At the 2025 Costume Institute Benefit—“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”—held at the iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Lorde made a dramatic return to the Met Gala red carpet in a razor-sharp ensemble that commanded instant attention.
Dressed in custom Thom Browne, Lorde delivered a modern, sculptural vision of tailoring. The look redefined power dressing through an architectural two-piece set in a muted gunmetal gray satin. Her bandeau top was bold in its minimalism, featuring folded, structured pleats that gave it dimension and echoed Browne’s signature tailoring techniques. It was paired with a high-waisted, floor-length column skirt that hugged her form in sculpted horizontal ribbing, enhancing her statuesque silhouette while maintaining the designer’s hallmark precision.
Adding to the tailored drama, she casually held a matching structured blazer in one hand—its cuffs punctuated with signature Thom Browne buttons and silk lining exposed. This subtle gesture of carrying the jacket rather than wearing it emphasized the effortlessness of her statement while nodding to the masculine-feminine interplay the evening’s theme celebrated.
Her beauty choices were equally architectural. Lorde’s hair was slicked back into a polished braid, adorned with metallic accessories twisted throughout the plait—each ring and ornament chosen with intention, catching the light as she moved. From a side profile, the intricacy of her hairstyle became even more striking, punctuated by a pointed, dagger-like ornament at the tip of the braid—an edgy contrast to the softness of her makeup and the smooth lines of her ensemble.
Jewelry was kept minimal yet refined, with delicate hoop earrings and a diamond bracelet on one wrist. This restrained styling let the texture and craftsmanship of the outfit speak volumes, reinforcing her understanding of the night’s tribute to sartorial mastery.
Lorde’s look was a study in restrained power and tailored futurism—elegantly minimal, but fiercely constructed. It was a fitting homage to the gala’s celebration of tailoring as Black style, threading together themes of structure, fluid identity, and avant-garde expression.