Before Usher walked the 2025 Met Gala red carpet and performed during the event, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about his fashion inspirations, the significance of this year's theme of "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" and more.
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00:00Dandyism is, you know, this expressive tool that gives you an opportunity to be able to exist and be unapologetic.
00:12Before Usher walked the 2025 Met Gala red carpet with his wife and performed during the event,
00:18he spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his fashion inspirations,
00:21the significance of this year's theme, superfine tailoring black style, and more.
00:25Usher was chosen to be one of the committee members for this year's Met Gala alongside the likes of Andre 3000,
00:31Dochi, Iowa Devery, and Jeremy Pope, among others.
00:35To be able to be a part of those conversations, understand the level of curation,
00:41and even make suggestions of designers that I think should be noted, like Brandon Murphy,
00:50in the exhibition is very important, was very important to me.
00:55While Usher has attended the Met Gala several times over the years,
00:58he shared why being a part of this year's event is especially meaningful to him,
01:02given the theme of superfine tailoring black style, which explores the history of black dandyism.
01:07There's a story with dandyism that, you know, represents escapism, represents optimism,
01:14represents, you know, this eternal longing to exist and be seen and recognized.
01:20So, to be a part of that curation is better than all of the other ones, in my opinion,
01:28which is part of the reason that I decided that I would curate a table this year.
01:32I think I got a hang of it, right?
01:34So now I know what to do with it and who to invite.
01:37So, yeah, I'm very happy to be here.
01:41Usher went on to speak more about the meaning behind this year's theme.
01:44Dandyism, if you just look at it as a, you know, tailored person who wants to wear a suit,
01:50it's more than that.
01:52Yeah, it's a, it's a, it's a posturing.
01:55It's actually a, an opportunity to, to exist in a way, as I said, a visual communication
02:03that says without seeing anything, I made it, I'm wearing the best, I have the best
02:11and I'm unapologetic about it in this moment.
02:14And when it comes to his fashion inspirations,
02:16Usher opened up about the iconic figures who have inspired him over the years.
02:20I mean, going all the way back to Billy Dee Williams, right?
02:24Being this elegant gentleman, Sidney Poitier, you know, Harry Belafonte, Ben Vereen,
02:32you know, all of these guys who I think made grand statements.
02:36And then you kind of get into the exaggerated idea of expression through fashion prints.
02:41So I've been inspired by all these people to create these moments that I've made in my career.
02:47For much more from the 2025 Met Gala, go to THR.com.
02:51This is the Hollywood Reporter News.