The 2025 Met Gala red carpet has come and gone in rainy New York City on May 5, but the memories of the bold and beautiful outfits worn by the stars, to fit with the "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme, are forever. Meticulously planned by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, the event boasted A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton as its sharp-dressed cochairs, and they all brought their A-game style. It was a night of high fashion, featuring tailored styling for men and women with grand capes, stylish hats, elaborate headpieces, and flashy walking sticks giving extra flair.
For some of the ladies, it was a night of minimalism — in the bottoms department. Very few celebrities didn’t stand out in the crowd, as they were outfitted by the top fashion houses and dressed to thrill, thanks to their glam squads. Here are the looks we loved — and then some.
Best dressed: Zendaya A Met Gala pro, the Euphoria actress looked white hot in a sleek custom three-piece white Louis Vuitton suit and tie, which flattered in every way. The topper was a wide-brim hat, which she coyly peeked out from. Her stylist, Law Roach, said the outfit was inspired by Bianca Jagger’s bridal suit when she married Rolling Stones frontman Mick in 1971, and wild horses couldn’t drag it away from our list of faves.
Biggest newsmaker: Rihanna Ahead of the gala, the singer/designer announced she’s expecting her third child with A$AP Rocky, making for the biggest news of the night. When she finally arrived, late of course, Ri not only showcased her pregnancy but did so while keeping on theme in a Marc Jacobs menswear-inspired look featuring a gray corset, black bolero jacket, oversize black hat, and maroon dot scarf. The bottom appeared to be a striped suit jacket with the arms tied in the back, making it look like a bustle, proving she can wear anything, pregnant or not.
Worst trend of the night: So many pantsless stars We know it’s a lot to put these looks together, but some ladies seemed to have given up halfway through. Sabrina Carpenter, Taraji P. Henson, Hailey Bieber, Blackpink’s Lisa, Cynthia Erivo, and Pharrell Williams’s wife Helen Lasichanh all hopped on the no-pants bandwagon, which left us feeling that something was missing. Meanwhile, Lisa’s look is possibly controversial for another reason. There’s speculation that the image of civil rights activist Rosa Parks is embroidered on the Louis Vuitton lingerie.
Most fabulous entrance: Diana Ross Ms. Ross gets endless love for her head-turning arrival, marking her first time at the gala in over 20 years. The 81-year-old needed the help of many handlers — at least six, plus her son Evan Ross — to properly spread out her 18-foot white train, which featured her children and grandchildren’s names embroidered on it. It was hard to top that, but Ross did with her silver sparkly gown and giant feather hat.
Best carpet transformation: Colman Domingo The cochair had us at his blue pleated papal robe with fancy-schmancy bolero when he arrived and kept us when, midway through the carpet, he uncloaked to unveil his tailored black-and-white checked jacket, pleated front pants with an oversize polka dot flower on his lapel. Both Valentino looks were something to Sing Sing about, and we love a fashion fluid moment.
Most on theme: Janelle Monáe Met or no Met, the singer has long rocked dandy style, so this was her time to shine — and shine she did. Monáe told the New York Times she came up with a character for this year’s event, a “time-traveling dandy,” and the design was made in collaboration with Oscar winner Paul Tazewell and designer Thom Browne. On the carpet, she dramatically removed an oversize red, white, and black cape to reveal her more form-fitting suit and incorporated elements of time, including a clock monocle that hung from her hat and a watch, into her look.
Most daring: Halle Berry The actress went with a showstopper — and without undergarments — at her first gala since 2017. The LaQuan Smith dress had sheer stripes that made for a dangerous game: Is that Halle Berry’s…? Luckily, it seems that a wardrobe malfunction was averted because that’s the kind of pro she is. And hat’s off — in her case, a Jennifer Behr headpiece — to that.
Worst for letting anyone get near you: Demi Moore The actress always looks like a billion bucks, and her Thom Browne gown, which took 7,600 hours to make using more than 1.4 million beads, is a work of art. It also seemingly made for awkward party attire because the neck part of the tie-inspired dress formed a giant circle around the Academy Award nominee’s head. Some of her red carpet pics seemed a little awkward, and we can’t imagine having to maneuver around the party, packed with people and priceless art, with that halo overhead.
Most debated on social: Chappell Roan Social media has strong opinions about whether the “Pink Pony Club” singer’s very glam rock look — magenta suit with matching pink face makeup and silver eye shadow — was spot on or a fail at her first Met Gala. Some commenters insist that it’s “absolutely in theme,” while others felt it was just something random she pulled out of her closet. What’s not in debate? It’s very David Bowie.
Best attention to detail: Teyana Taylor The actress/singer, who cohosted Vogue’s livestream, tapped two-time Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter to design her outfit, and it was one with a lot of symbolism. Taylor’s look featured a three-piece pinstripe zoot suit along with a red cape featuring the words “Harlem rose,” a nod to where she was born and her 2018 song “Rose in Harlem.” Taylor also wore a feather-adorned top hat with a scarf beneath it, carried a cane, and rocked some seriously high platforms.
Most surprising accessories: André 3000 André 3000 walked the red carpet wearing a Burberry jumpsuit and red hat with a baby grand piano strapped to his back while carrying a trash bag. The ivories, which weighed 30 pounds, are a nod to the surprise EP 7 Piano Sketches, which he announced he dropped the same day. The story behind the trash bag and its contents remains a mystery.
Coolest couple: Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz The pair, who were married 15 years ago, were inspired to coordinate their looks on the carpet. A collaboration between Moncler x EE72 by Edward Enninful, they both wore suits, but Keys’s was a more feminine style, featuring a bustier, and she carried a puffy cape. They were in sync up to their heads with Keys wearing a beaded headpiece and Beatz sporting a complementary durag.
Most forgettable: Kim Kardashian Hey, Kim — Is that you under that hat? Since the reality star scored her first Met Gala invite in 2013, she’s always been one to watch on the carpet, whether it was her all-over floral pregnancy look or her unforgettable decision to squeeze herself into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress. This year, in an all-black leather Chrome Hearts look (plus plenty of gems amid the Paris robbery trial), it just feels less memorable than years past. Maybe part of it is that you can barely see her face under that Carmen Sandiego-size hat.
A celebrity lip reader is shedding light on the iconic moment between Zendaya and Diana Ross at the 2025 Met Gala. The music legend made a dramatic entrance in a custom gown embroidered with the names of her family members. However, as Ross attempted to navigate the blue carpet in her voluminous dress, one intimate exchange with her son and Zendaya, close by, quickly became one of the most talked-about interactions of the evening. In a post to Instagram, Jackie revealed that Ross, while assessing the staircase in front of her, turned to her son Evan Ross and said, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to go up [the stairs].” Without missing a beat, Evan reassured her, replying, “Hold on, I got this,” and helped her ascend the carpeted steps. Nearby, the 28-year-old actress could hardly contain her admiration. “She’s so fab. So fabulous,” the “Dune” star gushed to her assistant. Though the brief moment was easy to miss on the livestream, other clips soon made the rounds. In one posted by WWD, fans can be heard trying to get Zendaya’s attention, but she’s laser-focused on Ross, who inspired the actress’s white suit and hat combo that evening. The outfit was a nod to Ross’ iconic look from the 1975 film “Mahogany,” a fashion-forward love letter to Black women leading style on their own terms. “She’s the reference,” the Golden Globe-winner told the crowd, nodding toward Ross.
Like its predecessors, the 2025 Met Gala made headlines as celebrities wore bold fashion choices depending on each year's theme. While Zendaya went viral for loving Diana Ross' look, fans also noticed she was rocking the same outfit as Emmy-winning Shōgun star Anna Sawai. Zendaya's image architect, Law Roach, was being interviewed when the latter actress arrived, and he seemed pretty mortified. The Dune actress is known for being one of Hollywood's most fashionable stars, and her Met Gala outfits are usually pretty outrageous. I mean, who could forget when she wore a light-up Cinderella gown? That's why the internet exploded when she was wearing an identical look to Sawai. Hello Beautiful's TikTok caught the moment where Roach saw the Shōgun actress walk in, and he said: "I am dying because she got on Zendaya’s look. I’m so glad we came early." Rather than play it off, Roach got real mid-interview about this fashion snafu and was glad that he and Zendaya showed up at the Met Gala early enough that they wouldn't be caught on the stairs together. Although that's an image that fans would have paid to see. This is definitely a head-turning moment, as the Spider-Man actress has a reputation for bringing unique pieces to the red carpet. Case in point: Zendaya's C-3PO-looking Dune 2 premiere look. There were lots of bold fashions at the Met Gala, but it appears that the 28-year-old actress/singer might be on a new list this year.
The quote is funny enough, but actually seeing Law Roach's reaction to Anna Sawai walking in wearing Zendaya's outfit is something else. Punctuality is important, and it looks like that saved Zendaya and Law Roach from a very awkward moment at the Met Gala this year. This timing strategy is in stark juxtaposition to that of Rihanna, who announced her pregnancy at the event. She came late enough to walk the stairs of the Gala solo. It should be interesting to see if we hear from Zendaya or Law Roach about this fashion mixup as more time passes from the Met Gala. For his part, Roach has also been cementing himself as a captivating television personality, serving as a judge on Legendary and (more recently) a rotating judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. And there don't seem to be any signs of his collaboration with the Challengers actress happening anytime soon.
The Met Gala takes place every May, and a ticket to the 2025 Met Gala costs $75,000. A 10-person table costs $350,000. The 2025 Met Gala took place on May 5, 2025. The 2025 theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The theme was inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The Met Gala first began in 1948 by publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise funds for the Costume Institute. The Council of Fashion Designers of America was created in 1962. The Costume Institute has a collection of more than 33,000 objects. The first Met Gala tickets cost $50 each. The event has raised over $175 million total for the Costume Institute. The 2004 theme was “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century.” The Met Gala makes headlines every year, whether that’s due to unusual fashion choices, the price of tickets, or the celebrities in attendance. But one thing’s for certain — it will continue to cause a buzz for years to come.
