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Fashion icon and supermodel, Naomi Campbell has taken to Instagram to share an open letter directed to Anna Wintour, vogue editor-in-chief and reveal her reasons for not attending the 2025 Met Gala. This year’s theme and the dress code was “Tailored For You” . It was inspired by Barnard professor and author Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” Her book examines the importance and influence of a fashion icon: the Black dandy.
Campbell, who is referred to as one of the very first supermodels and the first black model on the cover of Paris vogue has left her fans in shock after announcing she will not be in attendance. In her post, Campbell claims she was invited to the Met Ball but she would not be able to attend.
Campbell started her post by congratulating Anna Wintour, the Met Gala team, the attendees and the designers. “Congratulations to Anna Wintour, the brilliant designers, the dedicated Met Gala team, and stunning attendees of tonight’s extraordinary celebration,’ Campbell began her post. “I have to say, what perfect timing for the ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ theme. It really celebrates how Black dandyism has shaped fashion and how fashion has been a way for Black people to express who they are and claim their power.”
Naomi Campbell went on to pay tribute to her late friend and fashion icon, Andre Leon Talley. Talley died at the age of 73 after a heart attack on January 2022. Talley is well known for his contribution in the fashion industry as he was the first black creative director at vogue. “His commanding presence, vision and belief that fashion is art helped shape what the Met Gala is presenting tonight,” Campbell said, referring to Talley. ‘I can’t wait to see how everyone mixes African and European style traditions on those famous steps tonight! The creativity will be amazing.”
