In the ever-evolving landscape of modern menswear, 2025 has marked a pivotal shift in how grooms approach their wedding-day wardrobes. No longer confined to black tuxedos and muted tailoring, today’s grooms are embracing fearless self-expression. And it’s about time!
Nowhere was this sartorial evolution of men’s fashion more evident than at this year’s Met Gala, where celebrities pushed boundaries with fabric, form, and flair.
With the theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, came a resurrection of fancy suit cuts, bold accessorising and theatrical tailoring. Grooms preparing to walk down the aisle can take cues from this night of fashion fantasy to craft wedding day looks that are anything but traditional. The attending designers, musicians, actors, and athletes redefined what formalwear can mean. Let’s dive deeper into how grooms can channel this energy and elegance.
Dandy Drama
Fashion designers for Met Gala drew deep inspiration from the dandyism of Harlem’s golden era, reimagining its signature style for a modern audience. With wide lapels, exaggerated silhouettes, and flared trousers, the event celebrated self-expression rooted in dignity and flair. Referencing style icons like Duke Ellington and Langston Hughes, many attendees embraced bold jewel tones and intricate accessories to tell personal fashion stories – a fun style shift that’s quickly filtering into contemporary wedding wear.
Grooms, it’s time to step beyond the standard navy single-breasted suit and take note of this masterclass in refined boldness. Double-breasted suits, seventies elongated lapels and flared trousers are making a strong comeback as spotted on Colman Domingo wearing Valentino and Pusha T in Louis Vuitton. Harlem tailoring can be easily echoed from the high street with brands such as Moss or Edit Suits increasing their suit diversity or go for original vintage from online treasure troves like Revival Vintage.
If you want to make an even bigger statement the caped jacket or long suit coat is for you. Tramell Tillman sported a Thom Browne tailcoat, Regé-Jean Page wore everything in pillar box red including a suit coat and LaKeith Stanfield injected a sense of ceremony and theatrical elegance in a white, trailing Ferragamo coat. Adopt your own take on this grandeur with tailored detachable capes from designers such as QUEERA and Milla Nova. Also, don’t be afraid to look at designers tailored to brides! Many of them now offer capes as separates which you can style however you want.
The Jewellery Revolution
This year’s Met Gala also reclaimed jewellery as an instrument of menswear adornment. The red carpet (well it was floral print!) was dripping in vintage Cartier, bold brooch designs and heirloom chains. The standout piece I’m beyond enthusiastic about is the brooch.
A$AP Rocky layered a Bvlgari diamond and ruby necklace over his shirt and tie alongside antique pieces. Whilst fellow Co-Chair Lewis Hamilton worked with designer Wales Bonner to stud his ensemble with dazzling diamond, baobab-inspired brooches, ear cuffs and Whirligig African Daisy shaped cuff links each loaded with symbolism of his African heritage and birth date.
If you aren’t a jewellery wearer, the accessible way to get the look is to ditch the wilt-prone floral buttonhole in favour of a symbolic brooch for your lapel. Perhaps there’s a keepsake in the family or a design that could symbolise something personal to you, the wedding or your partner. Butler & Wilson have a wealth of great pieces to inspire you from Chinese dragons to flags. Choosing one standout jewelled piece will add immediate personality to your entire look.
Tailoring with Texture
Met Gala looks this year leaned into rich textures and fabric patterns in more than just wool and satin. Think maximalist threadwork, 3D botanical motifs, rich brocades, raw denim, leather panels and even lace. A tactile dimension adds a fresh take to the classic groom’s look without overpowering it.
Grooms are gravitating toward bespoke jackets with hand-embroidery, just as Barry Keoghan’s custom Valentino military style ensemble or all-over beaded details like Pharrell Williams pearl encrusted, double-breasted Louis Vuitton jacket.
Opt for a monochromatic palette with a focus on one garment to avoid a clash of materials and allow the texture and stitching be the stars. Keep the rest of the outfit crisp and minimalist just like Damson Idris who nailed this trend in a red silk suit that featured outstanding gold beading on the jacket only.
Footwear as a Statement
Just like jewellery, shoes can be a signature accessory for your aisle style. Everything from jewel-encrusted loafers to sculptural boots were spotted. Match the style of your shoe to your venue, and don’t forget to break them in ahead of the big day so blisters don’t steal your spotlight!
What’s on your feet can be as expressive as what’s on your shoulders. Go highly personalised in velvet loafers etched with symbolic embroidery available from Hand & Lock or custom leathers trainers designed by you via trainer brands such as Nike and Vans to tell a story. However, if slogans and illustration isn’t for you, you can still have fun with metallic Chelsea boots or gender-fluid moccasins from brands such as Casa Blanca.
The Reimagined Shirt
Shirts were hardly background noise at this year’s Gala – men donned sheer blouses, silky fabrics and interesting prints under their tailored suits. This emphasis on romance and softness is filtering into contemporary grooms’ attire for the coming seasons.
It’s time to swap the basic white dress shirt for a more interesting fabric which has the added bonus of being both breathable and smoother against the skin for maximum comfort. If you are working with a tailor, they can also adjust a high street shirt to your exact fit. Twisted Tailor offer an incredible array of patterned and mixed fabric shirts whilst TM Lewin have all the colours of the rainbow. Pair your chosen piece with a minimalist blazer or suit to temper the romanticism with some structure.