Why Black British designers won this year’s Met Gala

For any fashion fan, the first Monday in May is a pretty important calendar date. Of course I’m talking about the Met Gala — this year, however, was even more special than usual. With the theme of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute's new exhibition (which is what the event is hosted in honour of) being ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ it marks the first time Black designers, stylists and creatives have been celebrated front and centre.

While a potentially tricky theme to navigate (see Amelia Gray in a durag), last night’s event spotlighted some of the incredible British design talent making waves across the pond. Over the weekend, Tyla stepped out in a full look from London Fashion Week designer Tolu Coker. Fresh from the British-Nigerian designer’s Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, and styled by none other than Law Roach, the tonal striped ensemble featured a shirt, tie and bubble skirt, all cinched by a matching corset and topped off with an oversized hat. Who needs the red (or in this case blue) carpet…

Tyla in Tolu Coker

Unsurprisingly, the event itself was a big night for Maximilian Davis. The Manchester born designer took up the helm of luxury Italian label Ferragamo in 2022, and walked the steps with Kylie Jenner for this year’s Met Gala.

Kylie Jenner and Maximilian Davis in Ferragamo

He also dressed model Paloma Elsesser in a pillar-box red tailored gown, complete with a plume of feathers, actor Lakeith Stanfield and actress Ayo Edebiri. Edebiri’s custom beaded look, worn with a leather tailcoat jacket, was inspired by her father and grandfather, putting a personal spin on the Black dandy theme.

Paloma Elsesser in Ferragamo

Ayo Edebiri in Ferragamo

Riding high from her stint on The White Lotus, Aimee Lou Wood chose an Ahluwalia creation for her first Met appearance. The namesake label of British-Indian-Nigerian designer Priya Ahluwalia, Wood’s outfit was a re-interpretation of a classic tuxedo, featuring a cropped jacket and trailing satin sash, finished off with colourful floral embellished white socks. So her, and so good.

Aimee Lou Wood in Ahluwalia

"The look I've designed for Aimee Lou Wood draws on the rich cultural tapestry of the Black diaspora, and is most specifically influenced by the vibrant and revolutionary spirit of the 'Saupers', who represent the dandy subculture in Congo. Other inspiration for the look came from archive imagery of Black American dandies and some archive imagery of Diana Ross's tailoring looks," said Priya Ahluwalia. She continued: "Both Aimee and I are passionate advocates for global liberation, and I wanted to channel that energy into a look that represents strength, beauty, and resilience."

She also designed a striking red two-piece look for American athlete Gabrielle Thomas. Ahluwalia said she wanted to create something that "takes up space whilst also feeling truly elegant". She noted that inspirations came from "looking at archive imagery of Josephine Baker, tailoring during the Harlem Renaissance, traditional Nigerian dress and the work by painter Jacob Lawrence."

Gabrielle Thomas in Ahluwalia

Another Black British designer who took the carpet by storm was Grace Wales Bonner. The MBE awarded designer founded her namesake label Wales Bonner in 2014, and dressed a plethora of guests for the 2025 Met, including Jeff Goldblum, Tyler Mitchell, Eric N Mack, Omar Apollo and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, who was co-chair of the event, looked the epitome of modern dandyism in an all-white tuxedo suit.

Lewis Hamilton in Wales Bonner

On the other end of the spectrum, FKA Twigs opted for a flapper-style beaded dress also inspired by 1920s dancer Josephine Baker. Complete with a tight pixie crop and full feathered skirt, this was another look that hit the theme perfectly.

FKA Twigs in Wales Bonner

Since this was the first Met Gala in over two decades to focus exclusively on menswear, it only felt right to see some of Britain's fastest rising design talent show up. Bianca Saunders, who has previously dressed Usher for the same event, created a 1970s-inspired look for US football player Stefon Diggs. Nicholas Daley dressed singer Leon Bridges in a flared pinstripe suit, and wrote on Instagram: “I’m extremely honoured to collaborate with Leon Bridges for this year’s Met Gala, especially given such a poignant theme that celebrates Superfine: Tailoring Black Style while paying homage to Black Dandyism—something I believe Leon naturally embodies through his music and personal style. I hope the bespoke outfit I’ve created reflects a harmony between our crafts and tells a shared story.”

Stefon Diggs in Bianca Saunders

Leon Bridges in Nicholas Daley

Finally, British-Ghanian designer Ozwald Boateng is somewhat of a legend in the game. Opening his store in London’s infamous Savile Row in the late 90s, he’s renowned for shaking up tailoring with his contemporary approach — so it’s no surprise that he was an obvious choice for many guests at this year’s Met. Henry Golding, Colin Kaepernick, Ayra Starr, Jaden Smith, Ncuti Gatwa, Tems, Burna Boy and Issa Rae all opted to wear the MBE-awarded designer’s creations, proving that nobody does tailoring quite like us Brits.

Ncuti Gatwa in Ozwald Boateng

Tems in Ozwald Boateng

Celebrities often ignore the theme of the Met Gala, but this year more than ever we salute the ones (or their stylists) who did the research. For such a historical moment, wearing and supporting Black designers was truly the only way to go — and even better to see UK representation on a global stage.

Rebecca Jane Hill

Senior Fashion Editor

Rebecca Jane Hill is the Senior Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She has previously contributed to publications including Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29, The Face, Glamour and Stylist. She started her own magazine, Sister, in 2012 whilst at university. Focused around feminism, fashion and culture, it went on to produce 12 globally stocked print issues, as well as countless events and partnerships. She closed the magazine in 2023.

Rebecca has been an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion since 2018, where she teaches on the Fashion Journalism course. She is a passionate second-hand shopper and is constantly on the lookout for new design talent.