For anyone thinking the glittering crowd at the Met Gala, which takes place on the first Monday in May, had become a bit expected, Anna Wintour held a few surprises up the sleeve of her Louis Vuitton silk evening coat at last week’s event. This year’s guest list highlighted a healthy contingent of first-time attendees, expanding the who’s who of the night to include a variety of A-list athletes and Bollywood stars, as well as the castmembers of The White Lotus‘ white-hot third season.

The night’s dressing theme, “Tailored for You,” impacted the brands seen on the carpet, as a variety of suiting interpretations and their accompanying accessories paid tribute to the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which explores dandyism extending to the 19th century and fashion as an element of Black identity and is now open through Oct. 26.

Ultimately, how did...