Met Gala 2025: What is Black dandyism, a celebration of style and an ethos from 18th century

The biggest night of fashion has finally arrived in the form of Met Gala 2025 as we saw all the celebrities across the globe gracing the stage donning wonderful outfits. The annual fundraiser, which raises money for the museum’s Costume Institute, saw stars from Bollywood, Hollywood and other entertainment industries including music.

This year’s Met Gala’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” It was designed to celebrate menswear and Black dandyism as per Vogue.

What is Black dandyism?

In simple words, a dandy is a man who is dressed sharply. He is perfectly groomed, refined and has excellent manners. Beau Brummell is considered the first dandy. A figure of Regency England was known for personal appearance and inspired men in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It also led to employ good hygiene and experimenting with trendy garments and trying something new apart from aristocratic ways of dressing.

As per Ty Gaskins, this style is better defined as a “fashion revolution”. “In a world where Black people have been marginalized, the dandy became a figure who defied the rigid categories of race and class that sought to confine them,” Gaskins wrote.

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The black dandyism showed growth in the post-Emancipation era when former slaves took on dandyism

In fact, in the recent blockbuster Sinners, we see the lead actor Michael B Jordan embracing black dandyism as he portrayed the dual roles of twin brothers Smoke and Stack. The movie directed by Ryan Coogler is set in 1932 in the Mississippi Delta. It also featured Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, and Delroy Lindo in prominent roles.