Another month of May has rolled around, and we all know what that means. On the first Monday, the day is spent refreshing Instagram, Twitter and TikTok pages. Everyone suddenly becomes Miranda Priestly, and the biggest event in fashion pop culture takes place, The Met Gala.  

Today I’m here to rule out the winners and losers.  

This year’s theme, ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, shone a spotlight on the history of dandyism and aimed to illuminate the history of black style and identity. The theme was accompanied with the phrase “Tailored for You” 

This year’s theme was inspired by Monica L. Miller's book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. When discussing the theme, Miller stated, "Fashion and dress have been used in a contest of power and aesthetics for Black identities from the time of enslavement to the present, and dandyism has long served as a vehicle through which one can manipulate the relationship between clothing, identity, and power".  

Keeping the theme in mind, and of course, the expectation of opulence and drama from the Met, let us rule the winners and losers.  

Teyana Taylor

Starting off strong is Teyana Taylor. Teyana really understood the theme “Tailored for you” (or should I say “Taylor ’ed for you’”?). Wearing Ruth E. Carter, she exhibited a look that spoke of theatrical power and opulence, paying homage to Black artistry and excellence. 

Rihanna

Rihanna, an iconic Met Gala staple, closed the carpet alongside Baby Daddy A$AP Rocky. Sporting a new baby bump, her look perfectly blended masculine tailoring with high-fashion drama and her personal flair. 

ANOK YAI

Model Anok Yai, another Met regular, has never failed to bring an elegant look to the carpet. Her sculptural yet graceful gown by Thom Browne was definitely made for her. The suit details tied into a more modern and feminine look really showed an eye for the theme, but also met gala elegance. 

JENNIE

JENNIE from BLACKPINK definitely counts as a winner. As a Chanel ambassador, her look exhibited both feminine grace and a masculine energy that shows power, perfectly aligning with the historical and cultural significance of dandyism.

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo wore a two-part Valentino number that was regal and definitely superfine. This year finally saw men ditching the plain black suits. The drama and royalty that came from this look cements Colman’s place as a winner. 

LAURA HARRIER

Laura Harrier wore Zac Posen, channelling a whimsical aesthetic with an oversized, flowy silhouette, but maintained that tailored look with her bodice. Her distinctly feminine and ethereal look, which is both beautiful and on theme, clearly deserves winner status. 

Now we get to the losers. Is there a particular criterion for this? Maybe, but these people just didn’t hit the mark I fear, whether they were boring, plain or just not on theme, it’s safe to say these looks were not winners. 

Hailey Bieber

First up, we have Hailey Bieber wearing Saint Laurent. The blazer feels somewhat thrown on to coincide with the theme. Unfortunately, it’s just a little boring and not much thought was put into it.

Heidi Klum

Our next loser, Heidi Klum, wearing a custom Vetements gown. Sure, this look is tailored and superfine, but it’s bordering a bit on being “just” fine. It’s the Met, Where’s the drama?

Jeremy Allen White 

No Met is complete without a plain black tuxedo (Unfortunately). Jeremy Allen White attended in a Custom Louis Vuitton number that just came across as a little boring. Not many people get invited to this function, you might as well make a splash. 

Lorde

As much as I love Lorde, this look just wasn’t the best for me. The vertical stripes and monochromatic grey make the look a little plain. I would have loved if her hair and makeup had brought some more drama to uplift her look.

Although there are plenty more winners and losers, here are the ones that stood out to me the most. The winners channelled the perfect balance between the theme and bringing something interesting and high fashion, while the losers, somewhat missed the mark. But really who am I to judge?  

Isabella Le is a Sydney student studying Commerce and Media, she has a love for the arts and pop-culture and when not completing her studies she's logging Letterboxd entries or stuck on reels.