Black Excellence Takes Over The 2023 MET Gala: Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Cardi B & More

The MET Gala — the annual fundraising ball held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute — gets more creative and whimsical each year. Held every first Monday in the month of May, celebrities from all industries including Hollywood, Hip-Hop, and the runway show up and show out during the exclusive shindig.

From seasoned stars to newcomers, those invited joined together under one roof and on one red carpet for fashion moments that will be talked about for decades to come.

Each year the theme of The MET transcends pop culture as it is single-handily the most important aspect of the elite fundraising event. Viewers standby to see which stars will nail the dress code to the tee, and who will fall short of the challenge. Guests use the moment to highlight the most popular fashion designers and show off exclusive custom garb.

Not only are the invited guests expected to make a fashion statement, but also to tell a story in tribute to the overall theme. Unforgettable couture moments have been made, including Rihanna’s Pope-influenced gown during 2018’s Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination; Beyoncé’s Givenchy dress from 2015’s China: Through the Looking Glass; Lizzo’s pink moment at Camp: Notes or Fashion, and A$AP Rocky’s ERL overthrow ensemble during 2021’s A Lexicon of Fashion and more.

The MET Gala isn’t the time to tread lightly.

This year’s Gala saw tribute to the late-fashion impresario Karl Lagerfeld, with the theme of “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” The fashion icon passed in 2019, and was widely admired for his extensive body of work including Balmain, Patou, Chloé, Fendi, Chanel, and his own homonymous brand. Celebrities all graced the carpet with different ensembles that spoke to Karl’s light in one way or the other and Black excellence stood out in a major way.

Here are some of the best Black fashion moments from The 2023 MET Gala.