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W.E.B. Du Bois in 1907. Black dandyism is a cultural movement and fashion style in which Black people use clothing and personal style, specifically the historically European sensibility of the dandy, as a form of self-expression and a way to address societal limitations. [1] [2] Beginning in the late-nineteenth century and early-twentieth century after Emancipation, with much traction ...

For the dandy, fashion was a vehicle for both self-expression and a subtle form of rebellion against societal norms. And that rebellious streak is just as present in Black dandyism—though here ...

What is Black dandy fashion? Although Black dandy fashion prioritizes versatility and self-expression above all else, there are some defining style characteristics, Vogue writes. Sharp suits ...

Black Dandyism Is a Testament to Black Joy and Resistance Through Fashion. Black dandyism was at the forefront for the 2025 Met Gala theme. By ... they were ways of asserting one’s right to exist on their own terms. In a racially segregated America, the Black dandy’s outfit became a form of resistance, an elegant middle finger to a society ...

Nowhere is this clearer than in the story of Black American tailoring and the legacy of the Black dandy. Inspired by scholar Monica L. Miller’s groundbreaking book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the theme of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute spring 2025 show is Superfine ...

Based on Monica Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibit and wildly fashionable party will feature celebrities honoring not ...

“Black dandyism is the strategic and often subversive use of style by people of African descent to assert individuality, challenge stereotypes, and reimagine black identity,” says Jonathan ...

Black dandy style has shape-shifted and evolved over the century since it started. What migrated into the 20th century from the Victorian era, like everything in fashion, changed because of ...

Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala, whose theme centers around the Black dandy style, get to know Dapper Dan, Christopher John Rogers, and more Black menswear designers who embody the theme.

What is a Black dandy, and what is 'dandyism'? Dandyism is characterized by an intense focus on aesthetics. Black dandyism began emerging as far back as 1700s England, when slave owners who wanted ...

Inspired by Monica Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the exhibit focuses on Black style and specifically menswear from the 18th ...

Black Dandyism is more than just a fashion aesthetic—it’s a cultural movement, a form of resistance, and an expression of Black excellence and identity. It draws inspiration from the 18th and 19th-century European dandies—men known for their refined and flamboyant style—but it flips the script with a distinctly Afrocentric twist.

Historically, the figure of the dandy often conjures images of European aristocrats like Beau Brummell or F. Scott Fitzgerald's Gatsby character.Black Dandyism serves as a tool for Black Americans ...

Honoring the Black dandy’s decision to fashion itself in European influences and connections speaks to the kind of Black subject deemed most respectable in these uniquely chaotic times. It is a ...

The 2025 Met Gala Theme: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” The theme for the Met Gala 2025, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is a direct nod to this legacy of Black dandyism. The word “superfine” implies a sense of superior quality and precision in tailoring, which aligns with the idea of the well-dressed Black man using ...

Inspired by scholar Monica L. Miller’s groundbreaking book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the theme of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume ...

The theme for fashion's biggest night has just been revealed, and it may be one of the most iconic yet contentious themes yet. The 2025 Met Gala theme is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style ...

Seen in a bold ensemble featuring reptilian prints and accented with cultural motifs like a paisley glove, James exemplifies how the movement has embraced contemporary streetwear. This blend of high fashion with urban style highlights the adaptability of Black dandyism, infusing traditional dandy elements with a distinctly modern edge.

The upcoming exhibition will explore the Black dandy as its subject, looking at the significance of style and clothing on Black identities in the diaspora. The theme is inspired by co-curator and professor of Africana Studies at Columbia Monica Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.

What Exactly Is a Modern Dandy? In advance of the opening of the Met's "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," 20 fashion designers and creatives weigh in on what defines a modern dandy.