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Last year, sometime in the middle of starring in the moving prison drama “Sing Sing” and earning his first-ever Oscar nomination for that same role, Colman Domingo received a call from Anna Wintour asking him to be a co-chair at the 2025 Met Gala.
Not only does the coveted appointment follow a landmark year for the 55-year-old actor, but this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” was more fitting for the perennially Best Dressed actor than a bespoke suit. Domingo serves as co-chair alongside A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams and honorary co-chair LeBron James.
“He knew [he was a co-chair] for a while, and he couldn’t tell us because Anna had asked him not to say anything, and he listened,” Domingo’s longtime stylist Wayman Bannerman, part of the styling duo Wayman and Micah, tells Variety ahead of Met Monday.” He obliged to that, and he wanted to tell us so bad early on, but he had to wait until a certain time.”
As soon as Domingo got the green light to spill the news in November, the trio immediately got to mood boarding his ensemble, which would not only have to compete with the standout looks at the Met but with the actor’s own list of bold and widely praised red carpet choices throughout this past year’s press cycle.
“Colman had been pontificating on the theme for quite some time. And it’s funny how kismet all of our thought processes were individually and how we were able to bring it all together was really quite special,” Bannerman says.
They ultimately decided to focus on the history of the Moors, specifically, and their influence on the Harlem Renaissance. Using that as a starting point, they brainstormed color ways, accessories, silhouettes, shapes, appliqués and brocade — detailing central to Black dandyism that would help tell that story.
“It’s opulent, it’s bold,” McDonald says of the final look, which they say they will likely continuing fussing with until moments before Domingo hits the carpet. (When we talk on the Wednesday before the gala, they haven’t yet had their first fitting).
The ensemble is comprised of two layers: a “brilliant brocade embellished collar with this overcoat layer, and then under that, a cape, which unveils a new look.” “The look under the cape is more of the homage to Harlem Renaissance, and the look with the cape on is the homage to the Moors,” Micah McDonald says.
And then the accessories: hats, sunglasses, broaches, jewelry. “We’re gonna play,” Bannerman says, adding that earrings, statement necklaces and some “special rings” (with diamond detailing) are all central aspects of the sartorial narrative they plan to tell on Monday night.
Below, Bannerman and McDonald talk to Variety about Domingo’s 2025 Met Gala look, the meaning of dandyism to them and the importance of this year’s theme to celebrating Black culture — past and present.
What was your reaction when you found out Colman was going to be a co-chair this year, and for such an important theme, in particular?
McDonald: We were just all so overjoyed and excited about it. And then we found out what the theme was, and then we were even more enthused because it felt like perfect timing for this theme and for Colman to be a chair of the Met, to all just align together. And it was just a beautiful joy that we all kind of immersed in together with excitement. And really, at that point, we were like ‘Let’s start getting ready. Let’s start planning. Let’s start throwing references together.[‘ We were just all really enthused about it all and how it all just came together for such a beautiful stage to have such an important moment on it.
What does Black dandyism mean to you?
McDonald: For us, dandyism is just our culture, our heritage, Black excellence. It’s really peacocking, as our former generation, would consider it. It’s really just putting forth your best foot, really being the epitome of style and confidence, and really making sure you exude that at all times. It’s a theme that’s so near and dear to our hearts, and it’s so incredible that what we’ve grown up in, and what we know to be an everyday occurrence and the people around us, has made the main stage or main stairs, I should say.
Colman is repeatedly on best dressed lists. How did you make sure that his look on Monday was elevated for his role as co-chair?
McDonald: We wanted to make sure that Colman felt like the Colman that we all know. And also feel like there was a relaxed feel to it there, this effortless feel to it that felt like home. Like, ‘This is where I should be as well.’ And also, I think the beauty of both aesthetics of the looks are in the details and in the refined tailoring up the looks. But that’s going to be really special. And then the accessories are going to be very unique as well.
Colman always goes crazy with the accessories. What do you guys have planned for Monday?
McDonald: We’re gonna play. I think this year it’s gonna be really playing with earrings. There’s gonna be some statement necklaces that are incorporated. And also there’s gonna be some special rings that you’re gonna see as well that have some very diamond, beautiful detailing.
How did you guys use Pinterest to mood board the look together?
McDonald: We have so many ideas that our mood board changes probably weekly. But was one through line that stayed consistent, is that we and Colman wanted to pay homage and showcase the rich heritage and history of the Moors. So we started there, and we kind of continued to build around that with color ways, accessory, stories, silhouettes, shapes, appliques and brocade. And that’s what we really built the mood board around, and also incorporating the heritage of the Moors and how it translated into the Harlem Renaissance.
How much of the look had Colman already dreamt up by the time he was able to tell you he was a co-chair?
Bannerman: He had been pontificating on the theme for quite some time. And it’s funny how kismet all of our thought processes were individually and how we were able to bring it all together, it was really quite special. So it was nice for him to be able to develop his ideas and us to develop ours. But I do have to say, of Pinterest, it really is just that visual representation of what we all were individually thinking. So it was such an important tool in us really conveying all of the ideas we had to each other.
Are you able to tell which images on the board are from whom?
McDonald: We all have our own way of pulling things up and even what the image itself looked like. We could pull the same thing, but if it was even shot differently. Like we have some images that were from older times that were kind of resurfaced or retouched. Like, Wayman is always keen on getting the well-lit version of mine, and I’ll have like some grainy one where it’s shot from some corner. So, yes Pinterest also shows one’s personality and thinking behind what they post.
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