By Agnete Bay Blichfeldt and Rebecca Ceccatelli. Cover image by Cristina Gonzalez Clavijo.
The red carpet of the Met Gala 2025 not only presented pop culture’s current elite dressed in extravagant outfits but also highlighted modern takes on the rich artistic and stylistic histories of dandyism and Black culture.
Last week, we witnessed the annual Met Gala and, within hours, the event’s iconic looks flooded the internet. On this red carpet, fashion serves not only as a playground but also as the most exquisite marker of cultural capital and status. At the Met Gala 2025, fashion trends take a backseat; the focus is on looks, attention and making a breathtaking entrance. Celebrity stardust is sprinkled over the red carpet, elevating fashion to opulent heights that verge on art.
This year was no exception, with the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Tailored for you,” inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibition on Black dandyism and the evolution of style within Afro-American culture. This year’s outfits featured plenty of references to this rich stylistic and artistic heritage.
The event’s board included ASAP Rocky, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton and Pharrell Williams, who set the tone for the event’s theme. Their participation paid homage to the significance of aesthetics in cultural identity, which has long deserved recognition in mainstream pop culture. In this article, we have selected the most outstanding Met Gala art references from the red carpet
The Best Met Gala Art References 2025 Underneath Guest’s Outfits
Zendaya in a White Seventies Suit
Zendaya arrived on the red carpet as the epitome of elegance in a seemingly simplistic outfit designed by Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton. She wore a slim-fitting white suit complemented by a wide-brimmed hat. Despite its clean-cut appearance, her look included several iconic references.
The suit, with its 70s-inspired wide-legged trousers and figure-hugging blazer, clearly evoked Barkley L. Hendricks’ portrait “Slick” from 1977. Moreover, her outfit bore a striking resemblance to Hendricks’ painting “What’s Going On” from 1974, further connecting it to art history.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz in Optical Stripes
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz set a new standard for “couple goals” when they arrived on the red carpet in matching red suits designed by Edward Enninful for Moncler. Their outfits playfully reinterpreted the classic suit silhouette while incorporating elements of both elegant gala wear and early 70s aesthetics, particularly through the tailored fit of the double-breasted blazers.
Additionally, the outfits reference the minimalist art movements of 1950s America, particularly the work of Frank Stella. The way Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s outfits featured inverted pinstripes not only made them stand out as a stylish couple but also created a visual dialogue reminiscent of Stella’s artwork. This interplay of straight red and black lines evokes the structures and depth seen in pieces like “The Marriage of Reason and Squalor” (1959) and the “Rectangular Orange” painting with diagonal patterns from 1965.
Colman Domingo & King Louis XIV
Domingo captivated everyone on the red carpet with his royal blue cape from Valentino. In an Interview with Entertainment Tonight, he explained that his inspiration came from kings. The reference to 18th-century aristocracy is evident: the blue colour is often associated with depictions of royalty from that era. Paired with a heavily ornamental neckpiece, his look draws a clear visual connection to the baroque painter Hyacinthe Rigaud’s 1701 portrait of the French king Louis XIV. Colman Domingo truly carried his cape with the elegance of a king!
Moreover, it’s important to note the outfit’s tribute to the late Vogue editor and style icon, André Leon Talley, who wore a cape in the same blue hue at the Met Gala in 2011.
Jodie Turner-Smith in a Burgundy Equestrian Mood
One of the most iconic outfits of the evening was worn by British actress Jodie Turner-Smith. She donned a stunning, almost sculptural burgundy leather gown with an open front, complemented by a remarkable top hat. The outfit was designed by Burberry, drawing inspiration from dandy style. Moreover, Turner-Smith based her look on a specific image she discovered.
At an event primarily focused on dandyism in menswear, she was inspired by captivating photography by Paul Nader, which depicted the 19th-century Black equestrian Selika Lezevski from 1891. Jodie Turner-Smith successfully revived the look of this historic female figure, ensuring that her appearance on the Met Gala red carpet would be remembered in fashion history.
