Opinion: At Met Gala 2025, how jewellery symbolised cultural representation
From ancestral cowrie shells to 20-carat diamonds, this year's star-studded homage to Black dandyism elevated accessories from mere adornment to powerful cultural statements. Tatler discusses why representation matters through choice of jewellery and its symbolism at world events like the Met Gala 2025
Let's talk about how the 2025 Met Gala's Superfine: Tailoring Black Style transcended the usual red, or in this case, blue carpet parade. While the Met Gala is historically known to be the ultimate stage for most historically important personalities and their personal fashion moment, this year we witnessed a homage to Black dandyism, that remarkable tradition of elegance, resistance and identity that has shaped fashion history across the African diaspora.
But this is not the first time that the event has celebrated an important cultural moment in the fashion world. The Met Gala's themed exhibitions have long been a stage for cultural storytelling through fashion and jewellery, transforming accessories into symbols of identity, history and representation. These themes are carefully curated to provoke dialogue about heritage, creativity and social issues, making the Gala more than a glamorous spectacle.
Take, for instance, the 2015 Met Gala theme, China: Through the Looking Glass , was a fascinating exploration of how Chinese aesthetics have influenced Western fashion for centuries, yet it also sparked complex conversations about cultural representation, with some critics pointing out the risk of perpetuating stereotypes, while others praised the celebration of Chinese influence on fashion.
Celebrities like Fan Bingbing embraced this with intricate headpieces and jade-inspired jewels that echoed Chinese imperial grandeur, while others, such as Rihanna, used their adornments to navigate the fine line between homage and appropriation. The 2015 exhibition itself, featuring over 140 haute couture and avant-garde pieces alongside Chinese art, underscored jewellery's role as a cultural vessel, carrying motifs and craftsmanship that speak to history, identity and the power of visual narrative.
Read more: Met Gala 2025: When superfine tailoring met superfine jewels
Above Lewis Hamilton wearing jewellery made of cowrie shells and freshwater pearls at the Met Gala 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images)
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