And just like that, Jaden Smith reminded us that his mind? Not of this world.
The 2025 Met Gala carpet was already a buffet of tailored excellence, and just when we thought we were full, in floats Jaden in a single-breasted black suit and a headpiece that made us all collectively say: “Wait, what?” But like, in a good way. An art school thesis kind of way. The kind of look that doesn’t whisper fashion—it screams it while sculpting something wild around your hairline.
Let’s break it down: The suit? Clean. Sharp lapels, black-on-black tie situation, platform loafers that add the right touch of weird flex. Over his shoulders, a black-and-white checkered shawl (because Jaden can never be just tailored—he has to add a plot twist). But the crown jewel? That intricate wire headpiece wrapped around his braids and face like an architectural daydream or a kinetic art project mid-sentence. It was giving: Met Gala meets Blade Runner meets “don’t talk to me unless you’ve meditated today.”
This isn’t Jaden’s first time treating his head like a gallery wall. You might remember the gothic castle headpiece from the 2025 Grammys—the one that looked like Dracula had a penthouse in his curls. And yes, that was also a moment. The man is literally building a résumé of legendary headgear.
This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” was all about Black dandyism, suiting, and the audacity to show out. Jaden took that and ran with it into the surreal. Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s Slaves to Fashion, the exhibit looks at how style—especially menswear—has been used as identity, resistance, and performance in the Black diaspora. Jaden showing up in a structured look with a chaotic, poetic headpiece? That’s basically the thesis statement in human form.
And can we talk lineage for a sec? The Smith siblings have been shutting down Met Galas since 2016. Willow came through in 2024 with a braided crown that could double as a sculpture, styled by the genius Vernon François, who pulled references from the Mangbetu tribe. Cultural homage with edge? This is what we mean by fashion with purpose.
Meanwhile, Jaden once walked the Met carpet carrying a bundle of his own dreadlocks. Yes, really. He’s been building this fashion mythology piece by piece, and the wire maze on his head this year is just the latest chapter. Some people wear fashion. Jaden inhabits it. Or maybe it inhabits him. Who knows.
What we do know is: tailoring might’ve been the dress code, but once again, Jaden Smith didn’t just get dressed. He created a wearable thesis on expression, futurism, and selfhood. And he looked unbothered doing it.
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