Indian celebrities made a powerful style statement at the Met Gala 2025, turning heads with looks that beautifully fused tradition, tailoring, and modern glamour.

The Met Gala 2025, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was a dazzling spectacle of fashion, art, and cultural commentary. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” drew inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. It celebrated Black dandyism, a sartorial movement rooted in the 18th century that challenged social hierarchies through polished menswear and expressive style. The dress code, “Tailored for You,” encouraged personalized interpretations of tailoring, emphasizing identity, creativity, and cultural resonance.

Marking the first Costume Institute exhibition focused solely on menswear since 2003’s Men in Skirts, the 2025 edition was curated by Monica Miller herself. It explored Black dandyism as both an aesthetic and political construct, highlighting its influence on Black identities across the Atlantic diaspora. Organized around 12 characteristics—Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Respectability, Jook, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, and Cosmopolitanism—the exhibition invited attendees to reimagine tailored silhouettes with individual flair.

Historically a subversive act of self-expression, Black dandyism used impeccable style to assert identity and defy stereotypes—making it a powerful lens for this year’s fashion narrative. Indian celebrities made a historic impact on the red carpet, seamlessly blending global glamour with Indian craftsmanship.

Here’s an in-depth look at their standout looks, the designers behind them, and how they interpreted the theme.

Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood’s “King Khan” made a historic debut as the first Indian male actor to attend the Met Gala, commanding attention in a custom black sherwani by Sabyasachi. Featuring a structured silhouette with intricate embroidery, the ensemble was styled with talismanic chains, a jewelled brooch, and a vintage-inspired cane—evoking old-world charm with modern gravitas. The look fused Indian tradition with Parisian tailoring, nodding to the exhibition’s themes of Heritage and Distinction. A bold, oversized ‘K’ necklace added a personal statement, solidifying his presence as a global fashion icon.

Shah Rukh’s outfit captured the dandy’s signature Presence and Cosmopolitanism, blending regal Indian aesthetics with the tailored precision emblematic of Black dandyism. The sherwani’s clean lines and lavish detailing honored the theme’s celebration of polished menswear, while his accessories introduced a theatrical flair, echoing the dandy’s love for bold self-expression.

Kiara Advani

Kiara Advani, expecting her first child with Sidharth Malhotra, made a radiant Met Gala debut in a breathtaking Gaurav Gupta gown. The sleek black dress featured an antique gold breastplate adorned with crystals and droplets, forming a sculptural silhouette that celebrated both strength and vulnerability. The flowing train and intricate embellishments narrated a deeply personal story of motherhood, aligning with the theme’s focus on tailored self-expression and identity.

Merging Indian craftsmanship with the dandy’s flair for bold, refined silhouettes, the look embodied themes of Freedom and Beauty. The structured breastplate evoked power and resilience, while the soft drapery symbolized creation and transformation—making her appearance a poignant tribute to life, femininity, and evolving identity.

Diljit Dosanjh

Diljit Dosanjh, the singer-actor with global acclaim, made a powerful Met Gala debut in a custom sherwani suit by Prabal Gurung. The all-black ensemble featured sharp tailoring paired with a majestic cape embroidered in Sikh Gurmukhi script, a tribute to his Punjabi roots. A handcrafted turban by Indian artisans completed the look, adding a regal touch that stood out on the red carpet.

Diljit’s outfit wasn’t just fashion—it was a statement. Inspired by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, his look honored the legacy of a royal who lived in exile, representing resilience and cultural pride. The sharp sherwani silhouette reflected the polished elegance of Black dandyism, while the script and turban made his identity unmistakably clear. The flowing cape added drama and distinction, turning his appearance into a bold celebration of heritage, strength, and self-expression.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas 

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, making her fifth Met Gala appearance, turned heads in a striking polka-dot Balmain suit-dress designed in collaboration with Olivier Rousteing. The look featured a sharply tailored blazer with exaggerated shoulders, paired with a flowing skirt that added movement and drama. Styled with statement Bvlgari jewellery, the outfit brought together elegance and attitude, channeling a retro mob-wife vibe with a touch of old-money glamour.

Her ensemble reimagined the classic dandy suit through a feminine lens, blending structure with softness. The bold polka dots and vintage styling echoed the playful confidence of Black dandyism, while the strong tailoring kept it rooted in the theme’s menswear core. With her signature confidence, high-shine jewels, and effortless presence, Priyanka delivered a look that was cool, cosmopolitan, and completely her own.

Isha Ambani

Isha Ambani stunned at the Met Gala in a stunning Anamika Khanna creation that mixed vintage elegance with modern style. The outfit featured a perfectly tailored jacket with a crisp collar and a beautifully embroidered waistcoat, blending sophistication with artistry. Drawing inspiration from African textiles and global craftsmanship, the design was a true tribute to cultural artistry. The corset, detailed with geometric patterns, subtly tied into the evening’s theme, adding depth to her look.

For her beauty, Isha kept it fresh with dewy makeup and a sleek, long braid that complemented the outfit perfectly. The gown took an impressive 20,000 hours to create, with pearls, semi-precious stones, and heirloom gems—some of which came from the Ambani family’s private collection—giving it a truly personal and luxurious touch.

Natasha Poonawalla 

Natasha Poonawalla, styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and Lakshmi Lehr, wowed at the Met Gala with a Manish Malhotra look that was a true masterpiece of storytelling through fashion. The outfit featured a corseted, sculpted silhouette that beautifully merged the intricate tradition of Indian Gara embroidery with the bold structure of Western tailoring. The standout piece was a reimagined fishtail skirt, crafted from two antique Gara saris. The hand-embroidered fabric carried the weight of generations, each stitch telling a tale of craftsmanship and artistry.

The black Gara jacket, embroidered with the rare ektaar technique, symbolized a seamless flow of tradition and modernity, with its continuous pattern serving as a quiet act of defiance. Underneath, Natasha paired a vintage French lace bralette, delicately finished with pearls, with a corset-cummerbund. The result was a harmonious blend of understated elegance and the flamboyant flair typical of dandyism.

Mona Patel 

Mona Patel made a bold statement at the Met Gala 2025, wearing a custom Thom Browne creation that perfectly blended bespoke tailoring with cultural storytelling and a futuristic edge. Her red carpet look stood out for its precision and creativity, fusing traditional craftsmanship with a forward-thinking vision. Accompanied by a robotic dog on a diamond leash, Patel’s entrance was as cinematic as it was stylish, redefining the art of making a memorable impact on the red carpet

Manish Malhotra

Renowned designer Manish Malhotra made his Met Gala debut in a majestic black tailored tuxedo from his own label. The tuxedo featured subtle embellishments and a modern cut, exuding understated elegance. Statement jewellery, including a bold brooch, added a touch of Bollywood bling.  

Manish’s look embodied Respectability and Cool, using classic tailoring to honor the theme’s menswear focus while infusing it with Indian flair. The tuxedo’s clean lines and luxurious details reflected the dandy’s polished aesthetic, making a strong case for Indian designers on the global stage.  

Sabyasachi Mukherjee

Sabyasachi Mukherjee, attending his second Met Gala, graced the red carpet in a bespoke ensemble from his own label, reaffirming his stature as both a designer and a style icon. His look was a masterclass in understated opulence, featuring a hand-quilted oversized court jacket and sherwani crafted from hand-dyed Murshidabad silk, layered over a satin shirt. He completed the outfit with black quilted trousers, a kamarbandh, and custom-embroidered shoes from Sabyasachi Accessories.

Met Gala 2025 was a triumph of style and substance, with Indian celebrities stealing the spotlight through thoughtful, theme-driven looks. The “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme, rooted in the legacy of Black dandyism, provided a rich framework for creativity, and India’s representatives rose to the occasion with unparalleled elegance. 

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Also Read: Dupatta Labeled as European Aesthetic is a Case of Cultural Erasure

As the dupatta is rebranded as a “Scandinavian aesthetic,” communities are left questioning whether the globalisation of fashion aesthetics—without proper context—leads to quiet cultural erasure.

In a time when fashion is more global than ever before, cultural crossovers are bound to happen. But when traditional garments are rebranded under trendy, Western labels without proper context or credit, it brings up uncomfortable questions about respect, representation, and recognition. Recently, a new controversy emerged online when social media users pointed out how the dupatta—a piece of clothing that has been a staple in South Asian wardrobes for centuries—was being reimagined as part of a so-called “Scandinavian fit.” Influencers, often white women, began pairing flowing scarves or sheer wraps with minimalistic outfits and tagging them as Nordic-inspired silhouettes. But for many in South Asian communities, this wasn’t innovation but appropriation masquerading as aesthetic.

The dupatta, which holds historical, cultural, and spiritual value across regions in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, is not simply a piece of cloth but a marker of identity, modesty, and beauty. So, to see it stripped of its origins and renamed without acknowledgment felt deeply personal to many. This trend, while seemingly harmless to some, touched a nerve because it followed a familiar pattern—the mislabeling or rebranding of cultural elements by those with more power or reach, often for profit or popularity. It reminded people of when “chai” became “chai tea latte” or when henna was sold as “festival face art” without any mention of its roots in South Asian or Middle Eastern cultures.

While some argued that certain flowing garments may have historical connections across Persia or parts of Europe, the very specific rebranding of a garment so central to South Asian culture as “Scandinavian” overlooked its deeply rooted presence in the subcontinent. The issue was not that scarves were being worn but the erasure of origin, the lack of credit, and the tone-deaf celebration of what was being presented as new, when in fact it was ancestral.

This moment reflects a broader, ongoing issue where cultural artifacts—especially those from marginalized or colonized communities—are reinterpreted through a Western lens and marketed without proper understanding. From lehengas being dubbed “Y2K two-piece sets” to bindis being sold as “face jewels” on festival websites, from Maasai beadwork being called “boho chic” to henna being rebranded as “temporary tattoos,” the cycle of cultural erasure repeats itself again and again. And often at the center of this are influencers and fast fashion brands, who chase trends without pausing to research the heritage behind the styles they promote.

On platforms like Shein, one can easily find dupatta-inspired garments being sold as “Ibiza wraps,” completely detached from their original makers—many of whom are Indian artisans who spend months weaving and dyeing these pieces by hand. These knockoffs are cheaper, faster, and trendier—but they come at a cost. The economic impact of this erasure is devastating for communities that rely on craft for livelihood. Maasai artisans lose business as their designs are replicated and mass-produced. Henna artists see their culturally significant work repackaged in plastic kits, marketed to festival-goers. Indian weavers struggle to keep up with global retailers who capitalize on their legacy without crediting it.

But the impact isn’t just economic—it’s emotional too. For many South Asian youth growing up in the diaspora, symbols like the dupatta, the bindi, or mehndi are deeply personal. They are ways to stay connected to a heritage that is already fragile in a world where assimilation is often the price of acceptance. When those symbols are rebranded, repackaged, or dismissed as trends, it can feel like yet another piece of home is being taken away.

Yet, amid all this, social media has also become a place for resistance. While it has played a role in spreading these trends, it has equally empowered people to speak out against them. South Asian creators, fashion historians, and cultural commentators are using social media platforms to call out appropriation, educate their audiences, and reclaim their narratives. 

This isn’t a call to stop sharing styles or inspirations—it’s a call to do so with care. Cultural exchange is beautiful when it comes with respect, when credit is given where it’s due, and when the original communities are included, not excluded. The exchange must be reciprocal. It must credit the source, compensate the maker, and respect the context. As fashion continues to globalize, it’s crucial we don’t lose sight of where it all began—and the people who kept it alive.

Also Read: Your Wardrobe Might Be Reflecting a Recession

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Here are some fashion trends that have historically reflected economic downturns and are now reappearing in our wardrobes.

In the early 1930s, when the Great Depression took hold, fashion became more practical, and quietly stepped away from glamour. Then, a few decades later, during the oil crisis of the 1970s, something similar happened when people turned to earthy tones, longer skirts, and a more relaxed boho style. And if we look at the recession of 2008, when the world faced another major financial crash, fashion responded yet again with similar trends where loud logos faded, minimalism took over, and people started choosing basics that felt more sensible.

These shifts in style may seem like changing tastes on the surface, but they follow a pattern and that’s no mere coincidence. Fashion, though often seen as frivolous or detached from reality, has always mirrored the social and economic pulse of its time, shifting subtly—or sometimes drastically—in response to the pressures people face. Recession, with its huge impact on spending habits and consumer mindset, has a way of quietly shaping the clothes we wear, the trends we follow, and the statements we choose to make through style. This article explores the fascinating ways in which economic downturns have consistently left their mark on the fashion industry, revealing how style adapts when society is forced to rethink its priorities.

Minimalism and Quiet Luxury

Throughout history, economic downturns have often prompted a return to minimalist fashion, and 2025 is no exception. As recessionary pressures mount, consumers are increasingly drawn to quiet luxury, an aesthetic defined by clean lines, muted tones such as beige, black, and off-white, and logo-free designs that convey sophistication with subtlety rather than flash. This preference stems not only from a desire for elegance but also from practicality: high-quality, versatile pieces offer greater value when budgets are tighter.
This trend isn’t new. After the 2008 financial crisis, Phoebe Philo’s work at Celine became emblematic of the minimalist movement, resonating with audiences seeking calm and refinement in uncertain times. Fast-forward to today, and shows like Succession have reintroduced the concept of quiet luxury into the cultural conversation, highlighting understated affluence over flashy displays of wealth. In 2025, this growing preference also speaks to a broader societal shift that is valuing longevity, subtlety, and authenticity over rapid consumption and conspicuous branding.

Longer Hemlines (The Hemline Index)

The “hemline index” is a theory suggesting that skirt lengths tend to fall during tough economic times and once again, it appears relevant. Maxi and midi skirts have seen a massive resurgence. Historically, longer hemlines during downturns, such as during the Great Depression and post-2008, reflected a shift toward modesty and practicality. Covered silhouettes offered more versatility and durability, catering to a mood of caution and restraint. While it’s important to note that fashion doesn’t follow the hemline theory religiously (for    instance, the prosperous 1950s also favored longer skirts), the broader pattern remains: in times of economic hardship, consumers gravitate toward styles that feel stable, sensible, and enduring.

Indie Sleaze and Nostalgic Revivals

At the other end of the style spectrum, the gritty, chaotic aesthetic of early-2000s “indie sleaze” has roared back to life. Characterized by skinny jeans, distressed layers, slip dresses, messy eyeliner, and an overall DIY spirit, indie sleaze appeals to those longing for a less polished, more rebellious era.
During past downturns, notably post-2008, similar nostalgic trends offered emotional refuge, allowing people to romanticize periods of past turbulence as simpler or freer times. In 2025, cultural moments like Lady Gaga’s punk-era revival in Mayhem have propelled this style back into the spotlight. Indie sleaze’s appeal lies not just in nostalgia but in its affordability and individualism, providing a low-cost way to express personal style amid broader economic anxiety.

Underconsumption-Core and Thrifting

Another major behavioral shift in 2025 is the rise of “underconsumption-core” which is a conscious effort to minimize buying, embrace secondhand shopping, and find new ways to reuse and repurpose existing wardrobes. Social media platforms have become hubs for thrift hauls, “shop your closet” challenges, and DIY upcycling tips.
This trend harks back to post-2008, when resale platforms like Depop and Poshmark flourished. Today’s version is even more value-driven and sustainability-focused, reflecting growing awareness of both economic and environmental crises. Underconsumption-core speaks to a new ethos: style doesn’t have to come at the cost of the planet or one’s wallet. Instead, creativity, resourcefulness, and personal storytelling become the real markers of fashion credibility.

Peplum Tops

Peplum tops, featuring a distinctive flared ruffle at the waist, are another silhouette making a comeback in 2025. Historically, peplums have emerged during or after economic crises, giving a subtle flourish in otherwise streamlined wardrobes. Christian Dior’s iconic New Look post-World War II, with its cinched waists and voluminous skirts, embodied a similar balance between optimism and austerity. Following the 2008 financial crisis, peplum tops once again found favor for their ability to add flair without extravagance. Today, designers like Ashlynn Park are reintroducing them with modern updates like cleaner cuts, lighter fabrics, and a focus on functionality. Their resurgence signals cautious optimism: consumers are ready for a bit of fun in their fashion choices but still value practicality and versatility over flamboyant splurges.

Recession Blonde (and Low-Maintenance Beauty)

The idea of “recession blonde” was coined on TikTok and it reflects the broader beauty shift toward low-maintenance routines in tight economies. Rather than frequent salon visits to maintain a perfect platinum hue, consumers are embracing darker roots, more natural shades, and cost-effective color treatments like glosses.
This mirrors a broader pattern seen after the 2008 crash, when consumers pared back spending on professional beauty services. In 2025, stylists are seeing a surge in requests for “lived-in” color and treatments that extend the time between appointments. It’s a subtle but telling sign of how recessions reshape beauty norms, prioritizing authenticity and affordability over constant upkeep.

Conservative Silhouettes and Muted Colors

Along with longer hemlines, conservative silhouettes including high necklines, long sleeves, and relaxed, layered fits are regaining ground in 2025. Colors, too, are shifting toward muted, earthy palettes like warm browns, charcoal grays, olive greens, and soft neutrals. This isn’t purely aesthetic. Practicality underpins the trend. Muted, conservative pieces tend to mix and match easily, transition across seasons, and outlast fleeting fads, offering greater long-term value. In previous recessions such as the post-1929 crash and post-2008 recovery,  similar trends emerged, reflecting a societal mood of prudence and introspection.

Business Casual and Corporate-Inspired Looks

Economic uncertainty also influences how we dress for work and beyond. During recessions, there’s often a resurgence of business casual and corporate-inspired looks, where tailored blazers, wide-leg slacks, crisp shirts, and structured dresses dominate. Dubbed “officecore,” this trend blends professional polish with enough versatility to transition seamlessly from boardrooms to brunches. The early 2010s, following the Great Recession, saw a similar phenomenon, with young adults embracing sharp corporate styles even in nightlife settings. In 2025, designers like Stella McCartney and Peter Do are reviving this spirit but with a twist: reimagining traditional suiting with relaxed cuts, gender-fluid tailoring, and unexpected fabric choices. Officecore today is less about rigid formality and more about smart, adaptable dressing — reflecting a world where professional and personal lives blur, and consumers seek clothing that maximizes both style and function.

High Heels (The High Heel Index)

The so-called “high heel index” is a theory that heel heights rise during the initial stages of economic downturns remains a fascinating, if imperfect, indicator. In the early months of recessions, bold fashion statements, including dramatic heels, sometimes flourish as acts of sartorial defiance or escapism. This was observed at the onset of the Great Depression, though as hardships deepened, comfort and pragmatism took hold.

Also Read: The Questionable Use of the Idea of Feminism as a Marketing Ploy Across History

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