The Dapper and Dandy Street Style on the Opening Day of The Met’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” Exhibition
On Saturday morning, just days after the annual 2025 Met Gala, the Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomed visitors to the Costume Institute’s opening day of “Superfine: Tailor Black Style.” With this year’s theme celebrating the cultural impact of Black dandyism on the past and present fashion landscape, “Superfine” attendees—including fashion industry creatives, tailors, designers and stylists alike—showered the Met steps with a colorful variety of on-theme outfits in honor of the exhibition.
It wasn’t hard to spot the “Superfine” ticket holders in the 10 a.m. entrance line that wrapped around the museum exterior. Following the “tailored for you” dress code of this year’s Met Gala, Saturday’s visitors, who traveled from down South and Harlem, arrived at the Met in their unique dandy best, showcasing a wide range of suited styles, accessorized with everything from bowties and custom cufflinks to African mudcloth, statement pieces from BIPOC designers and plenty, and plenty of hats. Chapeaus of all sorts from “Sunday Best” bowlers and traditional top hats to Southern straw hats and hand-me-down creations passed from one generation to another were modeled on the heads of stylish museum guests .
And just as this year’s Met Gala saw references to historic figures like Josephine Baker and Cab Calloway the red carpet, the looks seen at Saturday’s opening also honored iconic modern day dandies like André Leon Tally and Dapper Dan, as well as personal tributes to family members and hometown cultures.
It’s no surprise to see people dressed up to attend the Costume Institute’s seasonal exhibitions, but for those Black dandies visiting the Met for “Superfine,” it’s more than just a form of dress— it’s personal expression, self identity, and a celebration of a heritage tailored by and for those who know it best.
In celebration of the contemporary Black dandyism at the Costume Institute’s “Superfine” opening weekend, Vogue made it back to the steps of the Met to talk to people about their superfly, dandy ensembles.
“I’m a stylist and designer from Ghana,” Frederick Yawagyei tells Vogue from the line. “This [outfit] is African meets European style, as you can see my suit, and then this is mudcloth from Mali. I’m trying to juxtapose two different materials, the texture, and the motif, with the European style. Then there’s my Prada sandals.”
Vintage and thrifting, for many, was the name of the game—and added a storytelling dimension to their looks. “My outfit is a collection of Poshmark acquired pieces,” shares Wilbur Pack Jr. “The hat is from France and the bow tie was a gift for my aunt for my 57th birthday. And I’m wearing the bow tie because my father showed me how to tie a bow tie when I was a kid. He passed away when I was 24 from cancer, and it’s an homage to him.”
“My outfit is all thrift and New York street shops,” adds Michael Morris Mason. “I got this jacket from a street shop and a friend of mine, she’s an artist, she actually [created] the back. My husband bought me the bag, it’s a Coach original and I got my boots from a shop in Vegas when I was traveling. My hat is from a vendor on the street at a festival in Brooklyn.”
Others did their research, taking inspiration from the history books as well as Monday’s red carpet, like Zach Lindsey, who looked to the pinstripe trend. “[The look} is a mixture of like highs and lows, so we have Helmet Lang for the top, Telfar for the hat, some GU on the shirt, Levi’s from the bottom and then Zara’s shoes with some different vintage jewelry mixed in throughout.”
“I’d done a little bit of research about the Met Gala, the ‘Superfine’ exhibit that’s opening, and the dandyism era, and I’ve been a fashionista for all my life,” says Renee Harrison. “I wanted to come looking like a dandy or my interpretation of that. I’m wearing a two-piece white suit, a pinstripe blouse, a green men’s necktie, and the matching black and white shoes.”
