ELLIE SKJERSAA / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

What someone wears on their body is not only an expression of their social standing, but also a powerful form of creativity. Over time, fashion has become a valued part of life with many events reflecting its prestige. The biggest fashion night of the year, the Met Gala, captures the cornerstones of fashion and emphasizes its importance in American culture.

The Met Gala is an annual fundraising event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which helps fund the museum’s clothing and fashion exhibitions. The event showcases new and elaborate outfits, innovative designers and high-end celebrities. 

This year, the Gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” aimed to highlight the impact that Black people have had on the fashion industry and its success. The theme was inspired by the concept of Black dandyism, which stemmed from the 18th century trans-atlantic slave trade. 

Throughout  time, clothing has been  a  symbol  of   power  and  status,  and   Black  dandyism  used  clothing  as  a  means  to  cross  the  boundaries  of   what  class,  power  and  status   meant.  Dandyism  has  historically  not only been a  way  of  creatively   expressing oneself through clothing, but it  has  also  served as a form of  resistance  to  the  structures that  marginalize  Black  people and their voices. Black dandyism involves precise and refined tailoring, which took root in the period after emancipation and flourished during the Harlem Renaissance. 

In uplifting the significance of Black dandyism, the Met Gala reflected the current escalation of menswear and specifically aimed to highlight the work of Black men, their fashion and the work of these designers.

Inspired by his childhood in Harlem, A$AP Rocky wore his own design. Photo Courtesy of @metgalaofficial_/Instagram

“Men usually come a bit lazier than  the  women so I think it was cool  to  see  how  the  men  interpreted this year when it was  more  tailored to men,” USD junior Ava Cumello said. “[The theme] definitely  came late, but I also think it’s good that  they  did  do  it at all. But I  think style  has  been influenced by Black culture for so long that it’s  definitely disappointing it has taken until now.”

Similar to how  the Met Gala  reflects   society’s  large-scale admiration for fashion, so does   USD’s   campus.  Many   students   have  found  that being  able to express    their     individuality     through clothing has been an important part of their college experience. 

USD sophomore Marquel Gardner explained that some days he wakes up and doesn’t have enough time to put effort into his outfits. But when he does have time, he often tries to reflect how he’s feeling through his clothing.

“When you start thinking to yourself, ‘Oh, should I wear this,’ the answer is always going to be ‘Yes,’” Gardner said. “If it’s making you feel uplifted, if it’s making you feel empowered, then absolutely wear it.” 

The new exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is available to the public. Photo Courtesy of @metmuseum/Instagram

In the eyes of Willie Legacie Allen, a senior at USD, self expression is not always a simple task. He explained that this is largely because of the vulnerability and potential discomfort that comes with stepping outside of what society deems acceptable.

“I didn’t start  off  going  to school wearing heels and a corset and things that were being categorized as female clothing and fighting gender battles and norms like   I’m   doing  now,” Allen  said. “But I  don’t  know  anyone  who  really  starts off  doing something that  nobody  else   is doing  and feeling comfortable with it right away.” 

Clothing holds the power to show people who you truly are, so for those who are stepping outside of gender-conforming attire, this can be daunting for many reasons. Allen explained that finding the space and community to express oneself is the most crucial part of feeling comfortable. For him, his experience going to Coachella during his junior year with a group called  “Queer  Plus”   helped him realize that fashion was important to him.

“I feel like stepping out with my fashion is important because it identifies that I’m not scared to step out of the box,” Allen said. “But it also gives other people the hope to wear what they want to because when you feel good, you look good at the end of the day.” 

With intense workloads, being a student can be draining. Finding little ways to uplift others is a way to give everyone space to be themselves and the support to try new things.

Black dandyism originated in the 18th century. Photo Courtesy of @natgeo/Instagram

“In any space you are susceptible   to   conformity,   so   if    you  see that [someone is]  embarking on their own personal style, tell   them  you   like it,”  Gardner said. “That  really could go a long way.  It  could  lead  them  to try  more  things and not to feel so gelled by what other people are wearing.”

Today, events like the Met Gala reflect fashion’s long lasting and esteemed standing in society. This year’s theme gave voice to a community that has so often been excluded from recognition and praise. While clothing can express conformity, it also has the power to show resistance to social norms and exclusionary systems which often oppress groups of people. Although the Met Gala theme told a story of resistance, there is still much work to be done as reflected upon by Toreros.

Whoopi Goldberg hit the carpet in 35,000 sequins. Photo Courtesy of @themetgalaofficial/Instagram