By Purva Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Lily AI
Last night, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s iconic steps transformed into a midnight blue runway for the 2025 Met Gala, where some of the world’s most influential people in fashion, music, film, and culture gathered to celebrate this year’s theme: Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. The dress code, “Tailored for You,” invited guests to reinterpret the elegance of Black dandyism — a tradition rooted in self-expression, rebellion and culture-creation.
This Year’s Theme: Superfine-Tailoring Black Style
The 2025 Met Gala theme, inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 seminal work Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, explored the evolution of Black style from the 18th century to today. The exhibition and gala spotlighted the artistry of Black tailoring, the cultural significance of menswear, and the ways Black individuals have historically used fashion as a tool for self-definition and resistance. Co-chairs like Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and Lewis Hamilton, with LeBron James as honorary chair, underscored the event’s focus on Black excellence, individuality and creativity.
Why This Theme Matters And How It Resonates in the Black Community
This year’s theme is more than a celebration of style; it’s a recognition of how Black communities have long used fashion as a means of empowerment, respect and joy. Black dandyism, with its bold colors, sharp tailoring and exceptional grooming, has always been about reclaiming identity, challenging stereotypes, and expressing pride in the face of adversity. In a time when Black history and contributions are often marginalized or erased, centering Black style at the Met Gala is a powerful affirmation of presence and creativity. For many, seeing Black designers, artists, and icons celebrated on such a prominent, global stage is both validating and uplifting — a reminder that fashion can be a language of liberation, not just luxury.
Retail at Its Core: Making People Feel Seen and Valued
At Lily AI, our mission in Product Content Optimization is rooted in a simple truth: retail is always about how we make people feel. The Met Gala’s focus on personal expression through tailoring echoes what we strive for in every customer interaction — helping people feel understood, confident, and celebrated in their choices. Search and discovery aren’t about gaming the algorithms; they’re about empowering individuals to find merchandise that resonates with their unique identities and aspirations.
Research shows that shopping, at its best, is emotional — it’s about confidence, happiness, pride, and the thrill of self-expression. When we optimize product content and improve search experiences whether on Google, social or a retailer’s own website, we’re not simply increasing conversion rates; we’re helping someone see themselves reflected in what they buy and how they present themselves to the world.
Let’s Keep the Focus on Feeling
As we continue to celebrate the artistry and cultural impact of Black dandyism highlighted at this year’s Met Gala, let’s remember: whether on the red carpet or in the digital aisles, the true magic of fashion and retail lies in making people feel seen, valued, and inspired. That’s the heart of what we do at Lily AI and why we’ll keep striving to make every search, every discovery, and every purchase a moment of joy and self-affirmation.
Our team of domain experts was watching closely — below, a small selection of fan favorites (ranked in no particular order!)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Met Gala Co-Chair Colman Domingo attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Mona Patel attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Bad Bunny attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Zendaya attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Chance the Rapper attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Savion Washington/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Rihanna attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
