Kerry Washington Channels Black Dandy Elegance at the 2025 Met Gala in Custom Simkhai
In a night where style met storytelling under the bold theme Black Dandy: Superfine Tailoring, Kerry Washington delivered one of the evening’s most memorable moments—effortlessly marrying historical influence with avant-garde flair.
Wearing a custom Simkhai ensemble, Washington served a look that was both sharp and sensuous. The outfit featured a bespoke jacket that showcased Simkhai’s signature craftsmanship with strong, structured lines and meticulous tailoring. Its precision echoed the sartorial tradition of Black dandyism—where elegance becomes a statement of resistance, refinement, and self-definition.
But the look didn’t stop at structure. Below the waist, the jacket gave way to a sheer, flowing skirt—an unexpected and slightly provocative twist that added a cinematic softness to the ensemble. The transparency of the skirt invited mixed reactions from spectators and style critics alike: Was it too much? Did it kill the vibe? Hardly. If anything, it amplified the conversation—bold femininity meets refined masculinity in a single frame.
The real pièce de résistance? A custom hat from Binata Millinery, hand-dyed to match the exact Pantone of her Simkhai look. The hat, perched just-so, was a nod to the classic toppers worn by Black dandies of the 19th century, now reimagined with contemporary sophistication. It pulled the whole look together—less of an accessory, more of a punctuation mark.
With this ensemble, Kerry Washington didn’t just walk the red carpet. She told a story. One that whispered legacy, shouted style, and bent the rules of gendered fashion with quiet authority
