The Making of an Icon: Up Close With Pusha T’s Met Gala Outfit

For Marcus Paul, Black dandyism isn’t just about looking good, it's a defiant reclaiming of space in a world that has long sought to confine Black identity. This year’s Met Gala theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” called for more than style—it demanded a story. So we dug into the process behind one of the night’s most striking looks, created by Louis Vuitton for Paul’s longtime client and collaborator, Pusha T.

Paul is more than aware of the cultural significance of this year’s focus and the pivotal role Black culture plays in tailoring. In this context, it’s about survival, pride, resistance and celebration, all at once. Looking sharp has historically been a way to assert dignity and demand respect, especially in spaces where both have been denied.

As an industry vet who has worked as a stylist and creative consultant to some of the biggest names in music, sports and art, Paul knows what it takes to create a cultural statement on the red carpet, especially one as high-profile as the Met. Together, they partnered with T’s longtime friend and collaborator Pharrell Williams, who brought the full force of Louis Vuitton’s atelier to the project. The level of detail went beyond aesthetics—research for the look stretched from the LV archives to the Met library, where cuts, silhouettes and stitch techniques were studied like a science.

With the help of LV artisans who were flown out from Paris to T’s residence in Virginia, they created a bespoke suit defined by intricacies such as degradé beading—a detail best appreciated up close. Amid the flurry of fittings and flashbulbs, we caught up with Paul for an exclusive preview of Pusha T’s big look.