Rain or shine — A-listers at the Met Gala were looking superfine.
Monochromatic looks ruled the night at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with stars mostly opting for shades of black and white to celebrate the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit opening.
A choir sang and danced to Motown classic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” as celebrities showed up in their super-finest couture — the big trend of the night being power suiting. After all, the dress code for the night was “Tailored for You,” so suits were suitable.
Zendaya channeled Bianca Jagger in a white Louis Vuitton tailored two-piece designed by Pharrell Williams, while Madonna went classic in a white tuxedo by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford. And it was a no-pants night for Sabrina Carpenter, who said Vuitton’s creative director Pharrell Williams told her she was too short to wear trousers.
Co-chair Colman Domingo wore two looks fit for a king for the night. First, he wore a royal blue cape with ivory bolero covered in gold and silver embellishments before revealing a black, white and gray tailored suit — dandy flower included — both from Valentino.
But it wasn’t all suiting. Others were just tailored to perfection — Sydney Sweeney in a black beaded Miu Miu gown with a dramatic cutout and ornate brooch, Audra McDonald in an ivory Harbison Studio gown with bouffant sleeves and Gigi Hadid, who said her gold Miu Miu dress was inspired by late dandyism designer Zelda Wynn Valdes, who often fused glamour with sharp tailoring.
Kim Kardashian arrived late in the evening wearing a skintight, black leather snakeskin dress by Chrome Hearts.
And in pure dandy form, stars brought the drama, like Diana Ross, whose white Ugo Mozie gown had an 18-foot white train — complete with her entire family’s names embroidered underneath — longer than a flight of stairs. Cynthia Erivo wore a black and red jeweled coat by Givenchy Haute Couture with a long tulle train and black short shorts.
André 3000 really went grand with the drama, too. The Outkast rapper, clad in a Burberry look, strapped a giant piano to his back to promote his surprise new EP, entitled “7 piano sketches.”
But no one brought as much drama as Rihanna, who low-key announced she’s pregnant with her third child. Arriving late wearing Marc Jacobs, RiRi was glowing while A$AP Rocky, who served as co-chair for the night, looked dapper in an AWGE suit and jacket.
“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which runs from this Saturday through October 26, celebrates 250 years of black style worn fit for a “dandy,” or as guest curator Monica L. Miller put it, “someone, often a man, who is extremely devoted to aesthetics and approaches it as a lifestyle.”
It’s the second exhibit at the museum devoted to menswear, from the 18th century to 1930s zoot suits to contemporary fashion.
Familiar modern pieces include Louis Vuitton from designer Pharrell Williams’ recent collections — as well as the late Prince’s white ruffled Vaughn Terry Jelks shirt from his 1984 “Purple Rain” tour and disco legend Sylvester’s silver Pat Campano jacket.
Here are some of the biggest moments from fashion’s big night out.
