Can't Make it to the Met? Experience "Superfine" with This Essential Book
Tyler Mitchell, Untitled (Christian in Wales Bonner), 2025
To hold a beautifully crafted book is to hold a conversation across time, a tangible piece of a story that continues to unfold.
This year's Met Gala, themed "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," offered a captivating exploration of black dandyism, and it was, by far, my favorite in 15 years of watching. Beyond the stunning red carpet interpretations, it's important to remember the Gala's core purpose: to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. The Gala's theme always mirrors the Institute's spring exhibition, which this year undertakes a profound cultural and historical examination of black style spanning 300 years through the lens of dandyism.
"Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" delves into how, from the 18th-century Atlantic World, a new culture of consumption allowed access to clothing and goods that signified wealth, distinction, and taste. Black dandyism emerged from this dynamic intersection of African and European style traditions, becoming crucial to the formation of black identities in the Atlantic diaspora.
Those unable to visit the New York City exhibit can still engage with its scholarship and artistry through the Superfine companion book. This is truly an item worth having. Its beautiful pages and profound cultural and historical significance make it a luxurious addition to your library, or an impeccable gift for those interested in fashion and history.
Organized by enduring characteristics of dandyism—presence, distinction, disguise, and respectability—the book offers a fresh interpretation of this centuries-old aesthetic. It features insights from prominent Black voices in fashion, literature, and art, including Dandy Wellington and André 3000. A stunning photo essay by artist Tyler Mitchell, with contemporary designs by Virgil Abloh and Grace Wales Bonner, brings the concept to life. These are juxtaposed with historical attire from luminaries like Frederick Douglass and André Leon Talley, all contextualized by scholar and guest curator Monica L. Miller.
This book is more than a glimpse into a missed exhibit; it’s a way to support important cultural work. I certainly can't wait to order my copy, and I hope you’ll consider adding it to your collection.
