Hey y’all,
It’s been a few days since the first Monday in May, and you know what that means: it’s Met Gala time. The midnight blue carpet is rolled up, the press photos are in, and the takes (wipes brow) have been flying. So now that I’ve sat with it, watched the livestream, read the commentary, and revisited the standout looks, I have something to say.
This year’s theme celebrated Black dandyism and was inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion, which explores the history and style politics of Black men in Western fashion. The theme was timely, relevant, and filled with potential, especially in a moment where visibility, racial identity, and creativity are all under political siege. This should have been a visual feast. But for me, the night came and went without any truly unforgettable fashion moments.
Now don’t get me wrong. There were beautiful looks. There was excellent tailoring, lavish detail, nods to masculine sartorial excellence, and more than a few dramatic trains. But where was the whimsy? Where was the irreverence? The surprise? The “we’ll be talking about this for years” moment? I didn’t see it
.
Let me be clear: I love fashion. I’m not a fashion girl per se, but I love aesthetics, I love history, I love what people communicate through clothing. And part of what makes the Met Gala special—what makes it mass culture event for the extremely online—is the idea that fashion can be a form of art. That it can provoke, inspire, delight. This year felt a little boxed-in. A little too safe. A little too literal.
And I think that’s because this moment, thanks to Donald Trump and Co., is political. We are living through a cultural backlash that has made every form of visibility—especially Black visibility—feel defiant. That weight is heavy. And that weight, I believe, showed up on the carpet. What could have been opulent became cautious. What should’ve been playful felt burdened.
That’s not to say there weren’t bright spots. I loved Teyana Taylor’s look, created in collaboration with the legendary Ruth E. Carter. The more I see Janelle Monáe in Thom Browne x Paul Tazewell, the more I like it. The look exemplified the playfulness I wish I’d seen more of, although I’d love to see her try something besides Thom Browne next time.
The legendary Diana Ross stunned me because she’s Diana freaking Ross but also because she brought scale, drama, and legacy with her embroidered cape. I also liked Cardi in Burberry, Coco Jones in Manish Malhorta, and Lauryn Hill’s structural yellow Stella McCartney moment.
But y’all know how I measure impact. The 2018 Heavenly Bodies Met was PEAK. I crave Rihanna in China: Through the Looking Glass levels of drama or Tyla’s sand sculpture moment. I want Gaga's camp reveal or Zendaya’s Cinderella transformation. I want SPECTACLE, and I didn’t get that this year.
I did appreciate the context Pharrell brought by shouting out working-class Black men and challenging the idea that dandyism belongs to the elite. That part? Loved it. Because good taste isn’t about money. It’s about eye. It’s about curation. It’s about culture. And Black folks have been curating beauty out of oppression for centuries. That’s what Sunday Best is about. That’s what this theme could’ve celebrated more boldly.
I also want to talk about the fake outrage. Lisa did not have Rosa Parks embroidered on her panties. That discourse was not real. And I’m not spending time being mad at white women for being boring. Sydney Sweeney’s off-theme look? Hailey Bieber’s tuxedo mini dress? It’s not an attack on Black imagination. It’s just boring rich white women being boring rich white women. Let’s all calm down.
Overall, I think fear stifled expression. Add this to the long list of things Donald Trump ruined. I think the weight of representation held some people back. And I think that in our current political climate, that’s understandable, but I was still a bit disappointed.
We’ll try again next year.
Until then, I’ll keep rooting for the girls (gender neutral) who bring surprise, drama, and beauty to these events. And I’ll keep honoring the scholars, stylists, and visionaries who make the celebration of Black sartorial excellence possible.
💜 Kim
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