The Met Gala has always been more than just fashion, it’s a cultural checkpoint. Held every first Monday in May at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the gala combines celebrity spectacle with high fashion in support of the museum’s Costume Institute. Since its modern revamp under Vogue’s Anna Wintour in 1995, the gala has become fashion’s biggest night out.
This year, the 2025 spring exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, paired with the dress code Tailored for You, spotlighted the rich legacy of Black fashion, identity, and elegance. A tribute to Black dandyism and precision tailoring, the theme encouraged attendees to reflect heritage through bespoke aesthetics. And as expected, Nigerian celebrities didn’t just show up, they showed out.
Nigerians Understood the Assignment… and Delivered
This year’s Met Gala wasn’t just a runway; it was a masterclass in sartorial storytelling, and Nigerian stars passed with flying colors.
Tems (Temilade Openiyi) dazzled in an Aso-Ebi inspired gown that blended traditional print with contemporary tailoring. The silhouette paid homage to West African celebratory styles, but with a sleek Western cut that brought the diaspora’s duality to life on the steps of the Met.
Ayra Starr served up her signature “sabi girl” energy in a floor-length gown that was equal parts minimalist and fierce. The look was simple, but its clean lines and bold presence echoed a quiet rebellion, very on brand for a Gen Z style icon.
Literary powerhouse Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie stunned in a scarlet dress that was both classic and defiant, perfectly balancing elegance with the intellectual intensity she’s known for. As a member of this year’s Costume Institute Benefit Host Committee, her presence spoke volumes about fashion as a vehicle for intellect and cultural pride.
Designers and stylists were not left out either: Celebrity stylist Swanky Jerry, known for his dramatic flair, wore a commanding Deji & Kola design and left no room for subtlety, while also styling Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Fashion Bomb Daily, one of the top 50 most influential style blogs in the world, Claire Sulmers. Adebayo Oke-Lawal, founder and designer of Orange Culture, dressed Brian Tyree Henry in a rich maroon suit that truly embodied the theme. Seeing how Nigerian artists were represented not only as guests but as creative forces behind some of the most talked-about looks of the night was a powerful reminder of Nigeria’s growing influence on global fashion.
And let’s not forget Burna Boy.
Burna Boy Didn’t Just Attend, He Lit Up the Met
Damini Ogulu, aka Burna Boy, walked the carpet in a custom Ozwald Boateng piece that screamed Afro-dandy luxury. But it didn’t stop there, he also hit the stage in a surprise performance that electrified the night.
Alongside South African DJ Black Coffee, UK rapper Central Cee, and rising genre-blender Shaboozey, Burna delivered a thrilling performance that fused Afrobeats with global hip-hop. The collaboration was more than a performance; it was a cultural collision. Watching Burna hold his own and steal the moment on a global stage wasn’t just entertaining, it was pride in motion.
Meanwhile, on the Blue Carpet…
Outside the Nigerian circle, the 2025 Met Gala had its fair share of unforgettable moments. Rihanna, the queen of late arrivals, shut down the carpet in a pinstriped Marc Jacobs ensemble that played with shape and texture, and confirmed that baby number three is on the way. Congratulations to her and A$AP Rocky!
In another surprising twist, former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made an appearance, skipping the carpet but joining the night in a custom off-white gown by designer Ib Kamara. Her presence added a layer of political gravitas to an already statement-heavy evening.
Zendaya, Colman Domingo, Diana Ross, and Sabrina Carpenter also turned heads, while media platforms buzzed with fan polls debating the night’s best-dressed stars.
That said, it wasn’t all glitz and glam, at least not online; social media was ablaze with criticism over the absence of artists like Wisdom Kaye (especially after he announced that he was not invited) and Jidenna, who many felt perfectly embodied this year’s theme. With their sharp tailoring and deep-rooted cultural expression, their omission felt like a glaring oversight. Some even called out Anna Wintour directly, saying it was a missed chance to honor Black creatives who have long celebrated heritage through style, not only at events, but in everyday influence.
Tailored, Bold, and Unapologetically Nigerian
From years of watching fashion evolve on global stages, we’ve seen trends come and go, but what remains consistent is how Nigerian talent continues to disrupt, influence, and elevate the global stage. From red carpets to runways, we are no longer on the sidelines, we are the moment.
The 2025 Met Gala wasn’t just a fashion event. It was a testament to cultural ownership, and Nigerian creatives didn’t just participate, they made statements, led conversations, and reminded the world that our style is not just aesthetic, it’s political, historical, and deeply personal.
With each stitch, each step, and each performance, they reminded us that Nigerian excellence has fully emerged, here to stay, and it’s tailored for us
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