This year's Met Gala, on Tuesday 6 May local time, will spotlight Black fashion and masculinity with the theme of 'Tailored for You'. It is expected to showcase the rich history and evolving narrative of menswear, especially 'Black dandyism'. An RMIT expert explains what viewers can expect to see at fashion's night of nights.
Sang Thai, Lecturer in Fashion Design
"It's fantastic to see this year's Met Gala spotlight Black fashion and style, particularly through a rare focus on masculinity and menswear.
"Fashion has always been a powerful medium for cultural visibility, and this exhibition offers a much-needed platform for narratives that have long existed at the margins.
"It marks an important step toward broader representation within the institutional landscape of fashion.
"The space of tailoring and the suit is especially compelling-it embodies the tension between social conformity and nuanced self-expression.
"It will be fascinating to see how designers interpret this year's theme on the red carpet, and how they navigate the complex terrain of cultural appropriation.
"Ideally, we'll witness thoughtful and respectful engagement with Black communities, especially in how designers draw from the rich lineage of Black dandyism and sartorial resistance."
Sang Thai's research focuses on masculinities, intersectionality, and inclusive fashion design practices. His creative practice examines the semiotic and agential potential of materials to explore how cultural difference and sexuality intersect in the fashioning of masculinities.
***
