Put on your boldest fashionable look and prepare to celebrate Black high style in Toronto at Nia Centre’s Met Gala-inspired party, Stylin’ Out: The Dandy Within, and keep reading for a chance to win free tickets!
On May 10, the charitable organization will gather beauty lovers across the city, including fashion designers, stylists, tailors, models, hairstylists, photographers and more for a major party inspired by the world’s biggest night in fashion—The Met Gala.
Stylin’ Out will open with an eye-opening discussion led by Toronto-based Founder and Creative Director of L’Uomo Strano Mic. Carter and founder of menswear company DAVID ZALA / ZALAHARI’s David Ezomoh. They will speak on their personal experiences in the creative industry, and journey using fashion as a social critique.
“I’m truly honoured to be in conversation with Nia Centre for Styling Out: The Dandy Within to talk all things MET Gala and my current project, DEAD NAME, a collection informed by ongoing work centering Black trans liberation, the politics of adornment, and the radical potential of dandyism,” Carter said.
“It draws from a legacy of self-styled resistance—fops, dandies, and darling blacks—and reimagines fashion as a meta-object of survival, subversion, and joy. I’m excited to share pieces shaped by community, theory, and futurity in this space,” he added.
The audience will also have a chance to interact with the artists, as they lead a collective chat with insights on some of the Met looks.
The conversation will be followed by an amazing fashion presentation, featuring Carter and Ezomoh’s carefully selected pieces and accessories to reflect the theme of the night.
“Through my work with David Zala, I’m committed to preserving the tradition of impeccable tailoring while infusing it with contemporary edge and cultural depth,” Ezomoh said in a statement.
“I’m genuinely excited to be part of Stylin’ Out, not only to showcase some of our signature pieces, but to contribute to a collective celebration of Black creativity and style. Events like this are vital, because they give us space to reflect on how fashion is tied to history, resistance, and joy,” he added.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to mix and mingle with big names in the fashion industry, in an exclusive mixer with local Black fashion professionals.
The big night’s looks are based on the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” inspired by Black Dandyism, explored in Monica L. Miller’s Slaves to Fashion book. The concept describes the way the Black men and women use carefully-crafted elections on their personal style to reflect their identities.
Attendees are encouraged to match the theme and wear their grandest and sharpest outfit that can capture their identity and are ready to be seen! Come prepared and smile for the cameras, as the event will feature a black carpet with photographers capturing each look and reporters on site to host mock interviews with the attendees about their outfits and inspiration.
The Nia Centre for the Arts works to promote Black artistic expression since 2008.
Located in Toronto’s historic Little Jamaica neighbourhood, the centre supports Black artists, youth and community members across the city by offering them a space to showcase their work and further develop their talents through workshops, development programs and public art showcases.
In 2023, the non-profit organization’s headquarters went through a $12,000,000 renovation in its 4,000 sq. ft. facility and re-opened its doors to Toronto’s Black artistic community as Canada’s first professional multi-disciplinary centre focused on Black art.
Nia Centre now offers Torontonians access to Black art year-round in a performance space with a 150-people capacity, digital media lab and an event space and art studio.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
The event will take place on Saturday, May 10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and general admission tickets are available here, starting at $22. Torontonians can also purchase same-day tickets starting on May 9, for $27.
Now Toronto is also partnering with Nia Centre to give away a pair of free Stylin’ Out tickets to a lucky winner! To enter the giveaway, fill out this form, and good luck!
For rules and regulations, click here.
