As the Met Gala continues to define the high-fashion conversation, Black Dandyism has captured the spotlight, with The Quintessential Gentleman’s Superfine cover featured in ABC News’ coverage.
This year’s Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrates not only the elegance of Black sartorial expression but also the deep-rooted cultural significance behind the history of Black Dandyism.
ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts took a deep dive into the evolution of Black Dandyism, tracing its origins back to the Harlem Renaissance and how it has shaped today’s fashion landscape.
Black Dandyism is about more than sharp creases and tailored suits; it’s a symbol of pride, identity, and resilience. It’s a celebration of Black men and women who use fashion to tell their story, reclaiming their dignity and challenging societal norms through their unique style.
The Met Gala’s Superfine theme brought together a range of cultural influences and icons, including The Quintessential Gentleman magazine, which highlighted Black dandyism through a photoshoot by photographer J. Monroe.
“[D]andyism is taking control of how you want to be seen,” J. Monroe shared.
The cultural assembly of Black men, which took place in Harlem, was inspired by Gordon Parks‘ legendary 1963 photograph Black Muslims in America and served as the magazine’s May cover story.
This year, the Met Gala’s celebration of Black Dandyism is even more poignant, thanks to the ongoing legacies of figures like Dapper Dan and the late André Leon Talley, both of whom have used fashion to elevate and amplify Black culture.
The cultural assembly for the Superfine cover focused not just on the art of dandyism, but on how it’s a form of resistance, celebration, and cultural pride. This celebration of Black Dandyism is part of a wider narrative about who gets to tell their own story and how they choose to express themselves.
