The Style is Wright! Celebrates Black Fashion at the Met’s Superfine Exhibit!
- Karen Brittingham-Edmond
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
October 28, 2025
Fashion & Black Culture
The Met New York - N.Y. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Mr. Judah Edmond and his wife, Lashawna Edmond, the creative duo behind "The Style is Wright!"—a professional online platform dedicated to helping readers stay fashionable with both current and emerging designer labels, as well as unique boutiques that blend antique and contemporary styles. On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Edmonds visited the New York Met on the final day of the groundbreaking “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, a vibrant celebration of Black masculinity and style throughout the ages.
This special feature honors the work of Monica L. Miller, professor and chair of Africana Studies at Columbia University’s Barnard College, who served as guest curator alongside the museum’s curatorial team led by Andrew Bolton. “Superfine” is only the second men’s-oriented exhibit in the Met’s history. Inspired by Miller’s 2009 book on dandyism, the exhibition paid tribute to over 300 years of Black style, culture, and aesthetic expression. It traced the evolution of masculine Black American fashion from the era of chattel slavery to today’s trends, highlighting the enduring spirit of gentlemanship and the resilience that continues to shine through, despite centuries of adversity.
Mr. Judah Edmond and his beautiful wife, Lashawna, embraced the spirit of the exhibit by donning their own dandy-inspired looks. Mrs. Edmond wore a stunning tweed ensemble with a bow tie and a classic racetrack-style derby hat that perfectly matched the blue pinstripes in her elegant bow. Mr. Judah Edmond opted for a sleek, all-black outfit featuring a turtleneck and jacket, with a touch of silk flair down the sides of his slacks—a look that would surely earn a nod of approval from his fashion model and talent scout cousin Mr. Tony Jones of Tony Jones Scouting USA, whose success and mentorship have inspired the next generation of fashionistos and fashinista's that rule the runways of fashion shows near and far. (Click the link to view TJScouting site https://www.instagram.com/tjscouting/?hl=en)
As reported in Vogue’s “A Superfine Farewell: As It Comes to a Close, Look Back at the 2025 Met Costume Exhibition” by Avon Dorsey, the exhibit’s cultural significance was underscored by record-breaking fundraising at this year’s Met Gala. The museum confirmed that the Met Gala raised $31 million, making the 2025 event the largest fundraiser in its 77-year history. Co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour, with honorary chair LeBron James, the gala’s theme, “Tailored for You,” featured a fitting dress code that celebrated individuality and style. Embark with us on "The Style is Wright" journey to delve into the enduring impact of Black fashion in America and Beyond! https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/superfine-tailoring-black-style-closing
About the Exihibit: The Self-Expression of Black Dandyism in American Fashion
The Met’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition, curated by Monica L. Miller, traces the rich history and evolving meanings of Black dandyism across the Atlantic diaspora. Black dandyism is presented as a powerful form of self-expression, resistance, and agency—where fashion becomes a tool for Black individuals to assert identity, dignity, and creativity in the face of social constraints.
From the 18th century to today, Black dandyism has involved a deliberate, self-conscious approach to dress. Whether subtle or spectacular, Black dandies use tailored clothing, luxurious materials, and bold accessories to claim visibility and self-worth. The exhibition highlights how enslaved Africans, once dressed in ornate livery as a mark of objectification, subverted these symbols by transforming them into statements of pride and autonomy.
Contemporary Black designers continue this legacy, remixing classic menswear with African motifs, precious metals, and cultural symbols like cowrie shells—turning historic markers of dehumanization into emblems of empowerment. The exhibition’s thematic sections—Ownership, Disguise, Respectability, Champion, Beauty, and Heritage—showcase how Black fashion navigates and challenges histories of oppression, while celebrating individuality and community.
Black dandyism is not just about appearance; it is a dynamic interplay of fashion, masculinity, and Blackness. It disrupts norms around race, class, gender, and sexuality, offering a liberatory space for self-fashioning. Iconic figures like Frederick Douglass, Prince, and contemporary designers demonstrate how style can be both armor and art, a means of self-possession and joyful self-display.
Ultimately, “Superfine” reveals that Black dandyism is about feeling “superfine”—radiating confidence, pride, and authenticity. Through fashion, Black Americans have continually expressed their dreams, aspirations, and the profound joy of being seen on their own terms.
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