The MET Gala 2025: The Stars Who Let Their Eyewear Do The Talking

For anyone with even a passing interest in fashion, the phrase “the first Monday in May” carries serious weight. It’s not just a date - it’s the industry’s most anticipated night of the year. The Met Gala, held annually at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is where art, culture, and couture collide in dazzling fashion. Each year, celebrities, designers, and creatives gather to interpret a new theme through visionary styling, theatrical gowns, and bold statements. 

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On Monday 5th May, the 2025 Met Gala celebrated “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” through their “Tailored For You” theme honouring Black fashion history and the art of impeccable tailoring. This focus on Black dandyism meant the gala’s carpet was filled with sharp suits, bold accessories, and rich cultural references. While tailoring in suits and gowns stole the spotlight, a subtler element emerged as a statement-maker: eyewear and optical accessories. From monocles and jewelled binoculars to vintage shades and even a rhinestone eye patch, optical elements were used not just for style but as bold extensions of identity and narrative. 

Here’s a curated look at the stars who elevated their ensembles through glasses, sunglasses, and all things “optical.” Below, we dive into their outfits, and the eye-catching eyewear accented their looks. 

Emma Chamberlain: Retro Revival

Emma Chamberlain redefined suiting with a custom Courrèges pinstripe blazer-dress that was both sharp and playfully backless. Her accessories, all vintage finds from eBay, included narrow silver oval glasses with a delicate charm hanging from one side - an unexpected touch that complemented the night’s theme of personalised tailoring. Topped with a platinum pixie cut and moody makeup, Emma’s look, in her own words, “could not be more tailored for me.” 

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A$AP Rocky: Diamond-Encrusted Drama

As a co-chair of the evening, A$AP Rocky made a memorable entrance in an ensemble he designed himself - a classic black suit layered with a Marmot jacket. He accessorised with a 90-carat diamond-covered umbrella, reportedly shaped like a gun - a possible nod to his recent legal acquittal. Completing his look were custom diamond-studded Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses and red-bottomed Christian Louboutin shoes, blending streetwear flair with high fashion. 

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Janelle Monáe: Futuristic Dandyism

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Janelle Monáe delivered a masterclass in surreal tailoring, dressed in a black, white, and red Thom Browne ensemble that nodded to 1930s menswear with a trompe l’oeil overcoat and skirt suit. But the true centerpiece wasn’t the suit or even the Magritte-style bowler - it was the monocle fused with a functioning timepiece, worn boldly over one eye. Janelle’s watch-inspired inventive twist stood out as the most imaginative, turning a classic dandy detail into wearable art. 

Bad Bunny: Shades and Symbollism

Bad Bunny hit the 2025 Met Gala red carpet in a chocolate-brown Prada suit with crystal-encrusted gloves, a caramel shirt, and a champagne tie. His detailed miniscule oval sunglasses added sharp contrast, anchoring the look with effortless cool. A woven fabric pava-style hat paid tribute to his Puerto Rican roots, as did the diamond Flor de Maga brooch pinned to his lapel - each detail rich with personal and cultural symbolism. 

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Spike Lee: Director’s Cut

Spike Lee hit the 2025 Met Gala in an oversized black suit, silver crossbody case, and his signature New York Knicks cap - but it was his bright orange sunglasses that stole the show. The vivid frames added a burst of colour and personality, perfectly capturing his blend of courtside cool and red carpet confidence. 

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Andra Day: Theatrical Vision

Andra Day added drama to her custom Jérôme LaMaar outfit, and Cartier jewels by carrying bejewelled opera binoculars, a whimsical yet elegant nod to historical Black glamour and performance. Though not wearable, her optical accessory underscored the theme of tailored elegance with a twist of performance art. 

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Chance the Rapper: Clean Lines & Quiet Power 

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Chance channelled modern-day Harlem Renaissance energy in his sleek tailoring with minimal and retro double-bridge frames. Understated but deliberate, the eyewear helped transform his ensemble into something stylish and quietly assertive. 

Dapper Dan: Harlem Shine Meets High Society 

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Harlem legend Dapper Dan lit up the Met Gala carpet in a glitzy, custom ensemble featuring sequined lapels, heart motifs, and crisp two-tone shoes - a nod to classic dandy style with a flash of Harlem flair. His statement bedazzled sunglasses shimmered under the lights and added a playful, high-shine twist to his already dazzling look.

Hope Smith: ‘70’s Soul With a Golden Glare

Hope Smith brought disco-era dandy in full force, pairing rich textures with voluminous curls and a statement set of oversized retro aviators. The warm yellow/brown lenses add an effortlessly cool vintage glamour vibe to her look.

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Dynasty & Soull Ogun: Twin Visions in Tailored Power

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Design duo Dynasty and Soull Ogun brought double the presence, channelling Black dandyism with layered symbolism and razor-sharp style. Dynasty's ivory-toned sunglasses and textured neutral suit were offset by a rich patterned cape, while Soull’s sculptural black coat and slick dark shades were punctuated by a red flower brooch and heavy silver belt. Together, their eyewear didn’t just complement their looks - it sharpened them, offering a futuristic edge to their emsembles.

Alton Mason: Couture Cowboy with a Crystal-Covered Eye 

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Alton Mason turned the Met Gala into his personal runway with a showstopping look that fused high drama, retro flair, and futuristic fantasy. He arrived cloaked in a sculptural black overcoat with extreme shoulder pads, only to reveal a fully crystallised silver vest, trousers, and boots underneath. But the pièce de résistance? A sparkling rhinestone eye patch - worn with total confidence and styled beneath a wide-brimmed black cowboy hat. The eye patch wasn’t just an accessory; it was a statement of vision and defiance, transforming Mason into a dazzling, dandy outlaw of the night. 

That’s a wrap on our favourite eyewear looks and optical accessories from this year’s 2025 Met Gala! From sharp tailoring to expressive eyewear, we’re reminded that fashion isn’t just about clothing - it’s about attitude, identity, and cultural conversation. The stars who chose to incorporate glasses or sunglasses into their ensembles understood this. Their eyewear didn’t just accessorise - it transformed, adding nuance, narrative, and even a touch of mystery. On the first Monday in May, those lenses weren’t just for looking through - they were for being seen.