co-chairs please! Colman Domingo paid tribute to the great André Leon Talley in his two-part look: wrapped in an oversized, cerulean coat, the actor then ditched the cape coverage to reveal a suave, Valentino-style, black and white suit underneath. Unfolding as a mismatch of patterns, Domingo wore a chequered blazer, with a polka dot rosette, as a (slightly bigger) dotted scarf tied itself around his collar. Finishing off the look, Domingo paired his chequered dandy dream with an OMEGA Speedmaster watch, in 18K gold, which snuck its way onto his left wrist.

Lupita Nyong’o in Chanel

It’s chic, it’s tailored, it’s still feminine, and it’s all blue: Lupita Nyong’o’s Chanel outfit was served, signed and delivered, and she even had time to bedazzle her eyebrows in black diamantés. In a monochrome wash of icy teal, the actress’ outfit showcased a well-tailored suit, with a small hat sat comfortably on her head, and a rosette on her right lapel. Topped off with a flowing cape that cascaded down from the shoulders of Nyong’o’s suit, yes please.

Doja Cat in Marc Jacobs

She’s gone full cat before (see 2023), and this year was no different, just one word for the rap-diva’s fit: meow. In an oversized bodysuit, Doja Cat put her own spin on a pinstriped zoot suit, with whacky, classic Marc Jacobs proportions, maximal shoulder bads and cone bras collided with cheetah prints and bedazzled striped, placing a pair of comically high heels centre stage.

Janelle Monae in Thom Browne and Paul Tazewell

When it comes to the Met Gala, Janelle Monáe commits to the bit. In collaboration between Thom Browne and Paul Tazewell – who was the first Black man to win best costume designer at the Oscars, for Wicked – Monáe gave us not one, but two looks, and a reveal. Starting off in a boxy coat, printed with a trompe l’oeil bag and suit, Tazewell then ripped off Monae’s jacket, to showcase the real thing. A sharply tailored suit, with the IRL version of the printed bag. 

A$AP Rocky in AWGE

Perhaps the only thing cooler than attending the Met Gala as a co-chair, is designing your own outfit, and A$AP Rocky did just that. With a head showcasing his intricate braids, a smile chock-full of grills, and a pair of flashy Ray-Ban sunnies (he’s knee-deep in a collaboration with the sunglasses brand right now), the rapper wore a self-designed outfit, under his own creative agency AWGE (the letters have never been explained, we just go with it). Hidden within his outfit, a black trench coat – which is now available for purchase – paired with a dapper suit, and an entourage of bedazzled accessories. A$AP was inspired by the streets of Harlem and it showed, from head-to-toe, to the signet ring that glimmered in the light, sat on his pinky finger.

Laura Harrier in Gap Studios by Zac Posen

New-York-born designer Zac Posen began his Met Gala research in Harrier’s archives, rummaging through her childhood family pictures, exploring her personal relationship with style. Transfixed by pictures of the actress’ father and grandfather in beautifully constructed suits, Posen brought these memories to life, and it paid off. Playing with rebellion and uniform, Harrier’s Met Gala offering saw sweeping sleeves meet with a tightly buttoned blazer, and oversized, culotte-style trousers, in a cream colour palette. It was so elegant, and blew us away.

Words – Freya Goodchild-Bridge