Black dandyism: Met Gala to highlight Black influence in fashion
Black dandys and clothiers are being celebrated with this year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”
NEW YORK − Colman Domingo remembers three men who shaped his sense of fashion: his brother, stepfather and biological father.
Perhaps the flashiest of the three was his father, also named Colman, whose wardrobe ranged from “white, very tight, Italian flared trousers” to “preacher robes that showed another part of him where he was representing the Lord.”
“Although ironically, he was one of the biggest womanizers that this planet has ever seen,” the Oscar-nominated “Sing Sing” and “Rustin” star added, which drew a big laugh from the audience.
Domingo, 55, spoke at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during a media preview for the Costume Institute’s spring exhibit “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Domingo is a co-chair for May 5’s Met Gala, which serves as a fundraiser for the institute.
Domingo shared a quote from “the great George C. Wolfe” about “the creative and innovative spirit of black people in shaping trends in fashion”: ” ‘God created black people and black people created style.’ “
Inside The Met’s spring exhibit
The exhibit “Superfine” was organized by the Costume Institute’s head curator Andrew Bolton. The exhibit is drawn from the 2009 book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity” by Monica L. Miller, who served as a guest curator.
The exhibit uses fashion, accessories, art and more to explore the multicultural blend of African and European styles during the Atlantic diaspora − the mass uprooting of African communities as a result of the slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries.
The pieces range from leather boots worn in the 1800s by French playwright Alexandre Dumas to one of Prince’s trademark white polyester shirts, from his “Purple Rain” era in 1984.
Not far away from Prince’s ruffles is Bianca Saunders. The British menswear designer previously dressed Usher for the Met Gala. This is her first time on display in The Met; Saunders is “shaking a bit” over the shock that she has three looks inside the exhibit.
As she stood in front of one of her designs, a white cotton shirt and black twill pants, Saunders said that she always looked at dandyism through her friends and “how they can present themselves.” Dandyism is a form of both self-expression and rebellion. “I feel like all the men that I do dress are dandy.”
Saunders will outfit two men on this year’s Met Gala red carpet.
The exhibit “reminds me of all the things that I’ve worked so hard to be a part of,” she reflected. “I’m just really taking it in.”
Instagram executive Adam Mosseri on fashion and celebrities
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, walked into the gathering alongside Domingo and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. The executive called fashion an important piece of content for Instagram, a partner this year for the fundraiser. He shared that when he meets celebrities, they ask “the questions you might expect” about Instagram.
“People often want to know what’s happening, what’s going to change, how to best leverage (IG) for their businesses or to tell their stories,” Mosseri said. “I get a lot of feedback as well and that’s just part of the job.”
Past guests at Instagram’s table inside the gala have included Tyla and Doja Cat, along with Domingo. For the sixth year, the platform will also host a creator watch party. The event takes place inside The Mark hotel, which has turned into the unofficial headquarters for the evening.
“I just love meeting creative people from all different industries and getting to hear a little bit about how they do what they do,” Mosseri said. “That I think is one of the perks of the job.”
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