Ahead of this year’s Met Gala, renowned photographer Tyler Mitchell unveils a new photo essay for Costume Institute’s Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition catalogue. Mitchell turns his lens toward the modern dandies of Harlem wearing looks from the exhibition and vintage gems of their own.
When The Met enlisted Mitchell to photograph this year’s catalogue, he proposed something more. Instead of simply documenting mannequins, he sought to capture the essence of dandyism in motion – a living portrait of the undeniable presence that Black men have brought to tailoring across history.
The 372-page “love letter to modern Black dandyism” includes an accompanying essay penned by Mitchell, which continues his exploration of performance, presentation and contemporary iterations of the style, drawing connections between its roots and his Georgia upbringing. The images serve as a cross-generational showcase of style, from a young man adorned in a two-piece ensemble embellished with cowrie shells by designer and host committee member, Grace Wales Bonner, to a striking ensemble of suits gathered at a dinner table with headpieces casting regal silhouettes.
“My aim was not just to depict beauty and camaraderie — though that alone is worthy — but to explore how Black individuals have transformed classical European fashion into something uniquely our own,” Mitchell wrote.
Much like the Met’s upcoming exhibition, the catalogue takes inspiration from professor and guest curator Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, where she offers an in-depth examination of the transformative power of clothes and the histories embedded within them.
In capturing dandyism’s “humanity, pride, playfulness and intentional wit,” the artist also honors the men and boys that embody the enduring energy of this menswear movement: “Your style, spirit, and confidence brought this vision to life, honoring not only the garments but the vibrant legacy of all that Black style, dandyism and all-around flyness mean and have meant through time.
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 10 through October 26, 2025. The corresponding exhibition catalogue is now available for pre-order on the Met’s website for $75 USD.
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