Not everyone understood the assignment. While some stars turned the Met Gala 2025 red carpet into a runway of power, precision, and political glamour, others… well, they showed up. From chaotic tailoring to themes lost in translation, these are the looks that made us gasp—for all the wrong reasons.
From Bad Fits to Theme Fails: Met Gala 2025’s Worst Dressed Stars
Saquon Barkley
Yes, the tailoring is clean. Yes, the shoes are polished. But this was the year of Black dandyism—a call to arms for bold silhouettes, historic references, and the radical artistry of dressing. Saquon showed up in a very nice suit that could’ve worked at literally any other formal event.
The dandy is about defiance, not just dressing up. A shiny lapel and a stacked watch don’t cut it when the theme is about legacy, subversion, and style as identity. This was safe, serviceable—and way too forgettable for fashion’s biggest stage.
Maya Hawke
Soft pink satin, beige tulle, and a mini clutch? Girl, this wasn’t a theme—this was a sleepover at Gwyneth Paltrow’s house. Met Gala 2025 asked for tailoring as resistance, style as protest, and Black dandyism as cultural force. This said “I’ll have the rosé and be in bed by 9.”
It’s giving “I saw the invite, not the moodboard.” Sweet? Yes. Memorable? No. On theme? Not even close.
James Corden
There’s playing it safe, and then there’s showing up in a tux so generic it might’ve come with a rental tag still attached. In a year themed around Black dandyism—a celebration of tailored rebellion, cultural defiance, and style as resistance—this look felt like a blank page.
Not a single gesture toward the theme, no twist, no flair, no point of view. A missed opportunity to engage with the legacy of dandyism, queerness, or even creativity. At Met Gala 2025, this wasn’t just underdressed—it was uninspired.
Anne Hathaway
This look might’ve slayed a Vogue dinner or a luxury brand cocktail hour, but it had no business being part of Met Gala 2025. The theme demanded tailoring as performance, style as subversion, Black dandyism as cultural dialogue—and Anne gave us a crisp shirt and a bedazzled pencil skirt.
Yes, she looks polished. Yes, the hair and collar scream “power woman.” But this isn’t powerful. It’s polite. And polite is the opposite of what this theme called for.
On theme? No. On brand? Maybe.
Jeremy Allen White
Yes, tailoring is part of the theme—but it’s how you tailor that matters. Black dandyism is about resistance, expression, intentionality. This pinstripe suit? Flat. The fit? Meh. The styling? Corporate-core cosplay with a half-hearted lapel pin.
The Met Gala 2025 red carpet was supposed to be a moment for bold elegance rooted in culture and power. This look whispered “I tried,” and the vibe was less dandy, more accountant at a fancy wake.
Let’s bring back the drama, Jeremy. This isn’t a press junket. This is the carpet.
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Sha’Carri Richardson
There’s something regal in the lavender lace and butter-yellow draping, but the execution missed the assignment. Black dandyism is about power dressing, sartorial wit, and tailored subversion. This gown, while romantic, leaned too hard into pageant territory and not enough into historical commentary or political edge.
We wanted a tailored revolution. Instead, we got vintage prom meets Bridgerton extras rack. A stunning woman in a not-so-stunning dress—and on this red carpet, that’s just not enough.
Pharrell Williams
This is the Pharrell—one of the most influential Black style icons of the 21st century. And this Met Gala theme? Was practically written for him. But instead of delivering a masterclass in dandy rebellion, we got a wrinkled white blazer, a too-tight trouser hem, and a whole lot of “meh.”
His partner looked sharper—quite literally—in a leather corset and LV tights, but together they gave “off-duty luxury mall cops” more than revolutionary fashion figures. There’s minimalist, and then there’s missed-the-point.
For someone who redefined streetwear and red carpet dressing, this was a painful letdown. Not even the sunglasses could block out the disappointment.
Pamela Anderson
Yes, we get it. Sparkle. Shine. Drama. But this stiff, overworked silhouette felt more “space queen at her retirement gala” than fashion-forward Met moment. The hyper-sculpted hips and overembellished fabric made her look like she was preparing for atmospheric reentry rather than celebrating Black dandyism or tailoring as resistance.
We love a comeback queen and Pam’s recent fashion glow-up had us rooting for her. But this? This was less “quiet luxury” and more “cautiously camp without the fun.” A risk, yes—but one that needed editing, not excess.
Jimmy Fallon
This isn’t late night, Jimmy—it’s the Met Gala. The midnight blue suit and all-black shirt-tie combo felt more funeral than fashion-forward. In a year where tailoring is being reimagined as a radical, identity-affirming act, this look whispered “safe” when the theme demanded “sartorial subversion.” Not dandy, not daring, just… there.
Hailey Bieber
Wearing a blazer as a dress might’ve worked at a cocktail party in 2018, but at the Met Gala—especially this Met Gala—it reads as an underwhelming afterthought. While the tailoring is clean and the jewels sparkle, there’s no narrative, no homage to the theme, and definitely no risk. Hailey looked stunning, yes, but “pretty” isn’t the assignment when the red carpet calls for political fashion, historical references, and maximum drama. Next time, we want less boardroom, more ballroom.
See also: MET Gala 2025: These are the BEST Looks of THE Fashion Event of the Year
In a year when the Met Gala theme begged for boldness, subversion, and a deep sartorial conversation about Black style and history, too many celebs played it painfully safe—or completely missed the point. Fashion isn’t just fabric; it’s statement, legacy, rebellion. And when the stakes are this high, showing up in a boring suit or a misguided concept isn’t just a fashion fail—it’s a missed opportunity.
