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The Bags That Should’ve Walked the Met Gala 2025
by Thea Elle | May 7, 2025 | Style Guide
The 2025 Met Gala was more than a red carpet—it was a cultural meditation in wool, silk, and structure. With “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” as the theme, this year’s gathering turned the iconic steps of the Met into a showcase of precision, pride, and power. Attendees embraced the narrative of Black excellence through tailoring that honored both heritage and innovation. The drama of the night wasn’t in the volume of a skirt but in the strength of a shoulder line, the sharpness of a lapel, the way a jacket could speak volumes without uttering a word.
But one thing remained notably absent: the handbag. While it’s customary for attendees to forgo bags due to logistical reasons (where do you place a purse in an architectural gown?), fashion lovers can’t help but imagine what these looks would’ve felt like with the perfect piece in hand. Because when fashion is storytelling, even the smallest detail matters.
Here, we imagine three standout red carpet moments, re-completed with the right luxury bags. From the sculptural discipline of HERMÈS to the Parisian polish of DIOR and the heritage flair of LOUIS VUITTON, these are the accessories that would’ve deepened the narrative, not distracted from it.
Teyana Taylor and the Case for HERMÈS
Teyana Taylor delivered one of the night’s most commanding appearances, swathed in a crimson look that was more than fashion—it was force. Designed by Taylor herself, the ensemble embraced clean architectural cuts and sculptural energy, evoking the feel of red-hot armor. It wasn’t just about looking beautiful. It was about owning space, challenging softness, and embodying control.
A look like this calls for a handbag that matches its precision and bold restraint. Enter the HERMÈS Kelly Cut in Rouge H Shiny Alligator. With its elongated silhouette, minimalist closure, and deep burgundy hue, the Kelly Cut has the kind of quiet danger and elegance that speaks to Taylor’s aesthetic. Its form mirrors the sharp geometry of her gown, while the luxurious texture of alligator skin whispers of power rather than proclaiming it.
Held like a blade—sleek, purposeful, and deliberate—the Kelly Cut wouldn’t just sit in her palm. It would belong to her. The kind of accessory that doesn’t decorate a look but heightens its message: elegance can be sharp, and glamour can double as strength.
Zendaya’s White Silence Speaks Volumes
Zendaya walked the Met Gala carpet in a study of controlled minimalism—a white three-piece LOUIS VUITTON suit that flipped the idea of red-carpet dressing on its head. It was crisp, commanding, and completely void of excess. No embroidery. No train. Just clean tailoring and fierce intent. In a sea of avant-garde embellishment, she made stillness radical.
For a look this refined, the accessory must be equally intelligent. The DIOR 30 Montaigne Avenue Bag in Box Calfskin fits the bill perfectly. Its geometric structure and smooth leather surface reflect the discipline of her tailoring, while the subtle CD clasp adds a quiet luxury that doesn’t need to announce itself. It’s the kind of bag that speaks in silence, just like Zendaya’s look.
Picture her holding it low by her side, or tucked with casual confidence under her arm. The bag would have functioned less as an adornment and more as a punctuation mark—an exclamation of intentionality. Not flashy, not loud. Just assured. A piece that underscores the message that real fashion power lies in what you choose to withhold.
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Janelle Monáe and the Bag That Thinks
Janelle Monáe has never simply worn clothes—she constructs characters. This year, her Met Gala appearance was no exception. Dressed in a Thom Browne look that played with time, deconstruction, and surrealism, she transformed the carpet into a theater of ideas. The outfit was filled with meaning and movement, a sartorial dialogue that blended menswear, metaphysics, and fantasy.
For a look this thoughtful, only an accessory with narrative weight would do. The LOUIS VUITTON Petite Malle in Black Epi Leather would be a natural fit. Modeled after LV’s original travel trunks, it carries a sense of motion, memory, and legacy. Its structural rigidity and signature brass hardware would complement the mechanical flourishes of her Thom Browne design, while its compact form and fine grain texture would bring balance to the look’s conceptual complexity.
This is more than a bag—it’s a vessel for imagination. The Petite Malle in Janelle’s hands wouldn’t simply hold items. It would hold meaning, doubling as a visual metaphor for the journey she invites us on with every red carpet appearance.
Rihanna and the Absence of the Iconic
Rihanna’s no-show at the 2025 Met Gala was one of the night’s biggest heartbreaks, especially for fans who have come to expect her to be the event’s fashion climax. Known for commanding the carpet with larger-than-life ensembles—from Guo Pei to Maison Margiela—Rihanna never does subtle. Yet if she had walked this year, her presence would’ve demanded a bag that could stand next to her grandeur without being swallowed whole.
Enter the CHANEL Métiers d’Art Evening Bag—an ornamental piece steeped in legacy and craftsmanship. With its delicate beadwork, structured mini silhouette, and metallic handle, this bag carries the quiet power of haute couture. It’s not simply CHANEL—it’s CHANEL in celebration of the artisans behind the seams, which would’ve beautifully mirrored the night’s focus on heritage and the unseen labor behind tailoring.
Imagine Rihanna draped in a sharply tailored couture ensemble with this bag gently clasped in one hand. It would’ve signaled her unmatched ability to blend spectacle with sincerity. In her hands, the Métiers d’Art bag wouldn’t just be an accessory—it would have served as a tribute to the makers, the message, and the magic of fashion storytelling.
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Lupita Nyong’o and the Call for Color
Lupita Nyong’o has always been a red carpet visionary. Her ability to blend vibrant colors, cultural nods, and refined elegance made her a perfect canvas for this year’s Met Gala theme. Had she appeared in a brightly tailored look—perhaps a jewel-toned, sculptural suit or a sharply cut gown in sapphire or emerald—her ensemble would have welcomed an equally bold accessory to balance its intensity.
The BOTTEG VENETA Sardine Bag in Intrecciato Leather would have been a vibrant match. Known for its sculptural metal handle and signature woven leather, the Sardine is both a modern icon and a conversation piece. In an unexpected color—like electric blue or chartreuse—it would’ve harmonized with Lupita’s fearless style. Its unusual form would serve both form and function, acting as jewelry and utility in one.
More than that, the Sardine bag speaks to modern luxury with an edge. It’s bold without being brash, innovative without forgetting its roots. That’s exactly what Lupita brings to every red carpet appearance: reverence and rebellion wrapped into one powerful aesthetic. This bag, like her, dares to be both.
A$AP Rocky and the Unexpected Tote
A$AP Rocky is known for redefining menswear. His ability to blur lines between streetwear and high fashion makes him one of the most compelling style icons of our time. For this year’s Met Gala theme, he could have embraced a sharply tailored, genderless ensemble—perhaps an oversized wool coat, pleated trousers, and layered pearls—merging hip-hop history with Savile Row swagger.
To pair with this vision? The LOEWE Puzzle Fold Tote in Suede and Calfskin. This isn’t your typical evening clutch—but that’s precisely why it works. In a soft tan or moss green, it offers structure without stiffness, luxury without pretense. The Puzzle’s deconstructed panels and geometric shape mirror the complex textures of Rocky’s usual fashion statements—never predictable, always directional.
Carried casually or folded under one arm, it would have added a utilitarian twist to his otherwise refined tailoring. With Rocky, it’s never just about what’s trendy—it’s about what feels authentic. And the LOEWE Puzzle Tote would have been the perfect punctuation mark to his version of tailored rebellion.
A performance piece turned red carpet look.
Cardi B and the Drama of Detail
Cardi B is not afraid to go all in. Whether it’s feathers, beading, or full-blown architecture, she understands the value of spectacle on the Met Gala steps. For 2025, a tailored corseted gown in midnight velvet with a flowing train would’ve played into both the theme and her signature opulence. But to balance the grandeur, she would’ve needed something structured, compact, and couture-level refined.
The FENDI First Medium in Black Crocodile Leather would be that grounding element. Its oversized F clasp is graphic yet elegant, and the crocodile texture adds a level of gravitas that matches the craftsmanship of couture. The bag’s asymmetrical design introduces a quiet quirkiness that balances Cardi’s bold presence.
Carried in a gloved hand or resting dramatically on her hip, the Fendi First would’ve done more than accessorize. It would underscore the story Cardi tells every time she shows up: that luxury can be loud, but never loses its artistry. She’s proof that drama and discipline can live in the same silhouette—and this bag would’ve echoed that sentiment in full.
Why the Right Bag Still Matters
In a world where handbags are often deemed impractical for high fashion events, their deeper purpose is sometimes overlooked. But the finest ones—crafted with intention and imbued with history—do more than complete an outfit. They amplify it. They bring dimension, narrative, and tension to a look. A structured suit becomes sharper with a contrasting texture. A bold gown becomes more mysterious with a complementary silhouette in hand.
LOUIS VUITTON, HERMÈS, and DIOR are not just fashion houses. They are stewards of design legacy. Their bags are not mere ornaments—they are instruments of style. Imagining them at the Met Gala isn’t frivolous. It’s a way to see how form meets function, how design can deepen an already resonant fashion moment.
Because when fashion is storytelling, nothing is accidental. A well-chosen bag doesn’t just sit quietly in a hand. It completes the sentence. It deepens the tone. It reminds us that in fashion—just like in poetry—every word, every detail, every pause matters.