By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, there are a few things you need to know— number one, the Vogue red carpet coverage began at 10 pm WAT, but the first Afrobeats star showed up by 1 am. That star was Burna Boy, dressed in a red wool tuxedo and an oxblood eelskin cape paired with a yellow shirt, which has been compared to an antibiotic capsule. The look was designed by Ghanaian talent, Ozwald Boateng. Less than an hour later, stars like Ayra Starr and Tems showed up. Who designed their outfits? Ozwald Boateng.
THE BOATENG BARBIES AT THE MET GALA:
The designs for Tems, Ayra Starr, and Burna Boy have not been fan favourites, with an X user asking, “Veekee James was busy or what?” While the discussion of how appealing his interpretation of the theme was is up for discussion, the second thing to note is Boateng’s link to the theme.
The Met Gala 2025 theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”. This theme, coinciding with the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, aimed to explore the historical and cultural significance of Black dandyism and the contributions of Black designers to fashion. The dress code for the event was “Tailored for You”, encouraging guests to interpret the theme through the lens of personal style, emphasising tailoring and menswear elements.
The eponymous label, Ozwald Boateng, a designer celebrated for his sharp tailoring and incorporation of African influences into menswear, was among the many being honoured by the Met exhibition. Boateng took the opportunity to extend the mantle and honour culture-defining stars. With every look, being an attempt at encapsulating eat person’s style.
First, Burna Boy’s oxblood eelskin cape added a layer of drama and regality, hinting at his status as an African music icon. For a man synonymous with the self-given title, African Giant, this was a deliberate presentation of self, a nod to his roots elevated through Boateng’s tailoring.
Then there was Tems, radiating sophistication in her custom deep blue shirt dress. The sharp lines and tailored fit spoke to the core of the theme, while the vibrant green print woven through it offered a beautiful contrast, and a closer look at the prints shows a subtle connection to African textile traditions. The green print matched her necktie and umbrella, adding an unexpected touch.
For Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa, purple was the colour du jour. Purple is synonymous with royalty and luxury. This ties in with the politics of black dandyism, as it was a form of defiance, self-definition, and a way to challenge societal hierarchies. Gatwa’s appearance in a purple patterned suit by Ozwald Boateng represents a considered engagement with the theme’s relation to Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”
Ayra Starr played it simple, a little too simple for her Met Gala debut, in a sleek, daring V-neck black dress, and a cane in hand. Like Tems and Gatwa’s looks, a zoom into Starr’s outfit reveals a pattern similar to African textile prints. The look was not anything fans haven’t seen before, and the most exciting part was the hints of her outfit’s lining. The lining was not just blue; it was not turquoise, it was not lapis, and it was actually cerulean. A colour that would ring bells in the head of any true student of the Met Gala.
THE SUPERMODELS:
While the Afrobeats triplet showed up in Ozwald Boateng, other Africans spread their wings and struck gold. This included a slew of supermodels, with Somali model Ugbad Abdi topping every best-dressed list.
Ugbad Abdi paid homage to André Leon Talley, a fashion journalist whose caftan by Nigerian designer Torlowei was added to the Superfine exhibition, in a custom Michael Kors Collection ensemble. Her look featured a pewter-and-silver paisley brocade cape with a silver faux-fur trim and a crystal pinstripe flannel trouser suit adorned with 80,000 crystals. She completed the look with a fedora and cummerbund.
Next, the South Sudanese model, Adut Akech, made an intriguing appearance in a tailored Swarovski ensemble. Her look featured a gilet-inspired mini dress paired with a floor-skimming tailcoat that was lined with hand-crafted organza feathers. The entire outfit was embellished with a staggering 25,550 Swarovski crystals in a dégradé pattern, a process that reportedly took a team of four 145 hours to complete.
Egyptian-Moroccan model, Imaan Hammam wore a custom white tailored suit by Polish designer Magda Butrym, featuring a fitted waist, structured shoulders, and wide-leg trousers. She paired it with a black shirt, a polka dot tie, a black floral and feathered headpiece, a black cane with a silver handle, and silver pointed-toe heels. Hammam ditched her regular eyebrows for a bleached set for the event.
The people’s princess, Anok Yai, graced the Met Gala steps in a custom attire by Thom Browne. Her custom look consisted of a collared black brocade bodice. A distinctive element was the inclusion of two trompe l’oeil jacket sleeves that created an illusionary effect. These sleeves then dramatically fanned out into a sweeping white tail.
THE INTERNET DARLINGS:
The internet has found some of its favourites outside the supermodel troupe. This category read the theme, researched the theme, and embodied it. Of course, there might be an outlier who didn’t follow the theme but you can not go wrong if you wrote Americanah.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie made a striking debut at the 2025 Met Gala. As a host committee member, her highly anticipated custom red gown by Prabal Gurung did not disappoint. The vibrant dress featured a fitted bodice, a flowing skirt with a dramatic train, and unique menswear-inspired embellishments like feather detailing and cascading bows.
The Nigerian actor, Damson Idris, made a memorable entrance with two custom looks by Tommy Hilfiger. He initially appeared in an F1-inspired white racing suit with logos and a red, white, and blue helmet encrusted with nearly 20,000 Swarovski crystals, a nod to his upcoming movie. In a dramatic reveal, assistants tore away the racing suit to reveal a second ensemble: a rouge tuxedo featuring a red and gold tartan print on the jacket and matching vest, paired with a white button-down shirt and flared tuxedo pants with a satin side stripe. He accessorised with a bespoke emerald brooch and jewellery from his line, DIDRIS.
Khaby Lame wore a custom three-piece suit by BOSS, designed by Marco Falcioni and styled by Ugo Mozie. The Senegalese TikToker’s grey pinstripe Italian wool serge suit was inspired by BOSS archival looks and featured a double-breasted blazer with a peak lapel and balloon-shaped trousers. The standout piece was a waistcoat embellished with dozens of antique pocket watches. He also wore a blush-colored double-breasted trench coat draped over his shoulders, a striped shirt, a white silk tie and pocket square, two-toned wingtip brogues, and a grey felted fedora hat.
Ayo Edebiri took it home with her Ferragamo ensemble designed by Maximilian Davis. Her look was a thoughtful homage to her Nigerian and Bajan heritage, specifically drawing inspiration from her father and grandfather.
The centerpiece of her outfit was an elegant, floor-length white collared dress adorned with vibrant red coral beads. These beads fell down the front of the dress in multiple strands, an ode to traditional Edo attire from Nigeria. The tailored silhouette of the dress was sharply contrasted by a sweeping black leather trench coat, adding a layer of modern dandyism. Speaking on the red carpet, Edebiri shared that her father, who married her mother in leather trousers and tuxedo tails, served as an inspiration. She described him as “one of the dandiest men I know.”
Doja Cat’s outfit was a custom Marc Jacobs pinstripe bodysuit with strong, sculpted shoulders and rounded, peplum-like hips, playing with exaggerated tailoring mimicking looks of the 1980s. Its front bodysuit featured a vibrant yellow leopard print panel that culminated in a pointed cone bra. This feline touch felt like a playful nod to her stage name and pattern of infusing animal prints.
Ego Nwodim made a stylish and playful debut at the 2025 Met Gala. The Saturday Night Live star wore a custom three-piece black suit designed by Christopher John Rogers. Her outfit featured a cropped suit jacket with strong, structured shoulder pads and a unique detail: rainbow-colored buttons running down the sleeves.
YOUR EFFORTS WILL NOT GO UNNOTICED:
For her second Met Gala, Tyla donned a custom white Jacquemus gown with black pinstripes. The off-the-shoulder design featured a fitted bodice and a train.
Styled by Law Roach, the look drew inspiration from an André Leon Talley ensemble, paying tribute to Black fashion icons. Tyla completed her outfit with over 30 carats of custom Pandora jewellery, including menswear-inspired pieces like pocket watches and a bespoke monocle with a magnifying lens.
In theory, Tyla’s look nailed the theme, but none of the references quite landed visually.
Cynthia Erivo made a stunning impression in a custom Givenchy by Sarah Burton ensemble, a dramatic take on modern dandyism that took over 2,250 hours to create. The look featured a contoured jacket with sharp shoulders and a corseted bodice embellished with over 43,400 Swarovski crystals in red floral beading, paired with a voluminous black tulle skirt that revealed her legs at the front. The look, however, did not wow the viewers.
Making his Met Gala debut, genre-bending artist Shaboozey showcased a striking turquoise ensemble by Robert Wun. He wore a cropped suit jacket and matching pants with a wavy design, paired with a black collared tank top adorned with turquoise beads. Completing the look was a slanted black hat and coordinating turquoise grillz. Shaboozey made an excellent Met Gala debut, and we appreciate that.
