Grading Top Superstar Athletes' 2025 Met Gala Fits (with Help from a Pro Stylist)
The first Monday of May is the best day of the year for a fashion-loving sports nut. The NBA and NHL playoffs are heating up as second rounds approach, meanwhile the best-dressed athletes all over the sports world are headed to fashion's biggest night: The Met Gala.
The annual event raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and each year there's a different theme and dress code challenging the best designers in the world to think outside the box.
This year, the dress code is "Tailored for you," while the theme is "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style." It's all a celebration of and homage to Black dandyism, and it's the first Met Gala in two decades with a focus on menswear. LeBron James was named an honorary Met Gala chair this year, but he couldn't attend the event due to injury.
With the theme and dress code in mind, let's take a look at what the superstar athletes invited had to offer on Monday's Red Carpet. We brought in custom menswear designer and pro athlete stylist Tom Marchitelli, who has styled many athletes in attendance, to weigh in on the men, and yours truly will assess the women.
Saquon Barkley: B+
1 of 10
Sometimes the edgiest thing you can do is dare to keep it simple, and that's the direction NFL star Saquon Barkley went with in this Thom Browne getup. It's all class with a little bit of shine and flair, and the shorter tailoring adds to the simple intrigue.
Pro Athlete stylist Tom Marchitelli's take: On a night when guys can get away with being beyond edgy, I love that Saquon chose to go classic in a three-piece tux. The subtle four-stripe metallic embroidery on the left sleeve (a trademark of designer Thom Browne) adds some nice flair appropriate for this carpet. I counted the stripes twice to make sure his Nike reps wouldn't be having a heart attack.
As far as the actual tailoring, both the jacket and pants are definitely on the shorter side, also commonly seen by Browne, and for the Met it's common for designers to hurdle many of the "classic tailoring" rules. When all of the event's looks are revealed, this will be considered one of the safest of the night, which I am not mad about at all.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens: A-
2 of 10
The couple's ensemble can be tricky to pull off, but when you nail it, you nail it. Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens pulled it off, with the contrasts in their outfits complementing each other perfectly. This shade of blue is fantastic on Biles, and the train of the dress is just striking. Her collar adds cohesiveness to the collective look, and Owens' pendant does that right back for her.
The cane was the most popular prop of the evening, and the Chicago Bears safety did it justice with his full fit. It's a visual aid to point you to the best part of his look: The fringes to cap off the well-tailored flare pants.
Lewis Hamilton: A+
3 of 10
Decorated Formula One winner Lewis Hamilton gets one of the night's two A-pluses. He completely understood the assignment here, with an ivory ensemble designed by Wales Bonner, topped off with a custom Stephen Jones hat.
Tailoring is the most important aspect of nailing this theme, and Hamilton showcased a modern, cropped take on menswear while staying true to the dress code.
Athlete stylist Tom Marchitelli's take: For the Met Gala, it doesn't get much better than this. I'm going to call this the fit of the night. When you're one of the event's co-chairs you better bring it, and that's exactly what the highly style-influential F1 driver did. Head-to-toe elegant simplicity.
Impeccable tailoring. For those who know my personal designs, I am not a huge fan of the flared pant bottom, but it works well here without being egregious. The front of his tailcoat resting just past the waistline in double-breasted form with hidden buttons—that's the chef's kiss for me.
Joe Burrow: D
4 of 10
Joe Burrow has had some fantastic fits—elegant and casual—over the past few years, but this is a rare miss. It doesn't feel like something he'd wear, and you sort of see that in his face.
It's menswear because he is a man wearing a suit, but it doesn't do much to celebrate the nuances of the theme, push the boundaries or even really broach the subject.
I'll give him some points for the hair. The Gucci sneakers could work somewhere else, but that somewhere else is a few galaxies away at the moment.
Breanna Stewart: B+
5 of 10
This look on WNBA star Breanna Stewart, designed by Sergio Hudson and styled by Courtney Mays, does great with the theme and the dress code. The tailoring is noticeable and on point—just look at how the bottom of the pants contrasts with the shoes even though they're the same color.
The all-ivory moment is a perfect way to honor the theme, and the curl in the hair is the cherry on top.
Dwayne Wade: C
6 of 10
This isn't awful, but Dwyane Wade's look is a bit of a miss for me. I don't want to see a visible Chelsea boot on a red carpet anywhere, let alone the Met Gala. The vest, the jacket tailoring and the gorgeous look on Gabrielle Union keep the whole thing afloat.
Marchitelli's take: D-Wade had me running for my martini shaker the minute I saw this look. I mean, how can you not zoom in on that vest. Are those olives? Or are they just part of some abstract print that's meant to make us think?
Either way, it distracts from what is otherwise a super elegant fit for the Met Gala carpet, besides the patent leather Chelsea boots which have no business being near an ivory tailcoat jacket.
But again, this is the Met and the rule is basically there are no rules. Huge advocate of a diamond lapel pin, which should be saved for this Level-A red carpet.
Sabrina Ionescu: B-
7 of 10
I appreciate the tailoring of Sabrina Ionescu's look, designed by Sergio Hudson and styled by Courtney Mays. The asymmetric train of the skirt juxtaposed with the white pointed shoe is some satisfying contrast.
There's some decent color balancing going on. If you're going to do the black and white thing, the exposed shoe and the top are the way to go.
I like the tailoring of the suit jacket. But I struggle with the buttons and the texture combined with the bottom half of the look. The New York Liberty star nailed it with the hair, though.
All in all, Ionescu was true to theme.
Venus Williams: C-
8 of 10
I do love "going for it," and tennis icon Venus Williams certainly went for it with the look that pays homage to her sport.
The green is a fantastic shade, the shoes are interesting and fun, and I like the idea of playing with the hemline of the skirt.
The fringe moment just isn't doing it for me, and the collar in addition to the fringe is tough visually.
Angel Reese: A+
9 of 10
Host committee member Angel Reese absolutely crushed it in...you guessed it, Thom Browne.
Browne's distinct tailoring was a great choice for a tailoring-centric event. You see his influence on the shorter sleeves and flowing train. And the proportions are satisfying to the eyes.
The main event is the tasteful midriff that exists to celebrate the power of tailoring. The collar is a cheeky nod to the idea of menswear without compromising elegance, and the hair and accessory pieces are simply to die for.
This is the perfect blend of crushing the theme and dress code while wearing a fit that you were born to wear.
Jalen Hurts: A
10 of 10
If this looks like a 26-year-old man who wears a newsboy hat like this all the time, it's because it is. I love that this look stays true to Jalen Hurts' personal style with an effortless elevation in line with the theme.
Marchitelli's take: Say it with me: "What is that, velvet?!" Gotta give the reigning Super Bowl champ some credit for pulling off a full velvet suit on a spring night in NYC. For a material that can be a challenge to work with, the tailoring is on point—especially in the key areas that even a novice is drawn to at first: sleeve length and pant length.
Another Eagle going relatively clean and simple but adding a subtle pop with the flocked velvet, giving the jacket a metallic effect.
