Was Sydney Sweeney’s Met Gala 2025 Dress On Theme?
Was Sydney Sweeney’s take on the Met Gala dress code too literal? “Tailored to You” was the prompt, which invited guests to interpret the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme through their own sartorial lens, but couch critics aren’t sure about the Anyone But You star’s choice to reference the white actress Kim Novak on a night dedicated to the celebration of Black fashion and culture.
On the carpet, Sweeney told La La Anthony that the dress is “paying homage” to Novak, whom she is playing in Colman Domingo’s film directorial debut, Scandalous!, which tells the story of Novak’s love affair with Sammy Davis Jr. (played by David Jonsson). “This is my third time going [to the Met] with Miu Miu, and I always feel that they bring such beautiful stories to every dress. So this is actually paying homage to Kim Novak,” she said. “I’m doing a movie with Colman Domingo. We wanted to really just bring that to life; it’s such a beautiful story.”
The sequined black gown with beaded-fringe shoulders and a cutout at the chest, fastened together with a gold rose, appears to be a re-creation of the the gown that Novak wore in the 1968 film The Legend of Lylah Clare. It is an undeniably beautiful dress that was clearly made to fit her body perfectly, but what Sweeney seemed to miss is that tailoring was only one, surface-level aspect of last night’s theme; she did not acknowledge Black dandyism when explaining the inspiration behind her look, sparking backlash online.
Many people loved Sweeney’s look and some interpreted it as a sweet nod to Domingo, who served as one of last night’s co-chairs, or even a celebration of Novak and Davis Jr.’s then-controversial interracial relationship. But others thought she completely disregarded Black dandyism and instead used the night as an opportunity to promote her film … eek.
“Sydney Sweeney said I don’t give a faulk what tonight’s theme is…Black Dandyism? Superfine: Tailoring Black Style? Ok well let me give y’all this *black* beaded dress that’s totally off theme…Oh and I’m honoring a white woman tonight! I’m giving Sydney an F,” one social-media user posted online. While someone else said, “sydney sweeney referencing kim novak, a white lady, for superfine tailoring black style….ok?”
Sydney Sweeney said I don’t give a faulk what tonight’s theme is…Black Dandyism? Superfine: Tailoring Black Style? Ok well let me give y’all this *black* beaded dress that’s totally off theme…Oh and I’m honoring a white woman tonight!
— Les Femmes Vintage (@lesfemmesvtg) May 5, 2025
I’m giving Sydney an F. #MetGala pic.twitter.com/RqlN8bRbzM
sydney sweeney referencing kim novak, a white lady, for superfine tailoring black style....ok?
— s. (@sunnynacia) May 5, 2025
“Actress Sydney Sweeney looks like she’s going to a White House Correspondents Dinner and not the Met Gala based on Super Fine: Tailoring Black Style. #MetGala2025,” a third person posted. “I guess this is the ‘safe’ way to interpret the theme! Smh!.”
Actress Sydney Sweeney looks like she’s going to a White House Correspondents Dinner and not the Met Gala based on Super Fine: Tailoring Black Style. #MetGala2025
— LEGENDARY LADE! ???????? (@LegendaryLade) May 5, 2025
I guess this is the “safe” way to interpret the theme! Smh! pic.twitter.com/fR21kAKIGn
Sydney Sweeney needs to explain how paying homage to a white woman is black dandyism
— niffs⭐️ (@niffsterrr) May 5, 2025