At the 2025 Met Gala, Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter collaborated with supermodel Jasmine Tookes to channel 1930s Harlem glamour on the red carpet, inspired by jazz legend Cab Calloway and Eddie Murphy’s style in “Harlem Nights.”
“The Met Gala is truly in a league of its own. It’s not just fashion, it’s storytelling on the most iconic steps,” Tookes told WWD. “With a theme like ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,’ there’s an added sense of pride and responsibility. It’s not just about looking beautiful, it’s about honoring legacy.”
Celebrating the evening’s theme, “Tailored for You,” Carter designed a white tuxedo with a peplum silhouette, silk lapels, bead detailing and asymmetric cape accents. “Her work doesn’t just dress characters, it tells stories that stay with you,” Tookes shared. “When the chance to collaborate came up, it felt deeply personal. From our very first conversation, she spoke about honoring the regal strength of Black style, blending heritage with softness. One moment that really moved me was when she referenced the silhouettes from ‘Harlem Nights’—that touch of nostalgia brought a whole new layer of meaning to the look.”
The suit reimagined Black male elegance through a feminine lens, honoring tailoring traditions while embracing modern sophistication. “What made it so special was her ability to blend strength with sensuality, from the structured tailoring to the soft drape of the fabric,” Tookes said.
The design aligned with the Costume Institute’s exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear. The exhibit opens to the public on Saturday and runs through Oct. 26.
Here, Tookes shares her 2025 Met Gala photo diary.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “My pre-glam rituals always include a moment of stillness. I light a candle, play something grounding, usually Sade, and take a few quiet minutes to really be present. It helps me stay centered throughout the whirlwind.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “We decided on a full cream suit because it felt like such an authentic expression of me. It’s tailored not just to my body, but to my spirit. Elegant, modern, and grounded in cultural pride, it’s a beautiful reflection of where I come from and how I want to show up in this moment.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “Ruth was incredibly thoughtful in making sure the look felt true to who I am. We spent time talking about that balance between structure and ease. I’ve always gravitated toward elegant, clean, strong lines, but I also love when a look feels fluid and feminine.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “I especially love the interplay between masculine and feminine energy, the strong shoulders, the wide-brim hat, the cane, and the cape paired with a cinched, belted waist. It evokes power without losing grace.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “There’s also a beautiful hand-beaded detail on the shoulder, almost like a hidden story woven into the garment. Subtle, but so meaningful.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “I hope people feel the pride and intentionality behind it. Black style isn’t a trend, it’s the origin. It’s the influence. It’s excellence.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “I want my look to spark reverence for the women who paved the way, for artists like Ruth who use fashion as storytelling, and for the cultural brilliance that deserves to be celebrated on the grandest stages.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy “It feels like a quiet kind of strength, timeless, deeply rooted and a nod to Black dandy.”
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.
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Getting Ready With Jasmine Tookes for 2025 Met Gala
Image Credit: Taylor Tupy Jasmine Tookes prepares for the 2025 Met Gala, celebrating the legacy and power of Black fashion expression through fine tailoring and menswear for the Costume Institute’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit.
Design by Ruth Carter.