Has the Met Gala 2025 Single-Handedly Brought Back The Pin Stripe?

by Tanvee GarkhedkarMay 6, 2025May 6, 2025

Stripes made couture at the blue carpet

Pin stripes had a major moment at the Met Gala 2025, popping up in bold and unexpected incarnations—from sharply tailored suits to deconstructed gowns, the classic line was reimagined with myriad sculptural, fashion-forward twists. While the look screamed power and polish, it also carried deeper cultural weight—especially when traced through the lens of Black fashion history. This wasn’t just a fabric revival, it was a style statement steeped in meaning.

Pin stripes have long been associated with authority and institutions, tracing back to the structured suiting of European wealth in the 19th century. But with the dawn of the 20th century, Black dandyism redefined the pinstripe, transforming it into a symbol of rebellion, pride, and identity. From the Harlem Renaissance to the zoot suits of the 1940s, and later through hip-hop’s tailored revolution in the 1990s, Black style icons used pinstripes to assert visibility and reclaim space in elite fashion spheres.

So when this year’s Met Gala guests stepped out in stripes, it felt like more than a nod to classic style—it was a celebration of cultural storytelling.