On May 1, 2025, Teyana Taylor broke the internet at the Met Gala. Her outfit was a gorgeous three-piece pinstripe zoot suit from Marc Jacobs. Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter was responsible for styling Taylor’s get up. It celebrated the cultural heritage of zoot suits, which reached new heights at the time through African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance. The event’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” complemented the focus on heritage and artistry within the Black community.
The ensemble was topped off with a stunning burgundy cape that gave her entire appearance a royal touch. Embroidered along the edge in tonal red thread were the words “Harlem Rose,” symbolizing both the beauty and resilience of the culture. The cape shined with the roses, made of satin, bursting forth from the dark, crystallized vines that draped dramatically down Taylor’s back. Annetta flowing pleats at the bottom completed its theatrical flair.
Taylor capped off her breathtaking look with eye-popping leather gloves and a dapper gentleman’s walking stick. She continued to accessorize with David Yurman jewelry, which included colorful red and black stones. Her headpiece was just as impressive—a burgundy-top hat, adorned with a long ostrich plume, perched on top of the matching durag.
There was a reason Taylor picked her Poison Ivy look beyond its aesthetic appeal. It was inspired by her 2018 song “Rose in Harlem,” highlighting the zoot suit’s cultural significance and her deep connection to her roots.
“When The Met is Teyana Taylor’d to you, it’s the moment we were waiting on.” – Teyana Taylor
The zoot suit, historically associated with Black dandyism, captures the essence of identity and style as explored in Monica L. Miller’s book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” This linking holds particular relevance to the role that fashion can play as an expressive, creative medium, and space for reclamation of cultural stories.
