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The famed Met Gala in New York takes place Monday, May 5, with a theme celebrating Black tailored style — but Charlotte held its own version called “Superfine at Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism.”
The Friday, May 2 event showcased Black designers based in Charlotte, who arrived in finery, flash and pomp during an evening-long program. Perrine “Professor P” DeShield, a fashion marketing professor, collaborated with the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture to curate the show. DeShields teaches at the Savannah College of Art & Design, but lives in Charlotte.
DeShield drew her inspiration from the Met’s 2025 theme that will feature Black style and dandyism — a practice evoking an artistic, dapper and refined sartorial style.
“I felt like it was very much so a love letter to André Leon Talley. I know a lot of people have continuously brought him back up,“ DeShield told The Charlotte Observer. “He’s also the epitome of a Black dandy. I think that his contributions to fashion and the industry are just unmatched.”
Below are the best photos from the evening’s runway show and VIP rooftop party:
Event curator and Charlotte resident, Perrine “Professor P” DeShields poses for a photo during “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism” at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Charlotte Observer
Models walk the runway during “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism” at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Observer
Attendees pose for a photo during “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism” at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Observer
Attendee Loren Thomas poses for a photo duing “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism” at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Observer
Host and MC Daja Britt, left, interviews an attendee duing “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism” at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Observer
A model poses at the end of the runway for a fashion show during “Superfine at the Gantt: Exploring Black Dandyism”at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, Friday, May 2, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. Matt Kelley For the Observer
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This story was originally published May 4, 2025 at 10:24 AM.
Lisa Vernon Sparks was the Race, Culture and Community Engagement Editor for The Charlotte Observer. Previously she was an Opinion Editor with the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. She is an alumna of Columbia University in New York and Northeastern University in Boston.Support my work with a digital subscription
