James Gunn's Superman is EXACTLY What We Needed - Superman (2025) A Review.
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James Gunn's Superman is EXACTLY What We Needed
OKAY BESTIES, we need to TALK because I am literally still shaking after seeing this movie and my brain has been completely rewired??? Like, I've been emotionally preparing for this movie since the moment James Gunn announced he was taking over the DCU, and by "emotionally preparing" I mean I've been alternating between pure excitement and existential dread because LITERALLY what if it was bad???
Because let's face it, as someone whose bedroom walls are covered in more posters than actual paint (my mom has Opinions about this but whatever), who owns a concerning amount of comics AND has them more organized than my actual life, and whose idea of light research is a deep dive into continuity changes post-Flashpoint (I HAVE THOUGHTS about the New 52 but that's another essay), Superman movies have been... a journey. A long, complicated journey that includes Christopher Reeve perfection (no notes, literally perfect, the standard by which all other Superman media is judged) AND whatever that was supposed to be when they decided Batman and Superman should brood together for three hours while completely missing the point of World's Finest dynamics.
But listen ladies, I cleared my weekend plans faster than Barry Allen escaping the Speed Force (and yes I know that reference is slightly incorrect shut up) because this wasn't just any superhero movie - this was James Gunn directing the most iconic character in comic book history!!! The man who made us cry over a talking raccoon was about to tackle the character who literally CREATED the superhero genre, invented the concept of secret identities, and has been the moral compass of the DC Universe for 85+ years, and honestly??? As someone who has spent an almost mind-boggling time watching DC movies, who can explain the difference between Earth-1, Earth-2, and New Earth Superman continuities WITHOUT looking it up, I needed to witness this cultural moment in the theater with my boyfriend (who is VERY patient with my DC obsessions and only looked semi-concerned when my grin got a little bigger whenever David Corenswet was on screen).
Spoiler alert: I'm still not emotionally recovered, and it's been three days. ALSO, I might have a dozen comic book websites open so I can order more stuff when your girl has more funds,
David Corenswet Said "Watch Me Channel Every Great Superman Era" (And We Said "YES DADDY")
Can we just TALK about David Corenswet for a hot minute because I am DECEASED and also slightly FERAL??? This man walked onto screen and basically channeled the perfect blend of Christopher Reeve's earnestness (ICONIC), the Golden Age's optimism, the Silver Age's boy scout energy, the Bronze Age's social consciousness, AND the modern comic book Superman's philosophical complexity, and then actually made it all work as one cohesive character while looking like he was SCULPTED BY THE GODS and I literally cannot??? The TALENT! The JAWLINE!?!?!
Listen, I really did think I was prepared for how attractive this man is because I'd seen the photos, but seeing him in motion as Superman??? With the cape billowing and that smilethat could probably end wars??? I literally forgot how to breathe for several minutes and had to pause my mental analysis to just... process the fact that this gorgeous human being was bringing one of my favorite characters to life??? The way he looks in that suit should be illegal, and don't even get me started on how his voice gets all soft and gentle when he's talking to people who need help because I was melting in my theater seat. My boyfriend definitely noticed and gave me a look, but listen, we both have eyes and he absolutely agreed that David Corenswet is unfairly attractive???
As someone who has very, very strong opinions about the difference between pre-Crisis and post-Crisis Superman characterization, Corenswet's performance hits that sweet spot that honors ALL eras of the character WHILE being absolutely STUNNING to look at. This isn't just another buff guy in a cape situation - this is an actor who clearly read "All-Star Superman", studied the emotional depth of "Superman: For All Seasons" (Mark Waid I owe you my life), amd somehow made the Golden Age boy scout, the Silver Age science fiction hero, the Bronze Age social crusader, and the modern philosophical icon feel like different facets of the same incredibly complex person who also happens to be one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen. I’m not okay.
The way he switches between Clark Kent and Superman isn't just about posture and vocal changes (though he nails those classic Christopher Reeve transformations and I literally had to contain in the theater) - it's about understanding that these aren't two separate people, they're two equally authentic expressions of the same moral framework!!! When he's Clark, you can see the Superman underneath trying to connect with humanity on their level, and you can see why Lois Lane would absolutely fall for this adorable, bumbling, secretly-ripped journalist. When he's Superman, you can see the Clark underneath who genuinely loves people and wants to help them, and you can see why the entire world would trust this absolutely gorgeous alien god-man with their lives"
Also, can we discuss the chemistry between him and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane because I am slightly jealous I fear. THIS is the dynamic I've been waiting to see properly adapted to screen!!! Brosnahan's Lois isn't just "competent love interest #47" - she's the Lois who won a Pulitzer prize for investigating corruption, who figured out Clark's identity through actual investigative journalism rather than plot convenience, and who challenges Superman intellectually and morally rather than just being someone he has to rescue!!! And the way Corenswet looks at her??? Like she's the most fascinating person in the universe??? Chef’s kiss to the casting director.
These two had me invested in their relationship faster than I get invested in DC's monthly solicitations. Their banter feels ripped straight from the best Lois and Clark comic interactions, with that perfect balance of professional respect, personal chemistry, and the underlying tension of secret identity maintenance that makes their relationship so compelling in the comics!!! I literally almost squealed in the theater. My boyfriend squeezed my hand and kept asking if I was okay, which was super sweet but also sir, are you gonna make me float in the air when we kiss, I thought not!!!
The Real World Parallels That Made This Hit DIFFERENT (And Why Superman Still Matters)
But beyond my thirst for David Corenswet (seriously, that man could read me the phone book in Kryptonian and I'd swoon), this movie hit on something deeper that I wasn't expecting and honestly wasn't prepared for??? Without spoiling anything specific, the central conflict of the film draws some very intentional parallels to what's happening in Gaza right now, and as someone who's been doom-scrolling Twitter, watching civilians caught between superpowers while the world debates who deserves to live in peace... It hit different
Gunn didn't just make a generic "alien invasion" movie - he made a film about power, displacement, civilian casualties, and the moral responsibility that comes with having the ability to intervene in conflicts where innocent people are suffering. The way Superman navigates the impossible choice between action and restraint, between helping and potentially making things worse, between his desire to save everyone and the political reality that his intervention might escalate violence... it felt like watching someone grapple with the exact moral questions we're all asking ourselves while watching the news.
And look, I’m aware Superman is fiction, but there's something about watching a character whose entire moral framework is built around "everyone deserves to live, everyone deserves protection, everyone matters" dealing with a situation where those principles are tested by a real geopolitical complexity... it made me understand why we need these stories right now. Superman can't just punch his way out of this conflict because the real enemies are systemic oppression, historical trauma, and the way powerful people use civilian populations as pawns in larger games.
There's this moment where Superman has to choose between stopping immediate violence and addressing the root causes that created the violence, and it felt like a direct commentary on how we talk about "both sides" when one side has F-16s and the other side has rocks. As someone who's been struggling with feeling helpless while watching actual genocide happen in real time, seeing Superman face the same feelings of "what if my intervention makes things worse" while still choosing to act, still choosing to center civilian lives over political convenience... It really showed us that sometimes we need to see heroes grapple with impossible choices to remember that giving up isn't an option, even when every choice feels wrong.
Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor: Straight Out of "Superman: Birthright" With a Touch of "All-Star" (And I'm OBSESSED)
We need to discuss Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor because this casting choice initially had me frantically preparing for either celebration or complete devastation!!! This man showed up ready to serve bald hater.
He's not just generic villain #47 or "businessman who doesn't like aliens" - he's the Lex who genuinely believes he's saving humanity from what he sees as an alien threat, while being absolutely consumed by jealousy that this alien is everything he wants to be but could never achieve!!! This is the Lex who's so brilliant he could cure cancer but is too obsessed with proving Superman is a fraud to focus on actually helping humanity. This is the Lex from whose hatred stems from a fundamental inability to accept that someone could be genuinely good without ulterior motives!!!
The way Hoult delivers every line like he's so deeply offended by Superman's existence isn't just good acting - it's an understanding of comic book Lex's core psychology!!! He's not threatened by Superman's power; he's threatened by Superman's goodness, because it exposes everything petty and small about Lex's own motivations. When he talks about Superman, you can so very clearly see him trying to convince himself as much as everyone else that this alien is dangerous, because the alternative - that Superman really is just trying to help - would destroy Lex's entire worldview.
The best Lex Luthor stories always make you understand his point just enough to remember why he's terrifying- he's not wrong that Superman is incredibly powerful and could potentially be dangerous, he's wrong about Superman's character and motivations. Hoult nails that balance perfectly and I may be slightly in love with this portrayal???
The Supporting Cast That Actually Feels Like They Live in the DC Universe (And I'm Here for ALL of It)
Can we appreciate a superhero movie where the supporting characters actually feel like they belong in the DC Universe rather than just Generic Superhero Movie Land??? Nathan Fillion showing up and immediately making me wonder if we're getting hints of a full Justice League International lineup (PLEASE James Gunn I'm BEGGING)? Anthony Carrigan bringing that perfect blend of intensity and depth that had me thinking about every great DC character actor performance from the animated universe???
The Daily Planet scenes feel like they were ripped straight from the comics - not just the Superman comics, but the ENTIRE DC Universe approach to journalism and media that runs through everything from "The Question" to "Gotham Central"!!! These aren't just "newspaper movie" supporting characters; they understand that in the DC Universe, journalism matters as much as superheroics because truth and information are literally superpowers in their own right.
Even the smaller roles felt like they understood the assignment!!! This isn't just "generic superhero movie supporting cast #12" - these feel like characters who could anchor their own comic book runs, which is exactly how DC's best stories work. Every character feels like they have their own agenda, their own life, their own relationship with Superman that isn't just "person who needs rescuing" or "person who explains plot points"!!!
The Metropolis we see feels lived-in and real, like a city that exists independently of Superman rather than just being a backdrop for superhero action. This is the Metropolis from the comics - a place that's beautiful and optimistic but also dealing with real urban problems, a place where Superman fits naturally rather than being an alien presence disrupting normalcy, and I'm literally getting emotional just thinking about how perfect the world-building is???
The Moments That Made Me Ugly Cry
WITHOUT spoiling anything (because I'm not a monster, and also because spoiling DC content is punishable by banishment to the lego batman Phantom Zone), there are at least three moments in this movie that had me crying actual tears while simultaneously thinking "oh my god they actually adapted that essential comic book Superman feeling to screen" and I'm never gonna get over it.
One sequence involving Superman making a choice about heroism felt like watching "Superman vs. The Elite" come to life, reminding me why I've been defending this character's relevance against "but he's too powerful/too perfect/too boring" arguments on twitter. The way Corenswet delivers what amounts to the "World of Cardboard" speech from Justice League Unlimited but specifically for this story had me dead.
Another moment involves Superman's relationship with humanity that directly echoes the best "Superman saves everyone" comic moments - you know, the ones where he's not just stopping the obvious threat but actually solving the underlying problem that created the threat in the first place!!! It's the kind of scene that reminds you why Superman stories work best when they're about hope and inspiration rather than just "alien punches bad guy until bad guy stops being bad.”
The final act somehow managed to capture the epic scope of a Crisis event while maintaining the intimate character work of the best Elseworlds stories!!! I left the theater wanting to immediately re-read my ENTIRE Superman collection to catalog what Easter eggs and deep cut references I missed, because Gunn clearly packed this thing with comic book DNA
But the moment that really got me was a quiet scene - just Superman being superman, not because he has to save the world, but because helping people is WHO HE IS!!! No big action sequence, no world-ending threat, just the most powerful (and gorgeous) being in the universe taking time to do something small and human because it matters to someone. That's when I knew this movie really understood what makes Superman special, and I'm literally tearing up just thinking about it again.
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Final Thoughts: This Is Why I've Been Defending DC Comics for LITERAL DECADES (And Also Why I'm Now a David Corenswet Stan Account)
I can't help but feel completely vindicated as a lifelong DC Comics obsessive!!! This movie GETS IT. It understands what makes Superman work in comics and translates that perfectly to screen without losing any of the depth, complexity, or fundamental optimism that makes the character so special.
Gunn didn't just make a Superman movie - he made a love letter to 85+ years of comics history while proving that yes, actually, the character who inspired every superhero who came after him can still inspire us today!!! This felt like someone who owns longboxes full of Superman comics, who has strong opinions about different creative runs, and who actually understood what made all those comics special, then decided to share that feeling with the rest of us!!! And he cast the most beautiful man alive to play the role, so honestly, what more can you ask for?
Yes, Superman can be interesting. Yes, there are stakes when you're dealing with someone this powerful. Yes, you can tell compelling stories about someone who's fundamentally good without making them boring or naive. Yes, you can make Superman relevant to contemporary political struggles without losing his essential optimism.
James Gunn, you've somehow made a movie that honors both "Superman: The Movie" AND "All-Star Superman" while feeling completely fresh and contemporary and relevant to our current political momentI cannot thank you enough!!! You've created something that works for people who have never read a comic book and for those of us who have, which is basically the holy grail of comic book adaptation!!!
P.S. - If anyone has high-quality screenshots of David Corenswet as Superman for my totally academic research into comic book adaptations, please send them my way. It's for SCIENCE. And also because he's absolutely gorgeous and I have NEEDS.
excuse me for stating the obvious but like. james gunn outright calling superman an immigrant and doubling down on it when he got backlash (because he IS an immigrant, that's the point of superman) + the in-movie dialogue of "aren't you going to read me my rights?" "you're an extraterrestrial, son. you haven't got any rights to read." + the violence of his arrest and how they torture and mistreat him unapologetically, all under the guise of "protecting america", in a film releasing during the onslaught of violent ICE kidnappings and abuse... yeah it's really no wonder right-wing knobheads are crying about this being woke. they're being forced to look directly at the reasons one of the most notorious heroes of all time would not be on their side. and that's only ONE of the reasons this movie covers
Anyone else still stressing about their outfits even though they're on summer vacation and literally in their house 24/7? Or is that just me? Like girl nobody aside from my parents is even seeing what I'm wearing, but no no no no, I'm staring at my tank top and shorts in the mirror and wondering whether I look good enough for... what exactly? A trip to the kitchen?
The conditioning runs SO deep that I'm out here analyzing whether my home clothes are "aesthetic enough" or if my loungewear would photograph well. For WHO? My reflection? The cat that likes my parents more than me? It's honestly unhinged when you really think about it.
I'm literally standing in my bedroom, holding up two different pairs of shorts like I'm getting ready for Fashion Week instead of walking downstairs to raid the fridge. And don't even get me started on how I spent ten minutes this morning trying to decide between two identical black tank tops because one has a "better neckline."
Tiktok isn’t helping either, the ‘Comfy outfit ideas for staying at home’ and ‘cute loungewear at home’ videos are suffocating my for you page and making me think that Anna Wintour has secret cameras in my room judging my primark pyjamas.
Anyone else living this particular brand of chaos or am I out here looking crazy all by myself? Please tell me I'm not the only one who's this far gone.
-l-r: Zuhair Murad Haute Couture S/S25, RTW F/W25-
-Yuhan Wang RTW F/W25-
-Zimmerman RTW F/W25-
The 2025 Top 30
I like to keep this bit brief because these posts aren't meant to be text heavy and I don't want to go off on an unrelated rant but before I do get into my top 30 collections/designers of the year, I have to say FREE PALESTINE AND FUCK ISRAEL. Really cannot miss any opportunity to remind anyone who might stumble across this post that we need to stay angry about the situation. Until our countries stop arming the Israeli government, Palestine is recognised as its own state, and the IDF withdraw from their illegal occupation posts in Palestinian regions, calls for the freedom and dignity of Palestinians should be unavoidable.
I know it's out of place but when there is a preventable genocide occurring, there's no reason to not do something small to show you're against this today. For anyone in the UK who reads this post, there is a Greenpeace petition which demands our government declare a total embargo on the export of weapons to Israel. It needs another 9,000 signatures to reach its goal of 50,000 so this is the link I'm leaving today!
With each day that passes more lives are lost in this conflict, and weapons sold by the UK are fuelling the fire. British weapons should NOT
Now, in no particular order, I'll summarise my top 30 collections-or set of collections from one designer (cough cough Alessandro Michele's Valentino cough cough)-that were dropped this year.
1. Vivienne Westwood RTW F/W25, creative dir. Andreas Kronthaler: This is the classic, wearable style Vivienne Westwood that I actually like. I'm not the biggest fan of Andreas Kronthaler's named collections but when he peels back his own design vision a bit, the results can be really good. Case in point, RTW F/W25. A lot of the pieces look like that very elusive brand of one of a kind, vintage Vivienne that only celebrity stylists seem to be capable of sourcing. The silhouettes, patterns and colours chosen for these garments reads like the greatest hits of street style incarnations of the brand.
2. Armani Privé Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. Giorgio Armani: I was so dismissive of Armani for years...I thought it was just an old guy designing fancy co-ords for First Lady types and royal distant cousins so I never really looked at the collections properly. But when I saw a photoset some dresses from the most recent Armani Privé Haute Couture collections a couple of years ago, I gave them a second look. I get so excited for them now! The details are soo gorgeous! Exquisite, unique, elegant, everything about these pieces scream craftsmanship. Like how do you get satin to ripple like that!? It is something otherworldly.
3. LoveShackFancy RTW F/W25, creative dir. Rebecca Hessel Cohen: This collection is the LoveShackFancy that caught my attention the first time round. It's like a limited edition barbie doll range dedicated to Y2K does the '70s. Lush<3
4. Giambattista Valli, Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. ": with a collection that evokes 21st century Greek Goddess and simultaneously the Bridgerton wardrobe department, Giambattista, as he so often does, highlights the through line which underlies beautiful garments throughout history.
5. Patou, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Guillaume Henry: I’ve explained why I like Patou's aesthetic before and there is no way I can put it that doesn’t make me cringe. Calling anything “edgy” unironically makes me feel silly lol, but I don’t really know how else to encapsulate what I like about this collection or Patou in general without using that word. Guillaume Henry just does preppy (also a bit of a cringey word) and sophisticated with street style inspired edge—see the chain!—really well.
6. Markgong, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Mark Gong: Markgong is yet another Asian fashion brand that is consistently going up in my estimations. The combination of 90s/y2k nostalgia with a touch of 21st century polish, along with the subtle nods to the grunge kinderwhore craze covers satisfies my personal taste criteria on so many levels.
7. 032c, Men's RTW F/W25, creative dir. Maria Koch: Similar to Markgong & Patou, the women’s clothing from 032c men’s wear collection had a grungy, utilitarian feel to it without compromising on glamour or sex appeal. At times, it reminded me of the Bratz Rock Angelz-esque Blumarine collection from RTW S/S23, which is probably one of my absolute favourites since I started following the fashion week(s) calendar, sooo obviously this 032c collection is a memorable one for this season.
8. Shushu/Tong, RTW F/W25, creative dir(s). Liushu Lei and Yutong Jiang: Perfect collection. I won’t say much more about Shushu/Tong here because I have a long wordy fashiony post in the drafts where I ramble about my love for the brand enough already, lol!
9. Yuhan Wang, RTW F/W25, creative dir. ": I don’t know how to describe this collection. Like slutty period clothing crossed with slutty American footballer? Whatever. As much as on paper I’ve made it sound like a weird choice of Halloween costume , it’s all very cunt.
10. Coperni, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Sébastien Meyer: I loved this collection. Cute but also a little (brace yourselves) edgy and also hot af. Actually really wearable too?
11. Danielle Frankel, RTW F/W25, creative dir. ": Another ethereal bridal collection from Danielle, one which this time round feels quite siren-esque. Loveee it!
12. Blumarine, RTW F/W25, creative dir. David Koma: Blumarine is so BACK! Everybody say thank you David Koma:-) The perfect man for the job, he has pulled off the impossible task of combining what Blumarine has become in the last decade with the original Blumarine aesthetic and to top it all off, with an infusion of his own signature flair too.
-clockwise l-r: Kim Shui RTW F/W25, McQueen ", Fetico ", Ann Demeulemeester "-
13. Kim Shui, RTW F/W25, creative dir. ": Whilst I love to see Kim Shui's usual vision shines through her latest collection, there's something about aspects of this collection that screams Hollywood Russian spy. Whilst that seems niche, think Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow. It's that.
14. McQueen, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Seán McGirr: I saw a lot of people online trashing this collection but I really liked it. The reemergence of Elizabethan necklines is something I didn't know the modern fashion industry needed but having seen McGirr's use of them here, I hope more designers feel inclined to reference a more distant past than they're used too. Loveee the colour palette too.
15. Fetico, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Emi Funayama: If you crossed Wednesday Adams with an Upper East Side prep school teacher and a fashion magazine editor...here's your end product. I'm here for it.
16. Ann Demeulemeester, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Stefano Gallici: Since he was named creative director at Ann Demeulemeester, Stefano Gallici has taken the brand's core elements and transformed it into the aesthetic embodiment of Sandi Thom's song "I Wish I was a Punk Rocker" and that's 1000% a good thing.
17. Chloé, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Chemena Kamali: I’m just gonna say it: Chloé is my number one fashion house rn. It’s been 2 solid years of beautiful collections. Like since Chemena took over, there hasn’t been a single look anything short of breathtaking. Nobody's exactly inventing the wheel by doing the bohemian aesthetic but Chemena's work is so authentic and high quality that it feels less like a simple do-over and more like a rebirth for the 21st century.
18. Zimmerman, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Nicky Zimmerman: If it weren't for Chloé, I would probably say it's Zimmerman that's moved up to the top of my list. That being said, whilst the former just about takes it, Nicky's RTW F/W25 collection is gorgeous as ever. For the romantics who are a little rough around the edges, she's your woman.
19. Ermanno Scervino, RTW F/W25, creative dir. ": Ermanno Scervino never disappoints and this season wasn't an exception. Though Scervino is Italian, this collection feels distinctly French to me. Well, like a strong Italian-French combination. The dark romance, lace, corsets, blacks and nudes, feel like a tribute to the Isabella Rossellinis and Sophia Lorens of days past but bringing it all together is the kind of sophisticated power tailoring you'd expect to see some Parisian fashion magazine editor in. It's killllerrr<3
20. Valentino EVERYTHINGG, creative dir. Alessandro Michele: Look, Chemena Kamali may have push Alessandro off his pedestal for now but I still love his work at Valentino! It’s not necessarily the best work I've ever seen from him (considering the incredible last few years he had at Gucci) but he remains the king of decorative maximalism, and so even a mediocre collection is leaps and bounds ahead of a lot of designers. As he continues to find his feet at Valentino, I can't wait to see what he achieves; if anything, I hope it's most like his S/S25 Haute Couture collection because that's my favourite of the 3 this year so far.
-clockwise l-r: Miss Sohee Haute Couture S/S25, Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture S/S25, Nina Ricci RTW S/S25, Elie Saab Haute Couture S/S25-
21. Miss Sohee, Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. Sohee Park: The beauty of this collection really just speaks for itself like omggg! These are the dresses fairytales are made of.
22. Jean Paul Gaultier, Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. Ludovic de Saint Sernin: What Sohee Park's S/S25 does for those who wish (and can afford) to frolic around like a fairytale princess, Ludovic's JPG collection achieves for anyone who wants to float around feeling like a fallen angel. In succession the pieces read as the visual accompaniment to some kind of tragic romance, beautiful but also raw, dark, and...a little vengeful? It may seem ridiculous that I'm getting all that from like...clothes...but the best collections do tell a story and this reads like a couture accompaniment to the film Black Swan (as in the one with Natalie Portman/Mila Kunis, which happens to be one of my all time favourites) to me. I do have an overactive imagination though so...yeah. It would probably just suffice to say I love this and I think it's breathtaking beautiful but I love to waffle on so here we are!
23. Nina Ricci, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Harris Reed: Groovy, luxuriant and a little bit campy. All round, fabulous!
24. Elie Saab, Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. ": If the Miss Sohee HC collection is an ode to the fairytale princess, and JPG a tribute to the fallen angel, then the Elie Saab HC S/S25 collection completes the HC fantasy trilogy by bringing straight up fairy vibes to the party.
26. Marchesa, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Georgina Chapman: This collection is gorgeous, like a more minimalist (as much as a brand like Marchesa can be), toned down version of the fairy vibe. Perhaps more sprite? Like the mythical creature obviously, not the drink, lol.
27. Altuzarra, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Joseph Altuzarra: Classy, wearable and elegant as always.
28. Zuhair Murad, Haute Couture S/S25, creative dir. ": Feels like an Old Hollywood glamour version of Elie Saab's fairy collection. None of the looks are subtle by any means but they are all head turning and in the best possible way, even when they veer a little into y2k valley girl prom territory.
29. Gucci, EVERYTHINGG, creative dir. Sabato De Sarno: Sabato De Sarno's reign at the helm of Gucci has been short and sweet and I'm super sad to see him go when I feel like he was just getting into the swing of things. I don't know what the general consensus is but I actually feel like he did an amazing job of returning Gucci to its roots whilst retaining Alessandro's unique flair, recognising just how crucial that flair was to reinvigorating the brand. Denma has a lot to live up to, think!
30. SRVC, RTW F/W25, creative dir. Ricky Wesley Harriott: It's happened. I've finally found a brand to fill the Ottolinger shaped hole in my heart. I used to loveee it but idk, it's lost its spark for me recently. Harriott's vision for SRVC has brought that spark back into my life! It's a weird combination of business casual, boyfriend's wardrobe, sex appeal and grunge that only a London-based designer (or formerly, a certain Berlin-based designer/s) could pull off and hopefully the brand continues to flourish.
Anyways, that's it for now! Won't ramble because I have a hugely rambly fashion update post coming soon where I'll do way too much of that. Plus the world is such a shit show atm I can't even reference current events without going into a rant. So that's that. Thanks for reading if you have!
The Met Gala is SO back, baby – The 2025 Met Gala, a review.
Authors Note: Hiiii my lovelies! Now I know that the Met Gala was back at the beginning of May and this is being posted mid-July but this was coursework for school that's had at least five major re-edits and was only just handed in soooooo... but here you are!
Word Count: 1071
The Met Gala is SO back, baby – The 2025 Met Gala, a review.
Okay, I'll be honest - I cleared my entire Monday evening schedule faster than you can say "camp" (still traumatized by 2019's interpretations, don't @ me). A few Monday nights ago, I nestled myself in all the blankets I had in my room with a can of Pepsi Max I ended up spilling on myself, ready to witness fashion's most anticipated event (AKA my own personal Superbowl) transform the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a runway celebrating Black excellence.
Between deep diving into the possible cultural significance of every single stitch I saw and frantically screenshotting every single look the paparazzi released onto google for my Pinterest boards, the 2025 Met Gala had me more invested than the possible release dates for Taylor Swifts new album
I mean, A$AP Rocky went and casually dropped Rihanna's pregnancy news on the red (well, midnight blue carpet, technically speaking) carpet? Zendaya’s engagement ring flex? this wasn't just a fashion event - it was a masterclass in how to honour culture while serving absolute LOOKS.
I've been to exactly zero Met Galas in my lifetime (shocking, I know), but as someone whose browser history is 90% fashion blogs and has also been glared at by my mother more times than I can count for the amount of vinted packages that show up at my house, I think I know what I’m talking about.
Understanding “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” (Or: Why I spent Three hours in a Wikipedia rabbit hole)
Listen, when I first heard this year's theme was "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," I did what any reasonable fashion obsessesed person would do, I immediately ordered Monica L. Miller's "Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity" at 2 AM. And here's the thing: this theme was absolutely genius and criminally overdue. We're talking about celebrating a movement that literally used fashion as revolution - men who said, "you know what, society might try to diminish us, but have you SEEN these lapels?" It's the history of sharp-dressed resistance, from Harlem's jazz age legends who could make a three-piece suit look like armor, to the zoot suit culture of the 1940s that was so powerful it literally caused riots (yes, really, look it up).
What got me most excited was how this theme finally put menswear in the spotlight - something we haven't seen since 2003, back when people though denim-on-denim was peak fashion (we don't talk about that era). It was like the Met finally said, "You know what? Let's celebrate the fact that masculine elegance can be just as show-stopping as any ballgown." And honestly, after years of watching people completely miss the assignment (cough 2018's "Catholic Imagination" cough), seeing attendees actually understand and honour the cultural significance while serving absolute perfection?
Chef's kiss. My Pinterest boards have never been happier.
The Stand-Out Moments That Had Me Screaming At My TV
Let's talk about the looks that made me pause my Instagram scrolling and actually pay attention. Pharrell Williams, who was one of this year's co-chairs AND Louis Vuitton's men's creative director, absolutely understood the assignment in a way that honestly had me gagged. The man basically walked on that carpet like he owned it (which, let's be honest, he kind of did). And can we please discuss Lewis Hamilton? Using Barkley L. Hendricks paintings of People of Colour surrounded by full white as the inspiration was, like, THE move to make in all honesty.
But the real tea? Watching people like Colman Domingo embody the essence of Black dandyism while making it completely his own was pure poetry in motion. That royal blue Valentino cape with golden sequin embellishments, evoking both choir robes and the blue capes worn by Andre Leon Talley. And then him revealing that checkered Valentino suit underneath that? (Honestly I was gagged). I found myself frantically googling historical references mid-gala because these looks were sending me down research rabbit holes faster than a Wikipedia binge at 3 AM.
And then there's the supporting cast that absolutely delivered. Bad Bunny showing up and reminding everyone that Latin excellence fits perfectly within this celebration? Chef's kiss. Diana Ross being Diana Ross and making everyone else look like they were trying too hard? Iconic behavior, honestly. The woman could show up in a grocery bag and still be the moment.
The Hits, Misses and “Wait, what?” Moments.
Now, I'm not going to sit here and pretend everyone nailed it (this is a judgment-free zone, but also, I have eyes). Some attendees clearly did their homework, you could practically see the mood boards and historical references they'd studied. Others... well, let's just say some people (ahem, Jeremy Allen White) heard "tailoring" and thought "throw on literally any suit and call it a day." Bless their hearts.
The real winners were the ones who understood that this wasn't just about looking expensive (though let's be real, everything was expensive). It was about storytelling through fabric, celebrating a legacy through silhouette, and honestly just showing some respect for the culture being honored.
I also have to give props to the designers who clearly understood the assignment. Seeing established fashion houses collaborate with Black designers and historians to create authentic, respectful interpretations was everything. It felt like the industry actually listened for once, instead of just surface-level appropriation dressed up in expensive fabric.
Final Thoughts: Why This Met Gala Actually Mattered
As I sit here, still processing everything and probably needing to charge my phone after a night of constant screenshotting, I can't help but feel like this Met Gala was kind of exactly what we needed. Not just fashion-wise (though the looks were immaculate), but culturally. It really reminded the fashion world that concept of fashion has never just been pretty clothes - it's history, it's resistance, it's art, it's identity.
However, will I still judge Met Gala attendees in 2057 based on their look from this year's Gala? Absolutely. Will I continue to clear my schedule every first Monday in May to live-tweet my reactions from my couch? You bet. But more importantly, will I remember this as the gala that finally got it right, that honored a culture while serving looks that made my fashion-obsessed heart sing?
Without question.
Until next year Met Gala, you've set the bar impossibly high, and I'm so here for it.
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