Janelle Monáe knows how to rule the primetime.
Indeed, the “Yoga” singer made jaws drop at the 2025 Met Gala when they arrived on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art wearing a black, white and red suit by Paul Tazewell, which was complimented with a black bowler hat, a black bag and a monocle. As an added touch, Janelle also sported the first-ever Tequila diamond brooch made from 1800 Cristalino Tequila. (For other celebs at the New York City event, click here.)
But it’s no surprise that Janelle—who stripped down to reveal multiple looks at the Met Gala in 2023—took everyone’s breath away at the fashion-forward event held on May 5. In fact, the musician has always had eye-catching style, which especially falls in line with the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme and “Tailored for You” dress code for this year’s event.
As the singer explained, their sense of fashion came to them during their adolescence.
“I was very artsy,” Janelle told Variety in 2020. “I was an international thespian, I would compete in monologue competitions. I was also in the acapella choir, was doing talent shows—this is in high school. So, I was a busy arts student, expressing myself through art, and I started to really use fashion as a way to express that.”
And around that time, Janelle—who became known for their classic black-and-white ensembles (also reminiscent of Dandyism) during the beginning stages of their career—started to stick of a uniform of sorts.
“As an homage to the working class, and my working class parents,” the 39-year-old noted. “And honestly, I just couldn’t afford to keep up when I started to sing and perform, and I went to a performing arts school in New York, and I went to Atlanta and I was living in a boarding house, I did not have time to find a new costume every single show.”
“So, it was like, what is my uniform, what is my outfit going to be?” Janelle continued. “What is something that I always feel comfortable in? It’s been the androgynous look that matched my energy.”
Keep reading to see who else turned heads at the 2025 Met Gala…
Rihanna
In custom Marc Jacobs.
A$AP Rocky
In custom Awge, Bvlgari jewelry and Briony Raymond umbrella.
Zendaya
In custom Louis Vuitton.
Serena Williams
In custom Moncler x EE72 by Edward Enninful and Fred Leighton jewelry.
Kim Kardashian
In custom Chrome Hearts.
Halle Berry
In LaQuan Smith.
Sabrina Carpenter
In custom Louis Vuitton.
Colman Domingo
In Valentino with Boucheron jewelry.
Kylie Jenner
In custom Ferragamo.
Cardi B
In Burberry.
Hailey Bieber
In custom Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
Cynthia Erivo
In custom Givenchy.
Kendall Jenner
In Torishéju.
Gigi Hadid
In custom Miu Miu.
Sydney Sweeney
In custom Miu Miu.
Zoe Saldaña
In Thom Browne.
Callum Turner & Dua Lipa
In custom Chanel.
Miley Cyrus
In Alaïa.
Shakira
In custom Prabal Gurung.
Nicole Kidman
In custom Balenciaga Couture and Wolford tights.
Chappell Roan
In a custom look sourced by Paul Tazewell.
Megan Thee Stallion
In custom Michael Kors Collection and Stuart Weitzman shoes.
Pamela Anderson
In Tory Burch.
Halle Bailey
In Coach.
Charli XCX
In custom Ann Demeulemeester.
Doja Cat
In custom Marc Jacobs and Wolford tights.
Anne Hathaway
In Carolina Herrera.
Diana Ross
In Ugo Mozie.
Lorde
In Thom Browne.
Demi Moore
In custom Thom Browne.
Check out E!’s Met Gala homepage for every must-see look from fashion’s biggest night and all the behind-the-scenes moments you might have missed. And watch E! News Tuesday, May 6, at 11 p.m. for a full 2025 Met Gala recap.
