Diana Ross brought the 2025 Met Gala red carpet to a halt on Monday night, May 5, wearing an epic jacket with a seemingly endless train that spread almost the entire width of the iconic steps leading into the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Ross revealed to Vogue livestream host La La Anthony that she was persuaded to attend Monday night’s Met Gala by her son, Evan Ross, after not coming to the event since 2003. She also revealed an Easter egg hiding beneath her train: she had the names of her five children and eight grandchildren stitched into the garment.
Ross was joined by Evan for her Vogue interview, and daughter Tracee Ellis Ross was also in the building for the Met Gala. Beyond the jacket, the 81-year-old diva also wore a low-cut silver-sequined gown and a wide-brimmed white hat adorned with white feathers that matched the feathers lining her showstopping coat.
When Ross last attended the Met Costume Institute Gala in 2003, she was a vision in red, wearing a satin gown with delicate detailing at the neckline and a matching red satin shawl. The 2025 Met Gala theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which also inspired the Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition of the same name and explores the history of Black dandyism.
This year’s Met Gala—thanks to its special theme—is bringing some of the best and brightest Black talent in fashion and entertainment to the red carpet, including some of Hollywood’s greatest living legends, like the incomparable Diana Ross. For fashion’s biggest night, the Grammy-winning star wore a floor-grazing white crystal-embellished gown that quite literally took over the navy-blue carpet leading up the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The former Supreme completed the jaw-dropping look—which she designed herself—with a matching feather-boa-trimmed cape and a dramatic hat that towered above her signature voluminous curls.
She later revealed on the red carpet that the cape was embroidered with the names of all of her children and grandchildren. Multiple handlers had to help the superstar carry her dress up the stairs—but when you’re one of the world’s definitive divas, that’s the least that a couple of men can do! Tonight’s evening marks the first time Ross has attended the Met Gala in over 20 years. Her last time attending was in 2003, alongside Tom Ford, when Gucci sponsored the annual event.
As her son, Evan Ross, who accompanied his mom to the event put it, “She is the Met Ball.” In addition to the feathered cape and sequined slip gown, Ross's look included a dramatic, feathered white hat and equally oversized diamond drop earrings. Talking to La La Anthony on the red carpet, Ross admitted that her attendance at fashion's biggest night was a bit of a last-minute decision, because she is currently on tour. “Everything was really really last moment,” Ross said. “My son persuaded me…He was like, ‘Mom, you gotta go.’”
But about that cape. Ross told Anthony that you couldn't see it, but there was a special touch added to the train. “Inside the train, it has the names of all my children and my grandchildren,” Ross said, making the look a “family gown.” She added, with a laugh, “I had to be careful with my hat, because my head is pretty big.” Speaking of family, Ross's daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross, didn't walk the carpet with her mom, but she did attend as well.
Despite the rainy weather in New York, the Met Gala was full of glamor on Monday, May 5, 2025. The gala centered around the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” this year. Vogue described the dress code as “tailored for you,” with a focus on menswear — however guests might interpret that, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Actor Colman Domingo, F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and producer Pharrell Williams are co-chairs of the uber-exclusive event, alongside Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue. The star’s style has remained quintessentially Diana over the decades; back in 2003, she wore a satin floor-length gown in her signature color—fiery red—and a matching flowing cape, along with her hair styled in her famous voluminous curls.
As the evening progressed, Ross's dazzling appearance continued to capture the attention of the crowd, proving that her legacy in the music and fashion worlds remains as strong as ever. With a career spanning decades and a history of iconic performances, Ross's presence at the Met Gala was a celebration not just of her style but of her contributions to the entertainment industry.
In summary, Diana Ross's return to the Met Gala after 20 years was marked by her stunning outfit and heartfelt tributes to her family, showcasing the enduring bond she shares with her loved ones while embracing her role as a fashion icon.
