One of the biggest nights in fashion is fast approaching. In a little under two weeks, the 2025 Met Gala will take place in New York City. The annual extravaganza, which helps fund the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, is one of the most exclusive ticketed events of the year. It’s guaranteed to showcase a ton of memorable celebrity looks and viral moments.
We will probably be glued to our social media feeds on Monday, May 5 to see all of the A-list arrivals, but you also may be wondering what all of the glitz and glamour are for in the first place. Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala, we gathered some of the most important questions and their answers.
The Met Gala is held annually on the first Monday in May. This year’s event will take place on May 5.
The Met Gala is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Typically, you will also see swarms of fans camping out behind barricades at the entrances of popular hotels in the vicinity like The Mark and The Carlyle to try and catch a glimpse of their favorite celebs as they make their way to the evening festivities.
This year’s theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” First announced back in October 2024, it is inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. It is the first time since 2003’s “Men in Skirts” exhibit that it is focusing solely on menswear.
Black dandyism has a deep and complex history that dates back to 18th century England. In its simplest terms, a Black dandy is someone who takes great pride in their personal style and embraces the African diasporan aesthetic. Their wardrobe is typically defined by a mix of sophisticated tailoring, attention to detail, lively colors, and bold prints.
For more insight on this year’s theme, check out this episode of Complex Please Explainhosted by our Editor-in-Chief Aria Hughes and featuring special guests Dapper Dan, June Ambrose, and Ali Richmond.
The dress code for this year’s event is “Tailored for You,” which plays off of the night’s theme. Expect to see plenty of fun interpretations of traditional suiting.
While the exact number of attendees for this year’s Met ball is unknown, the number is typically around 600. Some of the usual suspects include Rihanna, Zendaya, Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, and Bad Bunny.
There are also the co-chairs. This year’s are ASAP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, and Lewis Hamilton. LeBron James is an honorary co-chair. Their duties are to help promote the event, fundraise, and host the night alongside Anna Wintour.
In addition to the confirmed co-chairs, there will also be a host committee for the first time since 2019. The Host committee’s duty is to help ensure good attendance and influence the overall execution of the event. The 2025 members are André 3000, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens, Grace Wales Bonner, Jordan Casteel, Dapper Dan, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri, Edward Enninful, Jeremy O. Harris, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Rashid Johnson, Regina King, Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, Audra McDonald, Janelle Monáe, Jeremy Pope, Angel Reese, Sha’Carri Richardson, Olivier Rousteing, Tyla, Usher, and Kara Walker.
Around $75,000. Crazy, right? We’ll let our Editor-in-Chief explain this one:
While some guests pay, many celebrities are hosted by brands that pay for tables at the event. In exchange, the celebrity wears a look designed by that brand.
A well-known example is from 2021, when Hamilton hosted a handful of young Black designers such as Theophilio, Kenneth Nicholson, and Jason Rembert.
Sorry, no. The Met Gala is extremely exclusive. Unless you are personally invited by Anna Wintour or a brand with a table, you are unable to attend. However, the exhibit at the MET Museum will be open to the public from May 10 through Oct. 26. It will consist of 12 sections that are inspired by: Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism.
Worried about missing out? Make sure to keep a close eye on Complex Style’s X and Instagram on May 5 for all of the latest updates on the Met Gala red carpet.
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