All the Historical References You Might Have Missed From the Met Gala 2025
The Met Gala 2025 was held in celebration of the Costume Institute’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition, which examines the history of the Black dandy and the importance of clothing and style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.
It makes sense, then, that for the first Monday in May, stars turned to the history books in order to pay homage to this year’s theme. Diana Ross’s Tracy Chambers from the 1975 film Mahogany was a popular reference point, with Zendaya, Anna Sawai, and Kerry Washington all sporting sharp white tailoring and matching wide-brimmed hats in tribute to the character. As was dancer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker, who inspired Gigi Hadid’s gold Miu Miu gown, FKA twigs’s Wales Bonner flapper dress, and Dua Lipa’s custom Chanel look, as well as Megan Thee Stallion’s sculptural ponytail and all the ’20s kiss curls on the red carpet. Expanding the concept of dandyism further was Maluma and Willy Chavarria—both the Colombian musician and Mexican-American designer together looked to the mid-1940s, between the Chicano culture and the Pachucos, who found their distinct sense of style as a way to occupy space.
Then there were the tributes to the late André Leon Talley, the former Vogue editor whose enormous influence could be felt not only within the exhibition itself, but also on the red carpet—from Colman Domingo’s blue Valentino cape referencing Talley’s 2011 Met Gala look to Tessa Thompson’s church fan, which was emblazoned with an image of the legendary creative.
Below, see all the direct references you might have missed on the Met Gala 2025 red carpet.
Getty Images1/6Colman Domingo and André Leon Talley
Given that André Leon Talley inspired the theme of this year’s Costume Institute exhibition, it was only fitting that Met Gala co-chair Colman Domingo paid tribute to the former Vogue editor—who famously wore a blue cape for the 2011 Met Gala—with his embellished cape by Valentino.
A special mention, too, to Doechii’s jaunty pre Met Gala tribute to the formidable editor—she recreated a famous photo of him dressed in a full Louis Vuitton tracksuit, a monogrammed towel, and three pieces of classic logo-emblazoned luggage—including a tennis racquet.
Getty Images2/6Zendaya and Diana Ross
While Zendaya’s white trouser suit might have had shades of Bianca Jagger on her wedding day, the wide-brimmed hat immediately said Diana Ross’s Tracy Chambers from the 1975 film Mahogany. Happily, Ross herself was there to witness the various homages to the film on the red carpet, with Zendaya herself declaring: “She’s the reference!”
Getty Images3/6Gigi Hadid and Josephine Baker
Hadid’s gold lamé Miu Miu gown directly referenced a Balmain dress worn by Josephine Baker back in 1951. The look was also a tribute to fashion designer Zelda Wynn Valdes, Hadid told Vogue’s special correspondent on the night, Emma Chamberlain. “She took her technique and the skill in men’s tailoring and applied that to the female form,” the model said. “I hope that she would love this.”
Getty Images/ Alamy4/6Jodie Turner-Smith and Selika Lazevski
Turner-Smith’s custom Burberry creation was inspired by Black equestrian Selika Lazevski, who lived in Belle Époque Paris. Drawing from an 1891 photograph by Paul Nadar, Daniel Lee, in collaboration with Law Roach, reimagined the traditional Victorian silhouette in leather.
Getty Images5/6Megan Thee Stallion and Josephine Baker
Another star inspired by Josephine Baker? Megan Thee Stallion, who teamed her custom Michael Kors look with a sculptural ponytail inspired by a 1951 portrait of the dancer.