If you are in the New York area, you’ve got to check out this exhibit 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at The Met Museum, home of fashions most talked about red-carpet event, The Met Gala. The Costume Institute’s Spring 2025 exhibition presents a cultural and historical examination of African American style over three hundred years through the concept of Dandyism. This was actually the theme for the past Met Gala 2025.

What is Dandyism? Dandyism is a cultural movement using fashion and style combined with swag (attitude & confidence), to express yourself with a sharp, polished look. Historically, a Dandy was someone (usually a man) who dressed in an elegant, sometimes flashy way, paying super close attention to every detail of their outfit. For African American culture, Dandyism became a powerful tool to assert identity and resist stereotypes by mastering style and elegance, using style to challenge social norms, show individuality, and make a statement.

This Met exhibit celebrates how Black designers, tailors, and tastemakers have reshaped the rules of fashion from sharp suits to streetwear, from the Harlem Renaissance to haute couture. It’s a rich blend of history, style, and cultural pride, showing how tailoring became a powerful form of self-expression and resistance. Think: precision cuts, bold statements, and Black excellence. The exhibition is made possible by Louis Vuitton.

The Costume Institute’s Spring 2025 exhibition runs through October 2025
Now on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 999
Free with Museum admission