Walton Goggins is checking into the 2025 Met Gala.
The White Lotus star stepped out in New York City May 5 as he made his first-ever appearance at the annual fundraising gala, which benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
For his Met debut, the 53-year-old traded the flowing Hawaiian shirts that became his signature look on the HBO drama series for a flowing black inside-out skirt designed by Thom Browne along with a white shirt and black tie. He completed the fashion-forward look with a long overcoat, which was also inside-out. (See all the stars who graced the museum steps here.)
Attendees at this year’s ball, including his costars Patrick Schwarzenegger and Aimee Lou Wood, were given a “Tailored For You” dress code, which the museum described as being “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation.” The guidelines are meant to help guests embody the event’s theme for 2025—titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”—reflecting the museum’s latest exhibition that highlights the evolution of Black men’s fashion.
Walton’s Met Gala outing kicks off a busy week for the actor, who is set to make his Saturday Night Live hosting debut May 10 alongside musical guest Arcade Fire. Weeks earlier, the late night sketch show featured a spoof of The White Lotus titled “The White POTUS,” and while Walton called the skit “amazzzingggg” on social media, his costar Aimee was less enthused. (She later shared she has received an apology from those at the show.)
“I did find the SNL thing mean and unfunny xo,” the Sex Education alum wrote in an Instagram Stories post in April, responding to her portrayal by cast member Sarah Sherman. The British actress added in a subsequent post, “At least get the accent right seriously.”
“I respect accuracy even if it's mean,” she continued. “Yes, take the piss for sure—that's what the show is about but there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way?”
Keep scrolling to see every star who walked the red carpet at the 2025 Met Gala.
Superfine
The Met Gala 2025 theme is inspired by Monica L. Miller's 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.
The exhibit accompanying this year's party will run at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 10 through October 26.
Prince's Clothes
The Superfine exhibit, per Vogue, is split into 12 sections that "define" dandy style, which include Ownership, Presence, Distinction, Disguise, Freedom, Champion, Heritage, Beauty, Cool, Cosmopolitanism, and "Jook," which refers to clothes with ample space for movement and activity.
On top of his pop legacy, Prince—who died in 2016—left behind an iconic wardrobe full of instantly recognizable prints, colors and silohettes.
Jockey Silks
A jockey suit on display in the exhibit is "possibly the earliest surviving American set," and likely worn by enslaved riders between 1830 and 1850.
The Black Panthers
The exhibit shows how fashion played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly when it came to the Black Panthers' iconic berets.
Black Style Through Time
The Superfine theme is the first Met Gala since 2003 for focus exclusively on menswear.
"Dandy" Style
"Dandyism" means almost excessive attention to the way one dresses, as shown in these elaborate men's suits.
More Menswear
Miller, who also helped curate the exhibit as well as inspiring its theme, told Vogue that each piece of clothing shown is mean to "illustrate how Black people transformed from being enslaved and stylized as luxury items, acquired like any other signifier of wealth and status, to autonomous self-fashioning individuals who are global trendsetters."
Inside the Met Gala 2025
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is decorated for fashion's biggest night of the year.