The 2025 Met Gala is set to spotlight a long-overdue conversation with its theme, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.’ More than a fashion statement, this year’s exhibition celebrates the rich, nuanced contributions of black men to both style and identity across centuries. But while much of the focus is on fashion, it’s equally important to recognize how black men have also shaped the beauty landscape, especially through their red carpet looks at the Met Gala.
From the 18th-century concept of Black dandyism to modern-day luxury tailoring, black men have used fashion as a form of self-expression, resistance and celebration. This year’s Met Gala theme explores that legacy.
While fashion speaks loudly, beauty adds the details that make a statement unforgettable. Black men at the Met Gala haven’t just worn clothes, they’ve created iconic beauty moments that challenge gender norms and celebrate individuality.
In 2021, Lil Nas X stunned in a three-layered Versace ensemble. Gilded to the hilt, he matched his golden ensemble with his golden winged eyeliner. The look added a touch of opulence and reinforced his bold, boundary-pushing style.
Even during the 2023 Met Gala, he was covered in silver paint and crystals, embodying the theme of ‘Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty’, by cosplaying as Karl’s cat, Choupette.
Colman Domingo is at the forefront of men’s fashion on every red carpet. But at the 2024 Met Gala, he also set a new standard in terms of makeup for men. Colman embodied elegance in a custom Willy Chavarria outfit, but it was his graphic black eyeshadow that elevated his look, blending masculinity with unapologetic glamour.
At the 2024 Met Gala, Alton Mason glowed in a black-and-white tweed tuxedo, but it was his radiant skin and ethereal makeup—complete with glowing highlighter and precise eye-makeup—that captured attention. His 2022 appearance at the Met Gala also left a mark, with sculpted cat-eyes that proved beauty has no gender.
Kid Cudi’s 2022 Met Gala look brought raw emotion to the red carpet. Dressed in a custom Kenzo ensemble, his makeup featured rhinestone tears under his eyes, channeling an emotional, almost ‘Euphoria’-inspired vibe. It was a reminder that beauty isn't just about aesthetics – it's about self-expression through art that you can wear on your face.
The 2025 Met Gala puts a spotlight on how Black men's style is layered, meaningful, and deeply influential. But their impact extends beyond tailoring—it’s in every braid, brushstroke, and bold eyeliner wing. From classic cornrows to creative makeup, Black men are not just style icons, they’re beauty icons, redefining what masculinity and self-expression can look like on the world’s most watched red carpet.
