The 2025 Met Gala sparks an “appropriation” backlash

Next spring's Met Gala could be canceled.

Coiffed brows furrowed and tongues wagged across the fashion world after Vogue revealed the choice of a theme that some saw as a potentially problematic theme for the 2025 event.

“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the magazine explained in an Instagram post, “will take the black dandy as its theme and explore the importance of clothing and style in the formation of black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.”

LeBron James will serve as honorary chairman. Co-chairs include Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Vogue's Anna Wintour.

Shortly after the unexpected announcement, critics of the armchair fashion were quick to voice their criticisms in the comments section – and elsewhere on the social media platform.

“Sounds like a recipe for appropriation disaster… Stylists, study!” sighed one amateur writer.

“Am I the only one nervous about this?” another shared. “A good topic, but let’s hope no one appropriates cultures.”

The vision for one of fashion's biggest nights is said to come from Monica L. Miller, professor and chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College and Columbia University, who wrote the book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” “

In the weighty tome, she establishes black dandyism as both an aesthetic and political construct and examines the figure of the black dandy from its earliest depictions in 18th-century art to modern depictions on catwalks and in films.

Miller described the depiction of black dandyism as a concept that will “illustrate how black people have evolved from being enslaved and stylized as luxury items acquired like any other sign of wealth and status, into autonomous, self-fashioning individuals, who are global trendsetters.”

Vogue explained that the accompanying exhibition will include clothing, paintings, photos and videos, all focused on black men's style.

Despite the obvious effort to put black fashion front and center, many expressed fear that the well-intentioned effort could easily go awry – with the biggest names in American pop culture potentially misinterpreting the concept.

“Kudos…let's just pray no one shows up in black face,” one concerned fan commented.

“There is enough time to properly implement this issue. I wonder how the other ethnicities will do this without being culturally appropriate or disrespectful/stereotypical,” another wondered.

“It saddens me that there will be very few African American fashion houses able to exhibit their art,” mused another.

Still, many said they couldn't wait to see their favorite fashion plates wearing couture looks.

“Zendaya finna is eating this up,” one joked, calling the “exciting” topic one “we should see.”

“This is brilliant. That's classic. This is history,” enthused another.

“Black style has had an immeasurable influence on global fashion identity and commerce throughout history. “This Met Gala theme is long overdue,” applauded yet another.

Next year will be the first exclusive look at Dude Duds since 2003's Men in Skirts.

The Met Gala will return to Manhattan on May 5, 2025 and the dress code will be announced in early 2025.

Museum visitors have the opportunity to view the Superfine exhibition from May 6th to October 26th, 2025.