Halle Berry attends the 2025 Met Gala. Credit :

John Salangsang/BEI/Shutterstock 

• Halle Berry donned a striped mesh and black LaQuan Smith gown with a Cartier High Jewelry necklace that took over 1,000 hours to make
• Smith described the outfit to Vogue as “a mix of sexy Bond girl meets Harlem Renaissance.” She paired the ensemble with a cropped tuxedo jacket, black net veil and black strappy heels
• Berry made her Met Gala debut in 2017 in a design by Donatella Versace

Halle Berry has arrived at the 2025 Met Gala!

Berry, 58, posed for photographers on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a head-turning sheer-and-black-striped gown designed by LaQuan Smith.

The scoop-necked gown featured a combo of sheer mesh fabric with black embroidered beads, which Smith described to Vogue as “a mix of sexy Bond girl meets Harlem Renaissance.” She paired it with a cropped tuxedo jacket, black net veil and black strappy heels.

Smith, who also dressed Ciara for the event, revealed that their combined looks took over 2,000 hours and over three months to create.

“I’ve always been inspired by the essence of Harlem Renaissance and this jazzy era,” Smith tells PEOPLE exclusively of his design for Berry, who returns to the gala after a seven-year hiatus.

“For me, sharp tailoring and an exaggerated shoulder is what I’ve always been incorporating in my collections,” the designer added. “I love the ’80s as well, and the fearlessness of Josephine Baker, so I think that you’re going to be able to get some of the essence of all of those notes through the design.”

Halle Berry attends the 2025 Met Gala. Jamie McCarthy/Getty 

Berry also donned silver Cartier High Jewelry, and in particular the Cartier Tsagaan snow leopard necklace, which featured over 31 carats of diamonds and took over 1,000 hours to make, according to Vogue. She paired it with matching earrings, which also took over 300 hours to make.

“When Lindsay [Flores, my stylist] and I were exploring options for tonight, we felt that the clean, geometric lines and the stark contrast of the onyx against the white gold and diamonds really lent themselves to the theme,” Berry said.

“It’s the consideration for these smallest details–understanding how we can bring elements of sharp tailoring into every aspect of the look–that makes the Met Gala such an exciting event to be a part of,” she added.

In October 2024, Vogue shared details on the 2025 Met Gala, announcing that Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Anna Wintour would co-chair the event, alongside LeBron James as honorary chair. The gala, which is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on the first Monday in May, is a fundraiser for The Costume Institute and spotlights the museum’s spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the theme for the gala.

Curator in Charge Andrew Bolton said that the exhibit, which is inspired by guest curator Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, explores “the Black dandy as both a concept and an identity signifier.”

The exhibit “presents a cultural and historical examination of Black style from the 18th century to the present through an exploration of the concept of dandyism,” according to a post on the museum’s Instagram.

The Met Gala’s dress code for this year is “Tailored for You,” a nod to the exhibition’s focus on menswear and suiting. This year’s event also has a star-studded host committee that includes Simone Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens, Doechii, Regina King, Spike Lee, Usher and Angel Reese.

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Berry winner has worked with Smith in the past, giving him credit for an April 2021 monochromatic moment.

“When the pants so dope, you don’t need a top. thank you @laquan_smith,” she captioned an Instagram post at the time. 

In the photo, Berry stood outdoors wearing brown LaQuan Smith Ninja Joy Nylon Tie Pants, which retail for $795. 

The garment features an elastic waistband and is made of technical nylon fabrication and has a relaxed fit. There are also functional zippers at the thighs that can be vented, creating an edgy draped effect. 

She paired the pants with a lace bra of the same color, and her honey blonde hair was styled in curtain bangs and curls that framed her face as she looked towards the sun, basking in the light with her eyes closed. 

Halle Berry at the 2017 Met Gala. Jackson Lee/Getty; Jackson Lee/Getty

Berry’s first Met Gala was in 2017 when she wore an intricate sheer, curve-hugging black jumpsuit by Donatella Versace.

That year, the Costume Institute celebrated the theme “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.”

The Catwoman star hit the mark, going between sexy in the front and a dramatic train accented in metallic gold appliqués that cascaded down the carpet, as shown in a series of Instagram photos before the main event.

“Simple hair by Castillo. Tonight, it’s all about the fashion,” Berry captioned another photo, this one a close-up of her hair being pulled back in a whimsical bun adorned with a headpiece. 

She accessorized with Swarovski earrings.

That night, she also took photos with Nicki Minaj, who captioned their social media snapshot, “Did anyone call for a legend? Omg. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👑 .”

Halle Berry at the 2002 Oscars. SGranitz/WireImage

Berry has long since been known for her style, so much so that her 2002 Oscars gown was put on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles in March 2023.

The deep red design, which she later rewore in 2024, features a mesh bodice adorned with cascading floral appliqués as well as a silky asymmetrical skirt.

When she originally wore the gown, she became the first Black actress to win Best Actress for her performance in Monster’s Ball.

Halle Berry at the 2025 Oscars. David Fisher/Shutterstock

“Not only will this historic @eliesaabworld gown remain in the expert care of the museum’s curators and conservators, but it will also be accessible to generations of people for whom the dress also holds meaning and forever be a reminder that all things are possible. Thank you @academymuseum!” she wrote via Instagram at the time.

More recently, Berry sparkled at the 2025 Oscars when she wore a strapless, shattered mirror gown with 7,000 beads and mirrored pieces, designed by Christian Siriano.

The form-fitting garment had sheer panels running down her legs.

Berry completed her look with Pomellato Jewelry and wore her hair in a sleek, flipped-out bob.

Catch all the minute-by-minute fashion updates from the 2025 Met Gala red carpet right here!