Tracee Ellis Ross made a striking statement at the 2025 Met Gala, embodying the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” with a look that she says reflects the dandy within her. Her ensemble, designed by Marc Jacobs, featured a bold fuchsia bow and was perfectly matched by a pink Stephen Jones hat. The actress paired it with a vibrant red lip, creating a carefully crafted and meaningful appearance.
“I’ve been collecting inspiration from everywhere to shape this look,” Ross explained. The theme, inspired by Monica Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, resonated deeply with her. As both an actress and founder of Pattern Beauty, she felt dressing from the heart was natural.
Her longtime glam team worked closely to bring her vision to life. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani described the look as “flamboyant, elegant, and joyful.” Drawing from 1970s Harlem and Parisian style, Soleimani focused on fresh skin, doll-like lashes, and a bold red lip. She layered multiple false lashes coated in L’Oréal Panorama mascara for an exaggerated effect. To highlight Ross’s skin, she used the Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. The lips were perfected with L’Oréal’s Color Riche liner in Always Red and lipstick in 315 True Red for a classic crimson finish.
Hairstylist Chuck Amos crafted a sleek braided low bun to complement the slanted hat, emphasizing the connection between hair, hat, and outfit. “The wave in the brim of that fabulous hat complements the small, round, braided bun you’ll see from Tracee’s profile,” Amos said.
To achieve the hairstyle, Amos blow-dried Ross’s damp curls with a Pattern Beauty dryer, smoothing and stretching them by hand. After applying leave-in conditioner and curl gel, he pulled her hair into a low ponytail. Four braids were created within the ponytail and twisted into a tangerine-sized bun at the nape of her neck. Styling cream was applied to smooth the look, and her hairline was refined with an edge control brush.
“Black dandy style is about attention to detail from head to toe,” Amos said. With this look, Ross and her team nailed every element of the theme.
Ross later shared more behind-the-scenes insights about her dandy-inspired transformation for the gala.
