The Met Gala theme and dress code are inspired by the 2009 book "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity."

Met Gala was inspired by menswear and Black dandyism. The latter style is a crucial part of Black culture and empowerment.

Take a tour through the juke joints, speakeasies, and other hubs where Black dandies in NYC’s prewar creative boom could be found strutting their stuff