Manish Malhotra at the Met Gala 2025: Designer, Muse, and the Art of Couture Storytelling

The Met Gala 2025 was a landmark for Indian fashion, and at its center stood Manish Malhotra-not only as a celebrated designer dressing some of the night’s most memorable muses, but as a show-stopping attendee in his own right. This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” called for a dialogue between heritage, dandyism, and the power of tailored expression. Malhotra answered with looks that were as rich in story as they were in craftsmanship, setting a new benchmark for Indian couture on the world’s most prestigious red carpet.

Manish Malhotra: The Attendee-A Dramatic Ode to Indian Craftsmanship

For his own Met Gala debut, Manish Malhotra commanded the blue carpet in a look that was nothing short of a visual symphony. Draped in an elaborate, embroidered cape coat layered over a silk shirt and intricately detailed tie, Malhotra’s ensemble was a masterclass in the grandeur of Indian couture. The cape coat, resplendent with intricate thread work and embellishments, paid homage to South Asian artisanal traditions while seamlessly aligning with the gala’s celebration of Black dandyism.

A standout detail was the golden elephant-face brooch on his overcoat-a subtle yet powerful nod to Indian heritage and symbolism. The look was finished with a crisp white shirt featuring dramatic bishop sleeves, sharply tailored black trousers, and rugged black combat boots that added a contemporary edge. Accessories like silver and emerald-studded brooches on his tie elevated the ensemble further, blending regality with personal flair. Social media and critics alike agreed: Manish Malhotra didn’t just attend-he owned the moment, embodying both the spirit of the theme and the soul of Indian design.

Natasha Poonawalla: “The Empress” in Manish Malhotra-A Couture Manifesto

Natasha Poonawalla’s appearance was, as always, a headline moment-a breathtaking fusion of armor, artistry, and ancestry, meticulously crafted by Manish Malhotra. Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and Lakshmi Lehr, her ensemble was a wearable epic: a corseted, sculptural silhouette that merged traditional Indian Gara embroidery with the structured grandeur of Western tailoring.

At its heart was a reengineered fishtail skirt, crafted from two antique Gara saris-one over a century old-painstakingly restored from Malhotra’s archives. The hand-embroidered surface unfurled like a tapestry, each motif carrying generational wisdom and artisanal precision. Anchoring the look was a sharply tailored black Gara jacket, lined in imperial purple and embroidered using the rare ektaar technique, where a single thread weaves an unbroken design-a poetic symbol of continuity and resistance.

Layered beneath was a vintage French lace bralette, scalloped with pearls, and a corset-cummerbund that echoed the restraint and flair central to dandyism. The pièce de résistance: a theatrical lace cravat by Atelier Biser, detailed with freshwater pearls, framing her face in Renaissance drama. A single oversized emerald ring punctuated the look, while her sleek bun and porcelain makeup radiated controlled magnificence.

Malhotra described the ensemble as “a fusion of armour, artistry, and ancestry”-a living dialogue between East and West, past and present. For Natasha, it was more than a gown; it was a manifesto of heritage, legacy, and the radical elegance of Black dandyism.

Coco Jones in Manish Malhotra: Tailored Elegance with a Modern Twist

Coco Jones, one of the night’s breakout stars, made her Met Gala debut in a custom Manish Malhotra creation that perfectly embodied the event’s theme. Her ensemble featured a tailored cream and white suit jacket with a daring low-cut design, adorned with ornate lace embroidery and pearls-a nod to both Indian craftsmanship and the upscale menswear codes celebrated by the Costume Institute’s “Superfine” exhibition.

The look was completed with coordinating pants and a dramatic long-sleeve coat, all meticulously embroidered. Paired with a statement necklace and Jimmy Choo heels, Jones’s outfit balanced classic tailoring with a fresh, feminine sensibility. Her XXL braid and soft glam makeup added a touch of modern sophistication, while the intricate details of the embroidery and pearl work highlighted Malhotra’s commitment to handcraft and innovation.

The Story Behind the Creations

Manish Malhotra’s Met Gala 2025 contributions were more than fashion-they were cultural storytelling at its finest. For Natasha Poonawalla, he delved into his archives, reviving century-old Gara saris and rare embroidery techniques to create a look that was both ancestral and avant-garde. For Coco Jones, he reimagined the codes of dandyism through the lens of Indian couture, proving that tailoring can be both timeless and boundary-pushing.

As an attendee, Malhotra’s own ensemble was a tribute to the power of Indian artisanship and the global relevance of South Asian design. Each look-whether worn by himself, Natasha Poonawalla, or Coco Jones-was a testament to his vision: fashion as heritage, as innovation, and as a living, breathing work of art.

In summary: Manish Malhotra’s presence at the Met Gala 2025-both as a designer and as a muse-was a defining moment for Indian fashion on the world stage, weaving together legacy, artistry, and the radical spirit of tailored self-expression