Burgunbee

I couldn’t have stopped at the first part of this article without mentioning a few of the most memorable looks from this year’s edition.

Among the 600 dinner guests, some walked the red carpet as iconic duos : the designer and their muse. I had to mention Olivier Rousteing and Rosalía for Balmain, or even Haider Ackermann and Madonna for Tom Ford. Regarding Rosalía’s look, some of you might have questioned whether it truly respected the theme. In fact, the Spanish singer honored it beautifully, with Olivier Rousteing playing a key role in the vision behind her appearance. With her perfectly tailored dress and matching garment, Rosalía embodied the role of the designer’s model and muse. The train of her dress symbolized the rolls of fabric often seen in a designer’s atelier. Through this duo, Olivier Rousteing presented a visual representation of a designer and his muse, celebrating the craftsmanship behind tailoring.

Another house that undeniably stood out on the 5th of May : Louis Vuitton, ladies and gentlemen. And they arrived like a family !

The freshly crowned Grammy winner, Doechii, gave us an unforgettable look for her first Met, my personal favorite. With Doechii, the outfit embraced the theme down to the smallest details. From a tiny LV on her cheek, honoring the house she represented, to other subtle LVs on her teeth. As for the theme, ahhh, Doechii nailed it ! Her long coat, tie, and suit checked every box in the dandyism playbook while still staying true to her personal style.

To finish this ode to fashion, I would like to highlight five looks that, in my opinion, best embodied this year’s theme.

The artist Teyana Taylor wore a custom-made costume designed by the renowned fashion designer Ruth Carter, known for her creations celebrating African-American culture. Once again, it was all about the details, and bold ones. From the suit itself to the enormous coat with dramatic epaulettes and a long, long, long train, all elevated by a striking red hue. From the red feather on her hat to the cane and bold red high heels, her entire look was a work of art. Teyana made the Met Gala her realm for the night.

As a co-chair, actor and director Colman Domingo clearly understood the assignment. He stepped onto the red carpet wrapped in a cape that covered his entire body. Deep royal blue with a gold and white top layer, this first appearance screamed Valentino. Once the reveal happened, the massive cape gave way to a black and white suit, adorned with a large flower on the jacket, and decorated with lines and circles, a visual blend that reminded me of old black-and-white films. A marriage of tradition and modernity. One cannot exist without the other, remember that. Colman wasn’t just wearing fashion, he was embodying it. That is true dandyism.

Thom Browne, one of the masters of tailoring, once again proved his place in the fashion world. American singer and rapper Janelle Monáe appeared as a fusion of the two previous looks. She first stepped onto the red carpet hidden beneath a massive cape, topped with a tall bowler hat. The cape itself mimicked the design of a true suit, just without the volume. Her walk and expression were mechanical, as if she were part of a living art piece. Then came the transformation: the cape was removed to reveal the exact same suit previously drawn on the outside, now brought to life in three dimensions. Janelle broke free from her art cage and served face for the cameras.

Caleb McLaughlin and Khaby Lame both wore grey suits, where the emphasis was placed on the jewelry that elevated the look. Caleb, representing the art of tailoring under the Dior house, wore a tuxedo full of thoughtful details, a patterned tie held by a pearl jewel, elegant pins on his jacket collar, delicate gloves, and a single watch fastened to his suit, paired with a set of silver chains.

As for Khaby, dressed by Boss, his look may have been one of the most timeless of the night. Let’s just say that if Caleb’s watch stopped working during the evening, Khaby was exactly the one to rely on ! A dark grey tuxedo paired with a white tie, a classic hat, and black-and-white shoes. But the focus was on his vest: more than 20 watches were displayed (I counted 24), each showing a different time. The meaning behind this iconic look ? To perfectly honor the theme, Boss reinterpreted the classic dandy look and tailored it specifically for Khaby. The suit and its watches illustrated the swift passage of time. Thanks to his meteoric rise on TikTok during the 2020 pandemic, Khaby became a global sensation, especially among Gen Z. Just five years later, he’s walking the steps of the MET Museum at the most iconic fashion event of the year.

As for this final look, it reminds us that while fashion may evolve, iconic movements and pieces remain anchored in history. Important causes, too, need continuous support, from all people, all races, all genders, all sexualities, especially in today’s geopolitical climate, where some still believe they have the right to judge and dictate others’ lives.

This year’s exhibition and Met Gala theme served as a reminder of our individuality and uniqueness as human beings. It was an event that celebrated the richness of African-American culture, one too often overlooked and underappreciated.

I hope this year’s edition taught you that fashion isn’t just about clothes or the price tag attached to them. Fashion is so much more than that, and only when it carries a message, an intention, can it truly be called fashion.