Met Gala 2025 Celebrates Black Dandyism With “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” Theme
The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, embraced the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a tribute to Black dandyism’s historical and cultural significance. Curated by Monica L. Miller, author of Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibition explored how Black communities used sharp tailoring as a form of resistance and self-expression.
The accompanying dress code, “Tailored for You,” invited guests to reinterpret menswear through avant-garde designs. Co-chairs like Pharrell Williams and Lewis Hamilton arrived in bold, dandy-inspired suits, setting the tone for a night of sartorial storytelling.
Lisa’s Provocative Louis Vuitton Look Draws Criticism
BLACKPINK’s Lisa, a global fashion icon, stepped onto the Met Gala red carpet in a sheer black lace bodysuit and tights from Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection. The lingerie-style outfit featured intricate pearl embellishments and gold chains, but it was the embroidered faces on the garment’s midsection that sparked outrage. Social media users quickly identified one of the portraits as Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist who refused to surrender her bus seat in 1955.
Critics lambasted the design for placing Parks’ likeness on underwear, calling it a disrespectful reduction of her legacy. “Rosa Parks fought for dignity, not to be reduced to a decorative element on lingerie,” tweeted historian Dr. Keisha Brown.
Louis Vuitton later clarified that artist Henry Taylor-known for his Afro-surrealist portraits-embroidered abstract faces inspired by “unsung heroes of the Black diaspora,” though they did not confirm Parks’ inclusion.
Black Dandyism’s Roots Clash With Modern Controversy
The Met Gala’s theme highlighted Black dandyism’s 18th-century origins, where enslaved and free Black men subverted European dress codes to assert their humanity. Lisa’s outfit, however, raised questions about whether the look aligned with the theme’s ethos of “ownership and respectability”. While some defended the design as a commentary on Black women’s bodily autonomy, others argued it trivialized Parks’ activism.
This isn’t the first time Lisa has faced cultural sensitivity scrutiny. In 2023, she apologized after a resurfaced video showed her using a racial slur during a performance. The Met Gala controversy has reignited debates about accountability in K-pop and the fashion industry’s tendency to prioritize shock value over historical context.
Within hours of Lisa’s red carpet appearance, “Rosa Parks” and “Lisa Met Gala” trended globally on X (formerly Twitter). One viral post read: “Imagine explaining to Rosa Parks that her face would one day be on someone’s underwear at a $50,000-per-ticket event.” Others questioned the thematic relevance: “How does lingerie with Rosa Parks connect to tailoring Black style? This feels like a stretch”.
Louis Vuitton’s creative director, Pharrell Williams, defended the look as “a celebration of Black resilience,” but the brand has yet to issue an official statement. Meanwhile, fans of Lisa (dubbed “Blinks”) flooded social media with support, arguing that the backlash overshadowed her intent to honor Black icons.
Standout Looks From the 2025 Met Gala
While Lisa’s ensemble dominated headlines, other attendees delivered show-stopping interpretations of the theme:
Zendaya honored Jazz Age dandyism in a gold pinstripe suit with a cascading feather cape by Vivienne Westwood.
Colman Domingo wore a custom Ralph Lauren tailcoat lined with Ghanaian kente cloth, blending European and West African motifs.
Simone Biles opted for a structured Balmain blazer paired with a crystal-embellished skirt, symbolizing “strength and softness”.
The red carpet also saw daring menswear reinventions, like Janelle Monáe’s deconstructed tuxedo gown and A$AP Rocky’s collaboration with Dapper Dan, which reimagined 1940s zoot suits in metallic brocade.
The Aftermath: What’s Next for Lisa and Louis Vuitton?
As the Met Gala after-parties unfolded at venues like Casa Cipriani and The Standard, the fashion world remained divided over Lisa’s look. Political commentator Angela Rye tweeted: “Fashion is art, but art has consequences. Rosa Parks’ legacy isn’t a fabric swatch.” Meanwhile, Black artists like Hank Willis Thomas praised Taylor’s embroidery as “a bold reclamation of narrative control”.
Industry analysts predict this controversy could impact Louis Vuitton’s sales in the U.S., where 38% of luxury consumers prioritize brand ethics. For Lisa, the backlash adds pressure as she prepares for BLACKPINK’s upcoming world tour. The incident underscores the Met Gala’s evolving role as a platform for cultural dialogue-and the risks of missteps in an era of heightened social consciousness.
