Fundraiser to fashion’s biggest night: How the Met Gala started

Met Gala is known as fashion’s biggest night and is a core social event that sees several celebrities attending. However, it wasn’t always a star-studded affair. In fact, the Met Gala at the start was rooted in humble origins. 

History of the Met Gala:

The Met Gala began in 1948 when fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert led the Costume Institute Benefit. The event only became the Met Gala we know today, in the 1970s. It began to take shape when Diana Vreeland, the Vogue editor in chief, came on board as a consultant with the Costume Institute. 

Then in 1995, Anna Wintour became the new editor in chief of the fashion magazine, which once again changed the course of the gala. 

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When Lambert had started it, she wanted to raise funds for the institute and mark the beginning of its annual exhibit. However, the earlier Met Gala dinners were held in December and weren’t at the Museum of Metropolitan Art like today. It used to be held in venues like Central Park, the Rainbow Room and the Waldorf Astoria. 

Initially, the Met Gala was started for the exhibit which remained in the museum several months after the event. To this day, the gala remains one of the largest fundraising events in New York City. 

Let’s get this party started:

Vreeland’s time at the Met Gala turned it into a party with a more exclusive guest list including the likes of Elton John, Cher, and Andy Warhol. Themes were also introduced around this time, transforming the initial charity event into a star-studded social gathering.

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Wintour took over as chairperson in 1995 and changed the Met Gala from being held in December to the month of May. Whilst it was earlier a cocktail hour followed by dinner, it became an event with hors d’oeuvres.