NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Let the year’s biggest fashion party begin! A rainy Met Gala on Monday included a Rihanna pregnancy announcement, a tuxedoed choir and a trend true to the menswear theme: Emma Chamberlain, Zendaya, Teyana Taylor and many other women in pinstripes and other traditional men’s detailing.
Chamberlain and Zuri Hall were among those who wore sleek, sexy gowns that play on in pinstripes as they walked up the grand steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Zendaya, a co-host last year, wore a perfectly tailored white trouser suit with a matching wide-brim hat.
The for women was frequent and expected, “women wanting to maintain a traditionally feminine dress silhouette while still respecting the theme,” said William Dingle, director of style for , a cultural impact agency that focuses on uplifting Black men.
And then there were bombshells Megan Thee Stallion in Michael Kors and Dua Lipa in black Chanel. Megan’s look had a high side slit and floral lace embellishment. Lipa was giving elevated flapper in feathers and 鈥淪鈥 curl style for her hair. And Miley Cyrus oozed womanhood in a custom cropped black crocodile jacket and long black taffeta skirt by Ala茂a.
As for the men, co-host A$AP Rocky told The Associated Press that Anna Wintour suggested he wear a Black designer.
鈥淪o I wore myself,鈥 the musician said of his custom suit designed by his creative agency, AWGE, complete with a black parka and diamond-crested umbrella. 鈥淓verything is designed by yours truly.鈥
Rocky, Rihanna’s partner and dad to their two kids, confirmed to reporters that baby No. 3 in on the way. He spoke about it after Rihanna was photographed walking in the rain with her baby bump out in a blue crop top and skirt.
鈥淚t feels amazing, you know,鈥 Rocky said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time that we show the people what we was cooking up. And I鈥檓 glad everybody鈥檚 happy for us 鈥檆ause we definitely happy, you know.鈥
He added: 鈥淗onestly, it鈥檚 a blessing nonetheless. Because you know how like some people in other situations at times can be envious of other people. But we鈥檝e been seeing love for the most part. And we real receptive to that and appreciate that, you know what I mean? That鈥檚 love. Love is love.鈥
The suggested dress code of the night, 鈥淭ailored for You,鈥 is inspired by Taylor went for a stunning Zoot Suit look with a red, feather-adorned top hat and a huge matching cape dripping with flowers and bling. She collaborated with famed costumer designer Ruth E. Carter.
The Zoot was popularized in Harlem in the 1940s.
Colman Domingo, one of the evening’s hosts, wore a pleated, gold adorned cape over a gray and black suit, his jacket a pearled windowpane design with a huge dotted black flower. His look, including his cape and a dotted black scarf at his neck, evoked the late the fashion icon who made history as a rare Black editor at Vogue.
Domingo, in Valentino, arrived with Vogue鈥檚 Wintour, dressed in a baby blue coat over a shimmery white gown by Louis Vuitton, a gala sponsor. Fellow co-chair Lewis Hamilton donned a jaunty ivory tuxedo with a cropped jacket and matching beret.
Colman has epitomized contemporary dandyism in a variety of looks over the years.
Pharrell Williams, another co-host, was demure in a double-breasted, beaded evening jacket and dark trousers. He kept his dark shades on while posing for the cameras. Williams walked with his wife, Helen Lasichanh, in a black bodysuit and matching jacket.
Williams, the Louis Vuitton menswear creative director, said his 15,000 pearls were arranged in a pinstripe design and the jacket took 400 hours to construct.
Diana Ross, meanwhile, swallowed the carpet in a huge white train, escorted by her son, Evan Ross.
Walton Goggins, a guest this year with others from 鈥淭he White Lotus,鈥 wore a deconstructed suit look with seams out and a pleated skirt he twirled for the cameras.
LeBron James, was named honorary chair of the evening but bowed out at the last minute due to a knee injury.
Other Met Gala looks that stood out
Monica L. Miller, whose book inspired the evening, wore a bejeweled cropped cape over a dress adorned with cowrie shells by Grace Wales Bonner. It’s a direct connection to a piece in the gala’s companion Metropolitan Museum of Art spring exhibit that Miller guest curated.
What other women killed the menswear game? Coco Jones in an ivory tuxedo coat with a train over matching trousers, both covered in chunky embellishment.
鈥淐oco Jones absolutely leaned in,鈥 Dingle said. 鈥淚 love the pearl and gem embellishments here, as well as the long coat, and even the necklace. Because she鈥檚 taller, the long coat even further elongates her legs. This is a fantastic look.鈥
Her look was by Indian designer Manish Malhotra. She said she wanted to honor Black excellence by going all out.
Sarah Snook of 鈥淪uccession鈥 fame and fresh off a Tony nomination for 鈥淭he Picture of Dorian Gray,鈥 was successfully on theme as well.
鈥淪he’s in a two-button, double-breasted jacket fashioned into a tailcoat-like train in satin fabric for luster, plus crimson lining for a pop of color,鈥 Dingle said. 鈥淚 like the multiple brooches on the wide lapel.鈥
Gigi Hadid, on the other hand, went all woman. She pulled up the spirit of Josephine Baker in a shimmery gold halter gown by Miu Miu that hugged her hips.
Bad Bunny, ever a fashion rebel, wore a custom black Prada suit. The best detail: his woven hat, which appeared to be a reference to the pava, a straw hat associated with the Puerto Rican j铆baro.
How to watch the 2025 Met Gala
Vogue will livestream the gala starting at 6 p.m. Eastern on , its and across its other digital platforms. Teyana Taylor, La La Anthony and Ego Nwodim will host the stream. Emma Chamberlain will also do interviews on the carpet.
The Associated Press is livestreaming celebrity departures from the Mark Hotel and will stream the gala carpet on delay beginning at 6:30 p.m. The feeds will be available on and .
E! will begin live coverage at 6 p.m. on TV. The livestream will be available on Peacock, E! Online and YouTube, along with the network’s other social media feeds.
This year’s Met Gala dress code is...
This year the dress code is about tailoring and suiting as interpreted through the history and meaning of Black dandyism across the Atlantic diaspora. The which this year is based in large part on Miller’s book, 鈥淪laves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”
鈥淗istorical manifestations of dandyism range from absolute precision in dress and tailoring to flamboyance and fabulousness in dress and style,鈥 Miller wrote in the exhibit catalog. 鈥淲hether a dandy is subtle or spectacular, we recognize and respect the deliberateness of the dress, the self-conscious display, the reach for tailored perfection, and the sometimes subversive self-expression.鈥
The exhibit, 鈥淪uperfine: Tailoring Black Style,鈥 draws on other sources beyond Miller’s book. It’s organized into 12 sections. Each as defined by Zora Neale Hurston in her 1934 essay, 鈥淐haracteristics of Negro Expression.鈥
Among them: ownership, presence, distinction, disguise, freedom, respectability and heritage. Presumably, for gala guests who do deep-dive research (or have stylists to do it), some of these factors will play out on the museum steps that serve as the event’s red carpet.
How much money does the Met Gala raise?
The gala had already raised a record $31 million, Metropolitan Museum of Art CEO Max Hollein said Monday 鈥 the first time the fundraiser for the Met鈥檚 Costume Institute has crossed the $30 million mark and eclipsing
___
Associated Press writers Gary Hamilton, Beatrice Dupuy, Jocelyn Noveck and Maria Sherman contributed to this story.
___
For full coverage of the Met Gala, visit:
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation