Met Gala Season Is Upon Us!
Exploring Black Dandyism
It’s almost Met Monday, y’all!!! We are beyond excited about this year’s Met Gala theme and cannot wait to see the looks that hit the red carpet. In case you didn’t know or aren’t familiar with the theme, here is a quick breakdown for you. The 2025 Met Gala will take place on Monday, May 5, and the theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This theme explores Black dandyism, a cultural and sartorial movement where Black people use fashion to reclaim dignity, express individuality, and subvert racial stereotypes. The exhibition, curated by Monica L. Miller and Andrew Bolton, draws inspiration from Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. It examines how fashion has been used by Black communities to assert identity and resistance, from the 18th century to the present.
Black dandyism has been embodied by figures such as André Leon Talley, Dapper Dan, Pharrell, and Tyler the Creator, to name a few. They use fashion to blend elegance with resistance. For those interested in exploring Black fashion history further, notable books include Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style by Shantrelle P. Lewis, Slaves to Fashion by Monica L. Miller, and Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style, and the Global Politics of Soul by Tanisha C. Ford.
![Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity [Book]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!c5uE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcd43d132-8652-438e-afd0-0b349306b7fc_907x1360.jpeg "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity [Book]")
Also, I heard that BGIA is hosting a few Met Gala events 👀. Be sure to follow us on IG and turn our notifications on to be the first to know!
Tommy Hilfiger Archive Tour
On April 17th, we had the pleasure of hosting a tour of the Tommy Hilfiger Archives in Long Island City, New York. Participants had the opportunity to learn more about the history of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein and even see some of their most coveted pieces. If you attended, please feel free to comment on your favorite part of the tour below!
Upcoming Events: Sneak Peek!
Now this is the main reason why y’all should subscribe to the newsletter, because you get first dibs on EVERYTHING! On May 15, we are hosting a roundtable discussion with Tianni Graham, Archivist for Thom Browne. And since we love y’all so much, we are letting you all RSVP early until Tuesday, May 6th! You can RSVP here.
We are also partnering with The Black Curation, Black Girl Knows Best, and Hems and Brims for a Met Gala Watch Party on May 5 at 5:30 PM. Join us as we discuss this year’s theme. You can register here!