Superfine: Tailoring Black Style Book

A hardcover art and fashion history book tracing three centuries of Black menswear and dandyism, featuring a photo essay and contributions by Monica L. Miller, Andrew Bolton, William DeGregorio, and Amanda Garfinkel.

Hardcover; 372 pages; English-language; published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art; publication date June 2025; ISBN 9781588397997; dimensions 32 cm x 25 cm; photo essay; explores dandyism, Black masculinity, art, literature, and contemporary design.

Material

Cover: Rigid cardboard; Pages: Paper

Style

heritage, editorial, artsy, tailored

Gender

male

Age Group

adult

Condition

new

Category

Media > Books > Print Books

01

Product

Front-facing book cover showing a centered photographic portrait inset on a cream paper cover with gold title text above the image.

• Cover formatSoftcover book photographed flat-on, showing the full front cover with slight shadow at lower left indicating a single flat object on a surface.
  1 region

  x 0.03 · y 0.03 · w 0.94 · h 0.94 (high)
• Title wordmark“Single-line cursive word 'Superfine' printed in metallic gold ink centered near the top of the cover.”
  1 region

  x 0.33 · y 0.06 · w 0.34 · h 0.08 (high)
• Subtitle text“Stacked capital-letter text 'TAILORING BLACK STYLE' in serif-style gold type centered below the cursive title.”
  1 region

  x 0.34 · y 0.12 · w 0.32 · h 0.06 (high)
• Inset portrait photographRectangular photographic image inset approximately centered on the cover showing a waist-up portrait of a dark-skinned model wearing a black tailored jacket and white high-collar shirt against a soft cloudy sky background.
  1 region

  x 0.18 · y 0.20 · w 0.64 · h 0.63 (high)
• Jacket detailsBlack tailored jacket with peaked lapel visible, single-breasted closure, and a decorative round brooch pinned on the left lapel with several small hanging charms.
  1 region

  x 0.34 · y 0.38 · w 0.30 · h 0.30 (high)
• Waist trimHorizontal woven or embroidered ribbon in red, yellow and white stripes encircling the model's waist visible across the lower part of the jacket within the portrait.
  1 region

  x 0.36 · y 0.64 · w 0.26 · h 0.06 (high)
• Shirt collarHigh white shirt collar or blouse with fine textured knit or lace visible above the jacket lapel.
  1 region

  x 0.42 · y 0.34 · w 0.16 · h 0.12 (high)
• Background within portraitSoft painterly cloudy sky with blue and warm beige clouds framing the portrait.
  1 region

  x 0.20 · y 0.20 · w 0.60 · h 0.63 (high)
• Edge shadowSoft drop shadow visible to the lower-left of the book indicating elevation from the background surface.
  1 region

  x 0.00 · y 0.78 · w 0.28 · h 0.22 (medium)

Other

Studio-style product shot on a neutral light gray background with even lighting and no visible props besides the book.

• Shot compositionBook positioned upright, photographed from above-on with the front cover parallel to the camera and centered in frame.
• BackgroundUniform pale gray background filling the frame with even, diffuse lighting and minimal texture.
  1 region

  x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high)
• Lighting qualitySoft, even studio lighting with subtle shadowing along the left and bottom edges of the book.

Colors

warm cream· cover background#C3C3C3metallic gold· title textdeep black· portrait suit#151515soft sky blue· portrait sky#9CB4C3red-yellow stripe· waist ribbon

02

Product

An open hardcover book shown flat; a black-and-white full-bleed photographic portrait spans the two-page spread. Cream-colored board edges and page block are visible around the spread, with a visible center gutter.

• Two-page spreadBook opened flat to a two-page spread showing a single black-and-white photograph that covers both pages and aligns with the paper margins.
  1 region

  x 0.07 · y 0.18 · w 0.86 · h 0.52 (high)
• Center gutterVisible vertical gutter at the book center where the two pages meet, with a slight shadow running along the seam.
  1 region

  x 0.49 · y 0.18 · w 0.01 · h 0.52 (high)
• Hardcover boards and spineCream-colored hardcover boards visible at left and a narrow cream outer board visible at right; top edges of the cover and book block slightly visible.
  2 regions

  x 0.00 · y 0.18 · w 0.06 · h 0.52 (high); x 0.93 · y 0.18 · w 0.07 · h 0.52 (high)
• Photograph contentBlack-and-white group portrait of people standing in rows; figures wear dark suits and hats and are arranged across both pages.
  1 region

  x 0.09 · y 0.20 · w 0.82 · h 0.48 (high)
• Paper finish and marginsPhoto is printed with a white inner margin around it on each page; paper appears matte with even tonal reproduction.
  1 region

  x 0.07 · y 0.18 · w 0.86 · h 0.52 (medium)

Other

Studio-style product shot on a light gray background photographed from above; soft shadow beneath the book; image centered and fully in frame.

• Background and surfaceUniform light gray background with no visible props or texturing.
  1 region

  x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high)
• Lighting and shadowSoft, even studio lighting with a faint diffuse shadow beneath the book, strongest along the lower central area.
  1 region

  x 0.20 · y 0.64 · w 0.60 · h 0.20 (medium)
• Camera angle and framingTop-down view slightly above perpendicular; entire book is visible with margins of background around it.

Colors

black· photograph image area#0E0E0Bbright white· page margins and interior paperwarm cream· cover boards and exposed page block edges#C4C4C5