Janelle Monáe commanded attention at the 2025 Met Gala with a striking Thom Browne ensemble, complete with a clock-inspired monocle, delivering a powerful statement on Black elegance and individual expression.
Monáe elevated the standard at the 2025 Met Gala, embracing this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” and the “Tailored for You” dress code with her signature artistic flair. She graced the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a captivating two-piece Thom Browne creation that played with perception and the concept of time.
Adding a surreal touch was a Magritte-esque bowler hat, from which extended a unique timepiece-monocle hybrid—part watch, part eyewear, and utterly unforgettable.
“For many years, through my work, my art, and my activism, I’ve sought to deconstruct systems,” Monáe shared with The New York Times. “My aim was to deconstruct respectability politics surrounding suiting and how Black individuals can present themselves in the world. I wanted to illustrate that we have the autonomy to define who we are.”
This year’s Met Gala marks a significant moment for the Costume Institute, hosting its first exhibition entirely dedicated to Black designers and the first in over two decades to specifically highlight menswear.
Monáe also played a vital role as a member of this year’s Met Gala host committee, alongside influential figures such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ayo Edebiri, Usher, André 3000, Doechii, and others.
