The first Monday of May was always a special night in the fashion industry.
Usually around this time, our favorite A-listers—which include models, entertainers and industry insiders—are preparing to arrive at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. They’d be donning their most avant-garde looks, ready to celebrate an evening of fashion. This year, due to the pandemic, the 2021 Met Gala will take place in an intimate setting on September 13, according to Vogue.
It was revealed during a virtual press conference that the gala will be introduced in two-parts: “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” and “In America: An Anthology of Fashion.” The Gala will be co-chaired by Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka, with honorary chairs including Tom Ford, Instagram’s Adam Mosseri, and Anna Wintour.
While the visibility of Black women at the Met Gala has been debatable over the years, there’s one thing that’s never been up for debate: we always slay. Whether it’s Lil’ Kim showing up alongside Marc Jacobs in 2005 or Rihanna wearing that iconic Guo Pei couture gown in 2015, Black women make the Met Gala unforgettable. Each year, they arrive to the museum dressed to the nines following the unique theme — which is sponsored by a designer and accompanied with an exhibit. Past themes have included Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty and Schiaparelli and Prada’s Impossible Conversations, among many others.
And while there may not be a theme for Black women to follow tonight, we’ve rounded up 30 unforgettable Met style moments featuring some of our favorites ladies in stunning fashion.
