Dandyism Done Right: Suiting Up in Culture at the Met Gala 2025
10th May 2025
This year’s Met Gala wasn’t just a night of fashion, it was a cultural thesis stitched in silk. With the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the gala paid homage to the legacy of Black dandyism: a form of sartorial resistance, elegance, and self-determination rooted in centuries of Black expression. Tailoring became the language. Dignity was the message.
While the spotlight was rightly cast on Black fashion histories, a few global voices stepped onto the carpet with not just style, but substance. They harmonized with the theme, blending their own cultural identities into the broader narrative of dandyism.
Among them?
Two men who didn’t just understand the assignment, they reinterpreted it through their own lens: Diljit Dosanjh, the Punjabi powerhouse; S.Coups, K-pop’s quiet style tactician.
They came tailored. They came intentional. And most importantly, they came with something to say.
A Punjabi Statement
Diljit Dosanjh is more than a household name, he’s a global icon! A Punjabi singer, actor, and entertainer whose fanbase stretches from Ludhiana to London to Los Angeles, Diljit has spent years breaking records and building bridges between India and the global stage. The 2025 Met Gala marked his debut and he made sure it was one for the history books.
His inspiration? Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, one of India’s most flamboyant and fashion-forward royals of the early 1900s. Known for his opulent wardrobe and commanding presence, the king wasn’t just referenced, he was resurrected. While honouring Black dandyism, Diljit also spotlighted how closely Indian dandyism aligns: both were born from communities that used fashion to push back against colonialism and racial hierarchies.
To bring this vision to life, Diljit teamed up with Nepalese American designer Prabal Gurung, whose work has long blurred the lines between museum-worthy tradition and modern elegance. It took 50 artisans and four days to bring it to life. The centerpiece was a floor-length silk cape, hand-embroidered with golden thread. It featured Punjab’s state map, the Gurmukhi alphabet, and delicate motifs like peacocks and roses, all stitched with meticulous French knot detailing.
The rest of the ensemble channeled the grandeur of Indian Maharajas during British rule, royals who once fused Western tailoring with Indian opulence to challenge the dress codes forced upon them. The turban, the sword, the jewels, the embroidery in his mother tongue every element was deliberate, powerful, and deeply personal.
Intricate details of the cape with his mother tongue embrioded
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
Korean Roots Suited
S.Coups, born Choi Seungcheol, is the leader of the K-pop powerhouse SEVENTEEN. Known for his commanding stage presence and understated charisma, he has steadily built a reputation not just as a performer but as a style icon. His debut at the 2025 Met Gala marked a significant milestone, both personally and for the broader representation of Korean culture on global fashion stages.
Drawing inspiration from traditional Korean hanbok, S.Coups collaborated with Hugo Boss, for whom he serves as a global ambassador, to create an ensemble that seamlessly blended heritage with contemporary tailoring.
The outfit featured a light grey top with a draped neckline, reminiscent of the jeogori, the traditional upper garment of the hanbok, layered under a darker, structured vest. A flowing dark overcoat, reminiscent of the dopo once worn by Korean scholars, added graceful movement and gravitas. The wide, pleated trousers evoked the silhouette of baji, while the overall monochrome palette further accentuated by his silver-grey hair, creating a cohesive and modern aesthetic.
S.Coups' ensemble was a thoughtful nod to the Met Gala's theme, showcasing how traditional garments can be reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary fashion. It bridged eras and aesthetics, blending tradition and modernity to assert that Korean culture not only endures: it evolves, redefines, and belongs in the global spotlight.
In a striking twirl, he boasts his floor-length dopo, a hanbok-inspired overcoat
A fan-made edit of outfit breakdown going viral on Instagram
Clear and closure look at the layered pieces of hanbok suited up
There’s a fine line between costume and couture and both men threaded it beautifully. They reminded us that fashion isn’t just about what you wear. It’s about what you bring with you.
In a night themed around “Superfine,” Diljit and S.Coups reminded us that true refinement lies in authenticity. The real power of style is in owning your story and these two made it clear: that story shines brightest when it’s unapologetically yours.