Louis Vuitton champions Black Dandyism at the 2025 Met Gala with meticulous savoir-faire and cultural statement with bold personas.
From hand-stitched suits to a bold pocket square and polished leather shoes, Black Dandyism is built on fluidity, precision and fit. Unlike other fashion narratives, Black Dandy fashion can create an exuberant aesthetic and yet be politically constructive. Celebrating the pivotal role Black culture plays in shaping fashion, Black Dandyism is a historical reclamation by those who defied societal norms. A vehicle for self-expression, revolution and declaration, it’s all about identity, power and resistance here.
With the 2025 Met Gala embracing the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”—in honour of the Costume Institute’s Spring 2025 exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum— the world shifted its eyes and ears, fuelling conversations surrounding the cultural and historical spectacle of Black style over 300 years through dandyism. Taking Black dandy as its subject, this year’s Met Gala was flooded with new forms of dandyism, adapting its fashion to newer times while staying committed to its core values.
Punctuated with bold personas, power dressing and classic codes, the red carpet was teetering between femininity and masculinity—a directive that led to various fashion statements, from traditional tailoring to avant-garde ensembles. From a well-fitted suit making a statement in itself to embracing vibrant hues and adding layers of accessories to exude purpose, the rendition of fashion at the Met Gala leaned towards precise tailoring and subverted silhouettes.
To illustrate how self-presentation served as a form of distinction and resistance within a society shaped by race, gender, class, and sexuality, French Maison Louis Vuitton took the initiative to make a declaration through its craftsmanship. With the guidance of its Men’s Creative Director, Pharrell Williams, who also served as co-chair of this year’s Met Gala, the Maison’s dandyism showcase at the Met Gala opened a dialogue about identity, style and culture. With Zendaya, Jeremy Allen White, Callum Turner and Doechii representing the Maison—it was nothing short of tactful and stylish. But, who truly stole the spotlight were Pharrell himself, Sabrina Carpenter and Lisa.
Take a look at who came to the 2025 Met Gala dressed in Louis Vuitton:
Epitomising a dandy vision, Pharrell Williams stole the show with a double-breasted, cropped evening jacket that was hand-crafted entirely in interlaced white pearls in two different sizes—creating a pinstriped effect. Opting for a structured look, the Creative Director chose to flaunt himself in flared trousers tailored in fine black wool. Packing a punch, he finished his whole ensemble with LV Jazz derbies and a Speedy P9 Bandoulière 20 evening bag.
Going for an exaggerated, asymmetrical detail with Louis Vuitton was Sabrina Carpenter. Donning a novelty silhouette, she strutted a tailcoat that was elongated into a train, all of which were made in pin-striped burgundy wool jacquard with crystal buttons. Mimicking the stage suits of 20th-century showmen, the dandy ensemble fused the tradition of London’s Savile Row with the corseterie of Parisian haute couture. Keeping the classic codes of Dandy fashion, Sabrina finished her look with a high starched shirt collar while keeping it slightly feminine with a corseted body structure. Completing the look was a hard-sided Mini Trunk evening bag with the same aesthetics as the tailcoat that was made solely for the Met Gala.
Embracing fluidity and playfulness, Lisa from BLACKPINK was spotted styling a men’s blazer—that was transformed into a bone basque jacket—layered over a corseted body and Monogram tights. The jacket was crafted in black lace encrustation, rendering an artwork by the artist Henry Taylor overlaid with the Louis Vuitton Flower Monogram and hand-embellished with crystals. The look was paired with a Speedy P9 Bandoulière 20 evening bag in black supple leather adorned with hand-encrusted pearl Monogram and a chain of pearls to make her look effortlessly cool.
Finally giving recognition it deserves, the Maison has not only redefined Black Dandyism but has elevated it by challenging conventional narratives and embracing individuality—infusing the red carpet with both sartorial elegance and profound cultural purpose.
