Tyla Nails Met Gala 2025 Dress Code With 3 Stunning Pre-Gala Looks

Tyla Nails Met Gala 2025 Dress Code With Three Pre-Gala Looks

Tyla Turns NYC Into a Runway With Pre-Met Gala 2025 Fashion Triumphs

Though the Met Gala 2025 takes place Monday, South African singer Tyla has already proven she understands this year’s theme, “Tailored for You,” with a series of remarkable pre-event appearances throughout New York City. Over Met Gala weekend, the “Water” hitmaker debuted not one but three distinct, fashion-forward looks, all hinting at her sartorial command ahead of her second Met Gala appearance.

Look 1: Vintage Roberto Cavalli, 2004

Tyla was first seen on Saturday, May 3, wearing a vintage Roberto Cavalli dress from the 2004 collection, styled by renowned fashion architect Law Roach and sourced through One of a Kind Archive. The striking minidress featured a deep red, gold, and black lace palette with a ruffled, asymmetrical skirt — a nod to both early-2000s glam and contemporary tailoring. Roach captioned a photo on Instagram Stories: “Got to play with a Dollbaby last night.”

Look 2: Chrome-Toned Cavalli Power Suit

Later that evening, the star was spotted in a silver crocodile-patterned blazer and matching low-rise trousers, again from Roberto Cavalli. The open-front blazer offered a sculptural, tailored silhouette. She paired the ensemble with metallic Aquazzura Tequila Sandal heels, long statement earrings, and no necklace, letting the strong tailoring speak for itself.

Given her continued collaboration with the Cavalli archive — she also wore a vintage Cavalli piece to the 2024 MTV EMAs — speculation has grown that she may wear the Italian brand to the Met Gala itself.

Look 3: Tolu Coker Fall 2025 Runway Ensemble

On Sunday, May 4, Tyla made a stylish pivot. Stepping into The Mark Hotel — the traditional pre-Gala hub — she was photographed wearing a head-turning ensemble from British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker’s Fall 2025 collection.

The look featured a structured mini dress with puffed sleeves, a corset-laced bodice, and a tiered ruffled hem, all made from Coker’s signature striped fabric in orange, brown, and white. A wide-brimmed matching hat, white ankle socks, and strappy heels completed the expressive yet finely tailored outfit.

A Star Aligned With the Theme

Tyla, who is officially confirmed as part of the Met Gala 2025 committee, has already captured the essence of this year’s exhibit and dress code. The theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” takes inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The dress code, “Tailored for You,” emphasizes individuality expressed through precise, culturally resonant tailoring.

Tyla’s pre-event fashion not only embraces this theme but celebrates it — blending personal identity, African heritage, and couture craftsmanship across multiple looks.

Met Gala Expectations Run High

Tyla made her Met Gala debut in 2024 in a sculptural sand dress by Balmain, one of the most iconic interpretations of the “Garden of Time” theme. Her commitment to honoring the narrative behind each Met Gala concept makes her one of this year’s most anticipated arrivals. With her early weekend looks already setting a high bar, fashion watchers are eager to see how she tops it all on the Met steps.

Keep your eyes on Tyla — she’s not just attending the Met Gala. She’s redefining its runway.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for real-time coverage and expert breakdowns of Met Gala 2025 red carpet fashion and beyond.