Savannah James Reclaims the Harlem Zoot Suit for the Met Gala 2025
Tonight is Savannah James's first time walking the Met Gala red carpet. Her husband, Lebron James, was named honorary co-chair of tonight's gala. Why the word honorary? Because it was unknown until days before whether he would be able to attend in lieu of the Lakers playoffs schedule. Though LeBron was ultimately unable to attend, James was thrilled to represent for her family.
Well, to be honest, she was also a little nervous—mostly because of the stairs. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing the exhibit and some friends of mine will be in the building so I'm excited to connect with them and have this experience.'
For her take on this year's 2025 Met Gala theme, 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' she's taking the dress code, Tailored for You, in stride. 'I love suiting,' she says. 'I feel most comfortable in a suit.' To that end, she went with a design by Anifa Mvuemba's Hanifa—a brand James has long been a fan of—in a bit of a serendipitous moment. 'I was actually on Instagram one day, and this is shortly after I had gotten word that I had been invited to attend the Met and I didn't really know who I was gonna use or what direction that I was gonna go in,' she says. And as luck would have it, she saw a post from Mvuemba asking if anyone would like to work together. 'This is crazy that this is actually coming full circle right now. It was important for me to wear a young black designer just because I am all about just elevating and amplifying my people. I am a number one supporter of anyone who looks like me, who is just trying to be great at what they love.'
James and Mvuemba started the design journey over Zoom, as they are based on opposite sides of the country. Despite the distance, James is so impressed with how seamlessly the Hanifa team made the entire process. The pair dreamt up a take on the Harlem zoot suit. 'I think we really came up with a really amazing body of work; I think that the dress looks amazing,' she said. 'The team did great. It's fitting me just how I needed to fit.'
Glam, she says, was kept clean and simple. 'I feel like the look speaks volume, so I wanna keep the attention there,' James explained. Instead of relying on intensive treatments to prepare for fashion's biggest night, she focused on the essentials, prepping skin with a secret formula she says 'has been a staple in her routine for the last two years' and setting the stage for makeup centered around a statement lip. Her hair featured a '40-inch bussdown middle part' for 'giving movement and length. I just have to remember when I sit, I just need to move my hair,' she laughed.
'I'm very like excited that this is the actual first [Met Gala] that I can go to,' she says. 'I feel like the experience will be through the roof. I'm a museum girl, I'm a gallery girl.' The only thing missing from the memorable night? Her beau, of course. 'Maybe next year he'll be able to go.'
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