Last night marked the world’s biggest nights of fashion of the year, the annual Met Gala in New York City. In support of this year’s exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, the Met Gala 2025’s dress code was Tailored for You. It’s the first theme since 2003 to focus exclusively on menswear. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, the evening’s concept was “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation.”
The biggest names in fashion, film, art, culture, theatre, music, sports, technology, and other industries didn’t disappoint as they showed up in their most iconic looks on the museum’s stories steps. The best looks celebrated unapologetic self-expression and style, honed in on the art of suiting, and at its core, honoured the Black dandy’s unabashed sartorial spirit. Kim Kardashian to Zendaya, celebrities brought their own interpretation to the theme with sharp suiting, sweeping trains, feathered finery and more. The theme also saw a return of some of the best and brightest Black stars.
Here are the celebs who really understood the assignment to communicate, stand out, survive, and thrive with their ensembles.
Diana Ross in Ugo Mozie
The Grammy-winning queen made a return to the Met Gala after 20 years in a floor-grazing white crystal-embellished gown that was simply supreme. She paired her jaw-dropping dress with a feathered overcoat that she said was embroidered with the names of all her children and grandchildren. The coat had an 18-foot-long train, which swept the floral carpet like a glamorous duster.
Kim Kardashian in Chrome Hearts
Kim Kardashian captivated the blue carpet in a two-piece black crocodile-like leather look by Chrome Hearts. It comprised a corset and a skirt with a statement train. She accessorised her rocker-style look with a complementing black leather hat and a pearl chain belt, as well as an extravagant diamond choker with matching earrings by Mooussaieff.
Priyanka Chopra in Balmain
For Priyanka, the Met Gala holds a special place as she famously attended it in 2017 with Nick Jonas before they officially got into a relationship in 2018. The duo arrived at their fourth Gala together coordinating in retro attire. Priyanka wowed in a white halter-neck dress with black polka dots by Olivier Rousteing layered with a blazer. The hourglass silhouette featured a skinny black belt at the waist and black buttons down the centre. She accessorised with massive black wide-brim hat and a slim belt. What truly upped the ante was her jaw-dropping Bvlgari necklace that featured the 241-carat Magnus Emerald, which is “the largest faceted stone ever set by Bulgari”, according to their release.
Diljit Dosanjh in Prabal Gurung
Diljit didn’t just make his Met Gala debut, he killed it. The global sensation wore his heritage on his sleeve, quite literally, in a bespoke sherwani and a tehmat (draped pants) by Prabal Gurung. The ivory and gold bespoke look was designed to emulate Sir Bhupinder Singh, the early 20th century Maharaja of Patiala from the Punjab region of India who was known for his opulent style and lifestyle. The look featured hand-embroidered motifs inspired by India, like lotus flowers and peacocks on the belt. On the cape, an artistic representation of the state of Punjab as well as Punjabi script, known as Gurmukhi. A sword and statement jewels by Golecha Jewels completed his look.
Shah Rukh Khan in Sabyasachi
Another empowered debut at the steps was Shah Rukh Khan’s. The iconic actor highlighted Black and Indian Dandyism in an all-black outfit by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, consisting of a black crepe de Chine silk shirt, left open at the chest, paired with tailored superfine wool trousers layered over floor-length coat in Tasmanian superfine wool, finished with monogrammed Japanese horn buttons. He rounded it off with jewellery, also by Mukherjee, including a stack of talismanic chains anchored by a crystal-studded pendant shaped as the letter ‘K’ and a diamond star brooch at the lapel, rings, and the Bengal Tiger Head Cane, crafted in 18k gold and embellished with gemstones.
Kiara Advani in Gaurav Gupta
Kiara Advani, too, made her debut. The mom-to-be turned heads in a custom Gaurav Gupta gown that not only flaunted her baby bump but also celebrated her motherhood journey. The black gown titled Bravehearts featured a floor-length white cape, adorned with black borders. A heart-shaped gold breastplate around the strapless neckline was connected to another gold-plated mini heart on the waist with a chain representing the umbilical cord.
Natasha Poonawalla in Manish Malhotra
The Indian Empress of style, Natasha made a commanding statement in custom Manish Malhotra couture. Her interpretation of the theme was reframed through the language of Indian couture, while honoring her Parsi ancestry. Her look: a sculpted fishtail skirt reengineered from two vintage Parsi Gara saris. Anchoring her look was a corset-cummerbund paired with a vintage French lace bralette edged in scalloped pearls. A sharply tailored black Gara jacket with bold shoulders and embroidered in the sacred ektaar technique completed her look.
Kylie Jenner in Ferragamo
The beauty mogul served up sheer sensuality in a Ferragamo corset dress with halter neckline and sporadic black-and-white beading detail. It comprised a see-through bodice with corseted boning and a floor-length skirt featuring a thigh-high leg slit and sequinned herringbone embellishments. She completed the look with matching opera gloves, Lorraine Schwartz jewellery, and a wrap, adding a polished touch to her red carpet moment.
Zendaya in Louis Vuitton
Zendaya wore one of the chicest suits of the night by Louis Vuitton with single-breasted jacket, waistcoat, silk shirt and tie and flared trousers. Styled by her longtime collaborator Law Roach, her white tuxedo was a nod to the rock and roll history of the zoot suit, a staple look of Black dandyism. Exceptionally tailored, her suit was inspired by Diana Ross’s 1975 film Mahogany, and she serendipitously followed the legendary singer on the red carpet. She wore jewels by Bvlgari.
Gigi Hadid in Miu Miu
Gigi looked every inch the supermodel that she is in a custom Miu Miu halter-neck gown in gold velvet. Unique compared to the suits on the steps, her liquid gold look was a take on loud luxury with its 3D embellishments, crystal embroidery, and a cinched drop-waist design. The gown doffed the hat to Zelda Wynn Valdes, a ‘40s-era dressmaker who perfected her craft in her father’s tailoring shop, as well as the iconic singer, dancer, and actor Josephine Baker.
Isha Ambani in Anamika Khanna
The Reliance heiress wore a bespoke creation by couturier Anamika Khanna. Her ensemble came with a fully embroidered waistcoat, a corset, and a jacket with a structured collar, playing with this year’s dress code. Her corset illustrated geometric patterns, which took over 20,000 hours to embroider. Also encrusted on her ensemble were semi-precious stones and pearls. She wore her mother Nita Ambani’s jewellery. The centrepiece was a double-layered diamond necklace, designed as a tribute to the Maharaja of Nawanagar.
Rihanna in Marc Jacobs
Rihanna’s outfit was a masterclass in impeccable tailoring. The custom Marc Jacobs look centred on a corset cummerbund that highlighted her baby bump. It featured a black bonded barathea wool Spencer jacket, a grey morning-stripe wool bustier bodysuit, a black pinstripe wool V-tailored skirt with tied-jacket bustle and a polka dot satin cravat with pique collar.
Shakira in Prabal Gurung
Shakira made a case for BarbieCore at the Met Gala. The Colombian singer took a quick break from her ongoing tour for making a conversation-starting appearance. She turned to Prabal Gurung for her glamorous outfit, composed of a body-hugging powder-pink gown and a larger-than-life cape that flowed into a train behind her. She added to the romance of her piece with a diamond necklace featuring a single pink teardrop diamond at the centre.
Mona Patel in Thom Browne
Gujarat-born, Dallas-based tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Mona Patel opted for a custom suit along with a cape and corseted bodice from American designer Thom Browne. The three-piece, monochromatic look showcased the structure of the suit with strong shoulders, perked-up sleeves, a corseted bodice and a form-fitted pants. Her look blended with technology, making it truly a marvel in itself. She brought a robotic canine companion with her that was attached with a 1,000-carat leash.
Coco Jones in Manish Malhotra
The stunning Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actress delivered one of the most standout looks of the 2025 Met Gala in a custom creation by Manish Malhotra. Inspired by the rebellious spirit of the ’30s zoot suit, the ensemble featured a tailored satin blouse, pearl-encrusted trousers, and a sweeping cape hand-embroidered over six months.
Mindy Kaling in Harbison Studio
The 45-year-old actress and comedian arrived at the Gala in a long-sleeved, fitted black dress from Harbison Studio. It showcased a bold white collar and red velvet details on her collar and waist. What stood out on her gown were big gold buttons of varying geometric shapes, with many smaller gold buttons lining her cuffs. She completed it with complete with jewellery by Marco Bichego.
Manish Malhotra in Manish Malhotra
Couturier Manish Malhotra, who dressed Natasha and Coco at the Met Gala 2025, also made his debut this year. As expected, he wore a bespoke piece from his eponymous line. Ditching convention, he stepped into the spotlight in a sherwani cape that was sculptural, sculpted, and subversive. “Think Inverness Dandy meets Indian couture: rich black, hand embroidery, glass beadwork, and that commanding silhouette.” His accessories, too, spoke their own story. He wore not just one, but a purposeful cluster of brooches from his High Jewellery line. He complemented these exquisite heirlooms with collar pins and cufflinks, the high jewellery bathed in rubellites, diamonds, and South Sea pearls.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee in Sabyasachi
The global sensation, who has dressed the likes of Alia Bhatt at the Met Gala, showed up for his maiden appearance this year in an ivory look from his label. Inspired by the noble houses of India, Sabyasachi interpreted the Black dandy with a hand quilted, oversized court jacket and sherwani in hand dyed Murshidabad silk paired with a silk shirt, black quilted trousers and cummerbund, styled with custom embroidered shoes by Sabyasachi Accessories. His look was completed with exquisite pieces from the Bengal Royal collection of Sabyasachi High Jewellery.
Diya Mehta Jatia in Bloni Atelier
Diya Mehta Jatia, daughter of billionaire Russell Mehta and Shloka Ambani’s sister, also walked the red carpet at the Met Gala this year. She wore a white outfit from Bloni Atelier. Her sharp suit showcased an exaggerated collar and highlighted Indian art forms such as the royal Himalayan cashmere and the 9,000 hand-embroidered white quartz. She paired it with polki jewellery and a Nehru cap.
