Shah Rukh Khan’s first appearance at the Met Gala is a natural extension of his enduring onscreen charm. With this year’s dress code, Tailored for You, in mind, Khan’s ensemble by Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee subtly connected the shared histories of Black and Indian dandyism—two traditions that reimagined tailoring.
Mukherjee described his vision for the look as a tribute to Khan’s global stature. “Shah Rukh Khan is one of the greatest superstars in the world, a cinematic hero,” the designer said. “His blockbuster performances and leading-man charisma have created a legendary international fan following. My interpretation of the Black dandy is demonstrating his super-stardom on a global stage. Dressed in classic menswear with the maximalist flourish of Sabyasachi, Shah Rukh Khan is a magician, superstar, and icon. Period.”
Khan’s look was a floor-length elongated coat in Tasmanian superfine wool, finished with monogrammed Japanese horn buttons. The coat was hand-canvased and single-breasted, cut with a peak collar and wide lapels for a sculptural silhouette. Beneath it, he wore a black crepe de chine shirt, left open at the chest, paired with tailored superfine wool trousers. A pleated satin kamarbandh cinched the waist, adding structure and softness to the tailored layers.
The jewelry, also by Mukherjee—including a custom stack of talismanic chains anchored by a crystal-studded pendant shaped as the letter K and a diamond star brooch at the lapel—was layered across Khan’s torso. Rings adorned his fingers, and he carried a Bengal tiger–head cane, crafted in 18-karat gold and embellished with tourmalines, sapphires, and old mine-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds.
With its Mughal-inspired cut, the court coat drew from India’s rich menswear tradition, which has long blended Indigenous style with colonial-era tailoring. The layered jewelry over the open shirt recalled historic portraits of maharajas draped in pearls and gemstones, using ornament as a statement of status and authority.
On fashion’s most theatrical night, Khan’s look achieved its impact through its (relative) subtlety. There was no exaggerated embroidery, no dramatic train. Instead, the statement lay in the proportion and the talismans worn close to the body. The layering of necklaces revealed personal symbols, heirloom motifs, and a blend of masculine glamour with personal storytelling. Walking the steps in his long coat, cane in hand, Khan proved that, sometimes, the sharpest fashion statements are made in the softest ways.
