The Best & Worst Looks From The 2025 Met Gala

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The 2025 Met Gala left us even more in awe of the fashion than we could have ever anticipated. This year, the exhibition's theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" — the first to focus on menswear since 2003's "Men In Skirts. Inspired by the 2009 book "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity," this theme explored the influence of fashion on Black identity. In an interview with Vogue, Monica Miller, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, defined the highly expressionistic and impeccably detailed elements of dandy style as "a strategy and a tool to rethink identity, to reimagine the self in a different context." With a dress code of "Tailored for You," designers and guests were invited to pay homage to this aesthetic and historic movement.

"The history of Black dandyism illustrates how Black people have transformed from being enslaved and stylized as luxury items, acquired like any other signifier of wealth and status, to autonomous, self-fashioning individuals who are global trendsetters," explains the Met. That means fashion looks that celebrate authentic self-expression, impeccable menswear traditions, and luxurious, personalized details. Compared to the 2023 Met Gala's problematic tribute to the controversial designer Karl Lagerfeld, this theme was a breath of fresh air.

As with any Met, there were several attendees at 2025's event who leaned into the dress code's opulence, delivering looks that are guaranteed to be talked about for years. In the hours since the event streamed, social media has unofficially and unequivocally crowned Daniel Lee and Jodie Smith-Turner the best-dressed duo of the evening, while other celebs, like Zendaya, have received an outpouring of praise for their 2025 look. But of course, it also wouldn't be the Met without the few celebs who missed the memo, too. 

Gigi Hadid hit the red carpet in a custom gold Miu Miu gown and retro pin curls that had a real Old Hollywood feel. The glittering gown featured a delicate halter neck tie and a ruched waist that accentuated Hadid's hips, making it a flattering choice for the model. But a great Met Gala gown should be more than just a beautiful look. This is a red carpet for taking big swings, and Hadid just looks boringly safe. Fashion fans pointed out that the gown appeared to be a reference to Jazz Age star Josephine Baker. As the exhibition celebrates Black contributions to fashion, it's technically on theme, but it does seem to be missing the dandy menswear aesthetic that underscores the whole night. For a night that should revel in maximalism, Hadid's dress is just... fine.

Co-host Colman Domingo began the evening in a royal blue robe with sparkling epaulettes. The bespoke gown was crafted by Valentino and paid tribute to the fashion of the late "Vogue" editor André Leon Talley, a icon of modern dandyism. Once the night got rolling, Domingo shed the flowing cape to reveal another Valentino look: a three-piece suit in contrasting check patterns. The rich textures of the impeccably fitted suit evoked classic menswear, and Domingo elevated it for the red carpet with a silk scarf, rosette brooch, a variety of rings, and an ear cuff. Transitioning between looks gave Domingo the opportunity to reference a famous figure in fashion history and then transition into a look that fit the tailored suiting theme — making him a clear winner of the night.

Another case of a gorgeous gown that falters on theme. Maya Hawke's Prada look, a ballet pink dress with a sheer hooded cape in dusky pink, felt like standard red carpet fare. We love monochromatic styling, but this minimalism feels all wrong for the Met Gala — and particularly for the opulence and maximalism of this year's theme. The absence of jewelry leaves the look feeling unfocused and incomplete. Most importantly, it's missing the crisp tailoring and menswear references of this year's best looks. The loose, flowing cape is essentially the opposite of the "Tailored for You" dress code. And while it looks fine on the naturally stunning Hawke, it doesn't particularly emphasize her gamine charm either.

Lupita Nyong'o committed to the menswear theme in a double-breasted baby blue suit custom crafted by Chanel. For the 2023 Tony Awards, Nyong'o confronted body shame with a custom silver breastplate, so she's no stranger to daring red carpet choices. Nyong'o topped the structured suit with a sheer cape, giving an example of how to do a cape moment properly for the tailored menswear theme. For Nyong'o, the cape personalizes the custom suiting even further without diminishing its structure. From the rosette brooch to the hat, every stitch of this look expresses of Nyong'o's individualism, making it a stunning style and also a home run for theme.

Stylist Micaela Erlanger shared details about how the look bridged the gap between past and present fashion on Instagram, writing, "The luminous aqua lurex fabric added a bold, unexpected twist on tradition, while the hat paid homage to silhouettes seen in jazz, soul, and street style."

The ornateness of Dandyism was always going to be tricky for the Kardashian-Jenner clan, who love neutrals and monochrome. Kylie Jenner stepped onto the red carpet in a Ferragamo gown. Notably absent was her fashionable boyfriend, which might be just one more red flag in Jenner's relationship with Timothée Chalamet.

The look sort of honored the Black dandy theme, with its sharp structure and herringbone pattern, and it suited Jenner's bombshell style. However, the elements didn't come together into a fully cohesive look. The high slit, sheer corset, and sequins all competed for attention. Finally, the satin sash — thrown around Jenner's shoulders like a long trailing cape and accented with a diamond-encrusted brooch — was one detail too many.

The evening gave us several re-interpretations of the suit as gowns. But Zoe Saldaña's stunning black and white take, designed by Thom Browne, was easily the best. Of course, Saldaña turns heads going makeup free, and she would look gorgeous in a potato sack. But she looks particularly transcendent in this gown, which perfectly unites feminine and masculine tailoring. The crisp lines of the bodice descend into a boldly structured hourglass waist and high leg slits. The delicate pin stripes blend beautifully with the soft cream color of the skirt. The bold structure and suiting channel the energy of Black dandyism. The tiny buttons lining the sleeves add an extra dose of visual interest, as does the enormous bow at the back, all adding up to literal perfection.

In determining the best and worst looks from the 2025 Met Gala, consideration was given to three factors: how well the look served the theme, how memorable and conceptually adventurous the look was, and how well the look reflected the celebrity wearing it. The best Met Gala styles managed to interpret the theme in a way that also reflected the wearer's personal brand, style, and essence. The worst looks neglected the theme, or erased the celebrity in service of the theme. The best looks were bold in a way that was enhanced by the persona of the wearer, making for an original and exciting fashion moment.