Colman Domingo’s Stylists on His Met Gala Look, Mood Boarding on Pinterest and Dandysim: ‘It’s Our Culture, Our Heritage, Black Excellence’

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As I found myself deep in the heart of my moving prison drama “Sing Sing,” garnering my very first Oscar nomination, an unexpected call came in – this time not from a director or fellow actor, but from the legendary Anna Wintour herself. She extended an invitation for me to co-chair the 2025 Met Gala. Needless to say, I was both honored and thrilled to accept!

The prestigious position that the 55-year-old actor has earned is particularly significant coming off an exceptional year in his career. Interestingly, this year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” seems tailor-made for our fashionable actor, almost as if it were designed specifically for him. Domingo will be sharing the role of co-chair with A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams and honorary co-chair LeBron James.

The actor got a great job after an amazing year, and this job’s theme suits his fashion sense perfectly. He is working alongside A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams and LeBron James as co-chairs for the event.

Domingo’s longtime stylist, Wayman Bannerman from the duo Wayman and Micah, shared with EbMaster before Met Monday that for some time, Domingo had been in charge as a co-chair, though he couldn’t disclose this information because Anna had asked him to keep it secret. Despite his eagerness to share the news, he respected her wish and remained silent until it was appropriate to do so.

Once given the go-ahead to reveal the news in November, I promptly jumped into brainstorming sessions with my team to design Domingo’s outfit, a task that wasn’t just about outshining the fashionable attire at the Met but also competing with the actor’s impressive collection of daring and acclaimed red carpet looks from this year’s media tour.

For a while, Colman was expounding on that topic,” Bannerman notes. “It’s intriguing how fate seemed to guide our separate thoughts, and the way we managed to combine them made for quite an extraordinary moment.

They eventually chose to concentrate on the history of the Moors, more specifically their impact on the Harlem Renaissance, as a focal point. From there, they brainstormed various color schemes, accessories, styles, shapes, and embellishments such as appliqués and brocade. These intricate details were crucial in expressing the essence of Black dandyism, helping to narrate that tale.

McDonald describes it as grand and daring,” they note about the ultimate outfit, mentioning that they plan to keep adjusting it right up until Domingo steps onto the red carpet. (At our conversation on the Wednesday prior to the event, they hadn’t even had their initial fitting yet.)

The ensemble consists of two parts: firstly, an ornate collar adorned like a splendid brocade, followed by an outer layer, and underneath this, a cape that reveals a distinct new appearance. According to Micah McDonald, the look hidden beneath the cape is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, while the ensemble with the cape on pays tribute to the Moors.

After that, let’s discuss the add-ons: hats, sunglasses, brooches, and jewelry. “We’re going to put on a show,” Bannerman notes, implying that earrings, eye-catching necklaces, and some unique rings (with diamond accents) are crucial elements in the fashion story they intend to convey on Monday evening.

In the conversation below, Bannerman and McDonald discuss Domingo’s proposed appearance at the 2025 Met Gala with EbMaster. They also share their personal interpretations of dandyism and emphasize the significance of this year’s theme in honoring both historical and contemporary Black culture.

What was your reaction when you found out Colman was going to be a co-chair this year, and for such an important theme, in particular?

McDonald expressed that everyone was incredibly thrilled and eager about the upcoming event. Upon discovering its theme, our enthusiasm grew even more as it seemed perfectly timed for this theme and Colman’s role as chair of the Met. It was a shared, delightful excitement we all immersed ourselves in, and at that point, we were ready to start preparing, planning, and gathering references together. In essence, we were all really looking forward to how it all fell into place for such an elegant setting to host a crucial moment on it.

What does Black dandyism mean to you?

McDonald: For us, dandyism is deeply rooted in our culture, our legacy, a symbol of Black excellence. It’s similar to showing off, as our previous generation might view it. Essentially, it’s about presenting your best self, embodying the essence of style and confidence, and radiating this at all times. This theme is very close to our hearts, and it’s truly amazing to see that what we’ve grown up with, what’s been commonplace for us, and the people around us, has now taken center stage or main spotlight.

Colman is repeatedly on best dressed lists. How did you make sure that his look on Monday was elevated for his role as co-chair?

McDonald expressed a desire for Colman to feel familiar yet relaxed, as if it were a comfortable home. He also wanted an effortless, easygoing vibe. The beauty of the designs lies in the details and refined tailoring. The accessories will be uniquely special too.

Colman always goes crazy with the accessories. What do you guys have planned for Monday?

McDonald: This year, we’re planning to make fashion statements with earrings, necklaces, and rings adorned with intricate, diamond-like details. We believe these accessories will be a big hit!

How did you guys use Pinterest to mood board the look together?

McDonald: Our collection’s concept evolves frequently, with a new look almost every week. However, one constant theme has been our desire to honor and highlight the rich cultural legacy of the Moors. From this foundation, we developed various elements such as color schemes, accessories, narratives, silhouettes, shapes, embellishments, and brocade. Essentially, we structured our mood board around this theme, while also exploring how the Moorish heritage connects to the Harlem Renaissance.

How much of the look had Colman already dreamt up by the time he was able to tell you he was a co-chair?

User: For a while now, he’s been expounding on this topic. Isn’t it fascinating how our thoughts somehow mirrored independently and managed to complement one another? It was truly remarkable. So, it was beneficial for him to crystallize his thoughts, as we did ours. However, I must admit, Pinterest served as an effective means of illustrating what each of us had been pondering individually. Therefore, it played a crucial role in helping us communicate our ideas effectively with one another.

Are you able to tell which images on the board are from whom?

McDonald: Everyone has their unique methods for displaying things, and the appearance of the image itself can vary. However, we could present similar content, but it might be captured in a different manner. For instance, some images may have been revived or enhanced from older times. Wayman often prefers a well-lit version of my photos, while I might have a grainy one taken at an angle. Thus, Pinterest not only displays content, but also reflects the individual’s personality and thought process behind their posts.

2025-05-06 01:22