On May 5th, the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were once again transformed into a runway of fantasy, fashion, and cultural spectacle. The 2025 Met Gala, themed “Veils of Time: Fashion’s Hidden Histories,” invited designers and celebrities to unearth and reimagine historical silhouettes, mythic motifs, and forgotten traditions. What followed was a stunning parade of the past colliding with the future—where sheer creativity and storytelling were the real dress codes.
From the moment Zendaya arrived in a sculptural Vivienne Westwood gown with a mechanical bustle and LED-lit embroidery mimicking Victorian lace, the tone was set: this year was about the drama of detail. The night oscillated between gothic romance and futuristic fantasy, with fabrics like silk organza, hammered metal, brocade, and AI-programmed textiles taking center stage. Rihanna, always one to dominate the Met Gala discourse, stunned in an archival Thierry Mugler design refitted with contemporary twists: a pearl-encrusted hooded cape trailing into a translucent opal train, a clear nod to Byzantine empresses. Meanwhile, Timothée Chalamet turned heads in a gender-fluid armor-inspired look by Jean Paul Gaultier—half knight, half poet—with filigree metalwork telling the story of medieval courtship.
But it wasn’t just about the stars. Designers pushed themselves to evoke emotional resonance. Several gowns nodded to indigenous craftsmanship, forgotten female rulers, and resistance movements. These were not just outfits—they were essays in silk and steel. Janelle Monáe’s dress, for example, unfolded into a quilted cloak bearing portraits of overlooked Black historical figures. It was wearable protest.
Student Reactions:
Sophia R., junior fashion student at FIT, remarked,
“ . People were not just trying to look good—they were trying to say something. It felt like a lecture, a museum exhibit, and a movie premiere all in one.”
Faith Alam, high school senior added, “I’ve watched every Met Gala since I was 12, but this was the first time I felt truly inspired. The level of detail, the references—it made me want to pick up a sketchbook and start creating.”
The Met Gala of 2025 proved once again that fashion is more than fabric—it’s memory, movement, and message. In digging through the veils of time, these artists didn’t just pay homage to history; they wove themselves into it.
Even after the red carpet dimmed, conversations about symbolism, craftsmanship, and storytelling continued, proving fashion’s lasting power to inspire and provoke.
