tailored by her: june ambrose and the language of menswear

i’ve been sitting with my feelings about the met gala for a while now.
what started as a night i once looked forward to—the spectacle, the beauty, the storytelling—now feels heavier. maybe it’s the noise, the pressure, the way joy gets swallowed by critique.

i do think the gala—when done right—is a real opportunity. to honor the theme, to pay respects and get creative in a way that prompts conversation and preserves culture. it’s one of the rare nights where fashion history takes center stage and personal style can become a political, artistic, or an emotional statement.

but let’s be real—it’s also a battleground.

interpretation gets flattened into approval ratings. a look that could’ve meant something personal or subversive gets lost in the feed. and not everyone uses the platform to its full potential. not everyone is that girl.

still, i can’t help but hold space for the people who do show up with thoughtfulness and intention. the ones who tell a story. the ones who build a world. and when i think of someone who’s been doing exactly that for decades—often behind the scenes—i think of june ambrose.

iconic costume designer, stylist and creative director - june’s hands and mind have been a titan force in not only american but global pop culture.

this year’s met gala theme, superfine: tailoring Black style, is setting the stage for celebration by the way Black culture has shaped and elevated tailoring—not just in fashion, but in film, music, and personal identity.

when talking about the narrative arc of menswear in popular culture, she is responsible for giving it its most unforgettable chapters.

for decades, june has been the mastermind behind some of pop culture’s most iconic figures—styling the biggest names in entertainment and ushering in a new era of luxury, taste, and storytelling for a generation.

with jay-z in the 2000s, she created a visual language of grown-man elegance. for so many, first lessons in tailoring, fabric, and american luxury did not come from textbooks or runways, but from hip-hop lyrics and music videos. from armani to tom ford to purple label, jay-z wore and rapped about these designers he wore with pride. and it was june who chose them.

i think her work has helped marked a pivotal shift in how Black masculinity was visualized. 90s hip-hop had its own raw, rebellious uniform—but the 2000s ushered in a new era of soft elegance. thinking of jay-z’s grace in the "excuse me miss" video, or his soft suiting in “change clothes.”

in a way, the 2000s sparked a wave of Black men stepping into a different era of dandyism- as as sort of a reclamation of fun and flair. fonzworth bentley’s three-piece suits and iconic umbrella, or andre 3000 in ruffled shirts and velvet blazers. expressive, bold and light.

the suit became armor, love letter, and status symbol all at once. and june’s touch gave it nuance, play, and polish. it’s not just about who you’re wearing but why you’re wearing it.

even just thinking about belly—a film that is beyond iconic —reminds me why june’s work matters so much. and honestly help stamp her as a creative genius. she wasn’t just the costume designer; she was it’s masterful visual storyteller. the poster alone radiates a kind of magnetic calm. DMX and nas in crisp suits, glowing like they’re lit from within - almost angelic. tailoring can often feel intimidating or rigid, but here, it’s almost inviting—as if they’re stepping into a conversation, not a confrontation. june knows how to make a man look his best, not just in clothes, but in presence.

and maybe what makes it all even more telling is that behind so many of these defining images—these iconic, era-shifting visions—there’s often a Black woman masterfully shaping the moment (often quietly). june is just another example of what we’ve always known: Black women are the creative architects in culture. the ones who bring ingenuity, instinct, and unmatched taste that inspire communities globally and generations to come.

that’s what makes this year’s met gala theme feel so personal. “tailored for you” isn’t just about fit—it’s about authorship. about the people who’ve used style and fashion to write themselves into history. june has always done that, not just for herself, but for those she’s built images for, the culture she’s amplified, and the legacies she’s helped build. she’s not just adjacent to the theme—she’s part of its DNA.

i’m excited to sit back and see how guests interpret the theme this year—and i’ll be thinking of june the whole time and i hope others will too. i highly recommend deep diving into interviews with her and getting into more of what she’s created - not just with jay-z but missy, busta rhymes - she truly is a cultural titan.