North West Did Not Attend the 2025 Met Gala Despite Helping Mom with Preparations – Here’s Why

On May 5, 2025, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars stepped out dressed to the nines to attend this year’s Met Gala in New York City. Among them was Kim Kardashian, who dazzled in an all-black ensemble. Kardashian’s eldest daughter, North West, who was involved in the outfit preparations with her mom, did not join Kardashian because of a strict policy instilled by Met Gala guru Anna Wintour.

Kardashian’s Met Gala look was a bold interpretation of the night’s “Tailored for You” dress code, aligning with the 2025 gala’s emphasis on menswear and sharp suiting.

The theme accompanied the debut of the museum’s latest exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a tribute to the cultural impact of Black dandyism, inspired by Monica L. Miller’s acclaimed book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.”

Kardashian turned heads in a striking black leather ensemble by Chrome Hearts — a sculpted, form-fitting bodice and skirt featuring intricate crocodile embossing, a dramatic asymmetrical shoulder detail, and a floor-sweeping train.

The look was cinched with a belted waist and adorned with cascading pearl chains, adding movement and texture.

She accessorized the look with layered diamond necklaces and a matching statement ring, while a wide-brimmed leather hat angled low over her eyes brought an air of mystery.

The back of the dress revealed a daring cut-out, exposing her toned back, and further punctuating the look’s edgy sophistication.

Inside the venue, Kardashian was photographed alongside fellow fashion risk-taker and musical star Doja Cat, who also leaned into the theme’s expressive aesthetic, donning a bold, structured bodysuit and blazer with exaggerated shoulders. She combined pinstripe detailing with a fierce animal print corset.

While Kim Kardashian made a solo grand entrance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, her daughter played a major role in the evening’s buildup — just not on the red carpet.

The 11-year-old joined her mom on the ride to the gala but did not enter the event due to a long-standing age restriction reportedly enforced by Wintour, which limits guests to those 18 and older. Still, West made sure her presence was felt.

She appeared fully glammed in bold blue waist-length braids and a black, white, and brown cow-print ensemble, complete with a furry jacket, shorts, oversized necklaces, and chunky sneakers.

On their shared TikTok account, the mother-daughter duo posted two videos capturing their pre-gala excitement. In the first, they playfully zoomed the camera back and forth in front of their faces, while wearing casual loungewear before the clip jumped to a striking reveal of their full looks.

Another video featured West filming herself singing along to a song while riding in a car, eventually turning the camera to her mom, who stood beside her receiving last-minute touch-ups from her glam team.

Though she didn’t step onto the Met steps, West’s playful energy and fashion-forward look left a memorable digital footprint.

West’s mom’s Met Gala appearance comes over two months after another fashion moment caused a commotion online when she appeared in a steamy campaign for her clothing brand SKIMS.

While the campaign turned heads, it also sparked debate, with netizens drawing comparisons between Kardashian and her ex-husband’s wife, Bianca Censori.

In the images, Kardashian’s slicked-back hairstyle and minimalistic, skin-tight outfit immediately reminded people of Censori’s recent fashion choices. Some netizens speculated whether the resemblance was intentional or merely a coincidence.

One netizen commented, “She literally looks exactly like Bianca Censori..does she want to get back together with Kanye?” Another echoed the sentiment, “Same hairstyle even. Wow.” An observer on Instagram wrote, “Please don’t give him the pleasure of you imitating his new wife 😔.”

The conversation continued with another remarking, “New face dropped, she just cloned Bianca Censori,” while someone else quipped, “Alright, Bianca wannabe.”

Others expressed shock, with one person writing, “This does not look like kim??? [sic]” and another simply asking, “Bianca? Is that you?”

Additional comments fueled the debate, as one person questioned, “Trying to look like Censori, why???” Another remarked, “I’m seeing double,” while a third simply stated, “Twins.”

Kardashian is no stranger to attracting wide-scale public attention for her style. Like her SKIMS campaign, she also made daring and bold fashion choices with her 2025 Met Gala look.