Black dandyism — a richly layered, defiant mode of fashion marked by sharp tailoring, bold flair, and deep cultural resonance — is taking the spotlight at this year’s Met Gala. No longer relegated to the periphery of the fashion conversation, the tradition is being celebrated as both legacy and revolution, with cultural trailblazers like Janelle Monáe, Pharrell Williams, and André 3000 helping lead the charge.
As a member of the gala’s host committee, Grammy-nominated artist and actor Janelle Monáe is using her platform to amplify what she sees as a long-overdue recognition. For Monáe, dandyism isn’t merely a personal aesthetic — it’s a lineage.
“Dandyism is pretty much a part of my fashion DNA through tailoring and suiting,” Monáe said. “I’ve honored my ancestors and my family who wore their uniforms, wore their suits to serve our community. It fell right in line with who I am, and the people I want to bring with me that helped build this country.”
Her presence on the Met steps this year is more than symbolic. Monáe plans to debut a new creative collaboration with 1800 Tequila, channeling both style and message into her red-carpet moment. For her, the evening is as much about homage as it is about future vision. “It’s always important to educate and reeducate the world as much as we possibly can through art and through our greatness,” she added.
Honoring a Tradition with Deep Roots
Black dandyism has existed for centuries — born in the shadows of oppression and transformed into a bold declaration of agency and identity. Its origins trace back to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, where self-presentation became a tool of resistance and self-worth. Over time, it evolved into a powerful form of cultural expression, marrying elegance with audacity.
Figures like abolitionist Frederick Douglass, whose dignified dress challenged racist depictions of Black men, and jazz titan Duke Ellington, who made tailored suits synonymous with Black excellence, helped establish the foundations of the dandy tradition. In more recent history, Harlem couturier Dapper Dan redefined the boundaries of luxury by remixing designer logos into street-savvy statements of pride and presence. The late André Leon Talley, Vogue’s former creative director, shattered ceilings with his grandeur and influence, proving that fashion could be both art and activism.
Today’s Met Gala, themed around the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, marks a pivotal cultural moment. It’s the Met’s first exhibition devoted exclusively to Black designers and its first menswear-focused show in over two decades. More importantly, it centers dandyism not as novelty, but as a tradition — one with texture, complexity, and enduring significance.
“This year’s theme is long overdue,” said Kyle Smith, the NFL’s first-ever fashion editor, who’s styled athletes like Joe Burrow and Puka Nacua. “It’s great to see the recognition that Black culture has had in fashion for years. It’s been there — sometimes subtle, sometimes overlooked — but it’s always been part of the fabric.”
A Cultural Celebration at the Met
This year’s Met Gala boasts a historic lineup of co-chairs, including music visionary Pharrell Williams, F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, actor Colman Domingo, rapper A$AP Rocky, and honorary chair LeBron James. Alongside Monáe on the host committee are names like Simone Biles, Spike Lee, Ayo Edebiri, and André 3000 — each bringing their unique voice to an evolving style movement that refuses to be confined.
Stylist El Lewis, who has worked with artists like Usher and Chloe x Halle, sees today’s moment as a realization of the dreams of generations past. “We are the walking versions that they imagined,” Lewis said. “A lot of these people died not being able to have these realities come to fruition. We have a lot of autonomy to ourselves… and I think that’s what they were seeking.”
Dandyism, in that sense, is not simply a matter of fashion — it is freedom stitched into every seam.
Brian Robinson, a stylist who has worked with Keyshia Cole and Naturi Naughton, reflected on how the late André Leon Talley might have contributed to this year’s gala, had he lived to see it.
“He would have been behind conversation pieces, but with the restraint to educate,” Robinson said. “He would have put dandyism in a positive light, helping people understand its power — not just in terms of aesthetics, but as a way to feel good, to feel seen.”
For many stylists and creatives, the hope is that this visibility ripples outward — beyond the red carpet, into everyday life, into sports arenas, into how young people see themselves and what they feel empowered to wear.
“I want to see it more in our tunnel fits in the NFL,” Smith said. “Take some fashion tips from the Met. Look at what everybody’s wearing and how they’re exploring fashion. I want to see how everybody expresses themselves and how they leave their mark.”
Fashion as Resistance, Style as Storytelling
Black dandyism has never been just about clothes. It is language, protest, remembrance, and celebration — all expressed through the cut of a jacket or the tilt of a hat. As it takes center stage at one of the world’s most watched fashion events, it’s doing more than turning heads. It’s reclaiming space, rewriting narratives, and demanding that Black stories — past, present, and future — be told in full color, full texture, and full pride.
What are your thoughts on how fashion can be used as a form of cultural or political expression?