Halle Berry's risqué met gala gown sparks internet argument about fashion, age and double standards

Halle Berry lit the internet on fire with her bold red carpet appearance at the 2025 Met Gala, fueling a furious fashion debate about ageism, sexism, and the long-standing double standards to which women-most particularly Black women-are held when they appear in the public eye. The 58-year-old Oscar winner turned heads on the red carpet wearing a custom LaQuan Smith dress that blended a cropped tuxedo jacket, show-stopping cutouts, and a sheer lower panel, all topped with a fishnet veil.A gown that polarized the internetBerry's look, which was said to have taken 1,455 hours to craft and included a low-cut bodice topped with first-ever Cartier jewelry, was meant to play with the Met Gala theme of fashion disguise. Although craftsmanship and glamour were unassailable, it was the cutouts and sheer quality of the gown that were at the center of the online buzz.Other fans and fashion writers praised her outfit as "powerful" and "fashion-forward" and complimented Berry on being bold and not afraid to challenge boundaries. Some, however, were not as enamored of the outfit and called it "tasteless," "really risqué," and "attention-seeking." The discussion soon flowed into wider cultural debates about what is acceptable for women-especially women over the age of 50-on the red carpet.Ageism and the policing of women's bodiesA great deal of the criticism centered around Berry's age, with detractors asking whether a woman of her late fifties could possibly wear so revealing an outfit. Social media comments varied from, "Oh my God, I just looked at a photo of Halle Berry, yeah she's too old to do that…" to, "No amount of skilful acting can overcome this embarrassingly clumsy notion that showing so much of oneself is a fashion moment."Fashion insiders and cultural observers were quick to call out the ageist undertones of the backlash. Brooklyn designer Joel Moore-Hagan said that Black women in fashion are held to a "double standard," explaining, "They're either dismissed or over-analyzed. Halle's fashion could have been seen as 'bold' or 'daring' if done by someone like Nicole Kidman or Kim Kardashian. But folks were astonished about Halle."Berry reacts and the broader conversationBerry did not take offense to any of the critiques, defending her appearance with her work with designer LaQuan Smith. Berry shared on Instagram that she felt "privileged to be a muse for @laquan_smith, who fashioned a dress that rose to the occasion to counterbalance the sophistication and strength of this year's theme.Fashion sociologist Joanne Entwistle noted that red carpet female nudity is frequently utilized for shock, with men covered up. "There is a coding in dress, particularly at major events, which has men buttoned up and women showing flesh," she stated.Whereas some labeled Berry's style "unique" and "empowering," others described it as an obvious try to stir things up. However, as one of her fans noted, "Halle gets to wear what she wants, and we can choose to appreciate this goddess or politely smile and say nothing."In the end, the outrage over Halle Berry's Met Gala gown serves not only to highlight shifting fashion trends, but also persistent issues of gender, age, and whose judgment determines what is proper for women in the public eye.