The Designer’s Behind It All
The Met Gala 2024 celebrated Black designers whose work transformed fashion into a powerful expression of history, identity, and creative legacy.
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Teyana Taylor perfectly encapsulates Black dandyism with fine tailoring and impeccable style while adding a personal touch by hiding hidden messages within the design. Teyana Taylor is styled in Ruth E. Carter. Photographed by Getty Images. Available via IG @oumoumedia. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Monday was one of the most important nights for fashion, with celebrities and designers from everywhere attending the Met Gala. This year paid homage to the rich history and culture of Black fashion while honoring the Black designers who helped create it. As people look at the stunning outfits and marvel at their favorite celebrities, it’s important to remember the people and inspiration behind the clothing. Some of the most renowned designers created looks for the Met Gala, like LaQuan Smith or Ruth E. Carter who created looks for singer Teyana Taylor and model Jasmine Tookes.
This year, Teyana Taylor co-hosted the Met Gala livestream and worked in collaboration with the legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter. Carter was the first Black American to win the Academy Award in Costume Design for her work on Black Panther. In her collaboration with Taylor, she created a visually stunning work of art infused with Taylor’s essence and history. With unique personal touches and a one-of-a-kind style inspired by Taylor and Black culture, It’s no surprise this is one of the best looks from the night.
Carter artfully crafted a three-piece burgundy suit based on the iconic zoot suits, which heavily influenced the Gala’s theme as an important part of Black fashion. She reflected on the sordid history of slavery- how Black people were stripped of their possessions when entering this country and often only had the things on their bodies to show. She referenced this important part of Black history by adorning Taylor’s outfit in luxurious crystals, feathers, velvet, and lace. Even the extravagant adornments and sultry style are meant to be a tribute to Taylor’s burlesque performances and the Black Dandy.
Carter’s design was heavily influenced by Black history and Taylor’s meteoric rise to fame as a Black woman in an industry that had tried to marginalize her. The designer embroidered “Harlem Rose” along the edge of Taylor’s cape in a tonal string as a nod to the singer’s iconic hit song “Rose in Harlem”. The song has become an important piece of Black history, much like Carter and Taylor who have helped shape the culture. The designer added a beautiful pleated attachment meant to symbolize a flower in bloom. It represents Taylor’s evolving career and her iconic song, as much as the current progression and embracement of black culture. Every detail on the suit was a deliberate callback to Black culture, down to Taylor changing out a velvet feather hat for a matching durag. Carter worked tirelessly to ensure the entire ensemble celebrated not only Black culture but Taylor’s contributions to the culture.
For her first Met Gala appearance, Doechii collaborated with Pharell Williams to pay homage to the great André Leon Talley. Doechii is styled in Louis Vuitton. Available via IG @doechii. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Taylor always perfectly executes the theme, so she's become a regular at the Met Gala. Newcomers like Doechii work to make a good first impression with their interpretation of the theme- and boy did she ever. For her first time being invited to the Met Gala the rapper somehow managed to seem like she’s always been there. She stunned in a long-tail ivory blazer and wide shorts, both featuring two of the most well-known patterns from the Louis Vuitton brand. But it was the tall burgundy socks and bowtie that completed the look and paid homage to her reference. Her outfit was a collaboration with famed musician and designer, Pharrell Williams who is now the Creative Director for Louis Vuitton’s menswear. It was important to Doechii to honor one of fashion’s most legendary creatives, who played a crucial role in Black fashion and culture. André Leon Talley was one of the most influential figures in Black fashion as the first male Black American to be a Creative Director and even went on to be the first Editor-At-Large. He helped pave the way for other young Black creatives to not only be a part of fashion but to be an influential force in the industry. Doechii and Williams had to go back to the archives for her reference from ALT’s youth, which perfectly captures the theme by referencing one of the most iconic Black dandies of our time.
Actress Taraji P. Henson looks like she stepped out of one of Barkley Hendricks iconic paintings in an all white look for the Met Gala. Taraji P. Henson is styled in Monse X Post-Imperial. Photographed by Jon Dailey. Available via IG @tarajiphenson. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Many attendees like Doechii took inspiration from direct references, outfits worn by renowned Black creatives, archival designs, and even paintings. Actress Taraji P. Henson referenced the 1974 painting What’s Going On by the acclaimed Black painter, Barkley Hendricks, which featured several figures in white suits. Henson worked with Monse in a collaboration with Post-Imperial to create her phenomenal look, a white long-tail jacket over a matching tailored corset dress. Much like Hendricks’ painting, Monse created a look that was both feminine and masculine. The illustrious designer told Vanity Fair “It intertwines the craftsmanship of menswear with the daring spirit of Josephine Baker—a Divine Dandy embracing her Divine Femininity.” Monse designed Henson’s look to tell a story about the rich history of Black culture and the balance between masculinity and femininity. Every detail down to the raw edges and silk lapels added to the story making Henson a walking exhibit for Black culture.
Legendary singer, Diana Ross, brings her family with her to the Met Gala via embroidered names on her train. Diana Ross is styled in Eleven Sixteen by Ugo Mozie. Photographed by Getty Images. Available via IG @themetgalaofficial. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
While most attendees, like Doechii, look for outside sources, some take inspiration from themselves. As a piece of Black history in their own right, like Teyana Taylor and Diana Ross. The legendary singer shocked viewers everywhere when she stepped on the carpet at the Met Gala this year. This marked her first appearance in over 20 years and all eyes were on her as she walked up the steps in a glamorous floor-length white crystal gown with an 18-foot train and a dramatic wide-brimmed hat reminiscent of a halo. As one of the greatest musical icons of our generation, she is Black history. It only feels right to reference her inspiring legacy through her family tree by embroidering the names of her children and grandchildren along the train. She brought this look to life with Nigerian designer Ugo Moxie who wanted to celebrate the Ross legacy by including the singer and her son, Evan in the design process. On a night meant to celebrate the history and culture of Black fashion, it’s only fitting to also celebrate The Supreme Diana Ross.
