The history of the Met Gala
May 8, 2015 | by Becky Oeltjenbruns
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Monday was not only Star Wars Day (may the fourth be with you all), it was also the annual Met Gala. As Yoda would tell us, great fashion that night many people had. So what is this gala – other than another flashy red carpet opportunity? This event is primarily a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, but a quick Google search tells us that the focus is really on the fashion and the faces. Anyone who’s anyone has been on the invite list, dating back to the original ball in 1946. This is such a major fashion tradition, yet I don’t really know much about it. So I decided to change that and dig into the history of the Met Gala.
I’m afraid I wasn’t able to find much data on the early years, although I did discover that the event was started by publicist Eleanor Lambert. She was a major force in all areas of artistic expression: representing iconic artists, establishing the Museum of Modern Art, starting the International Best Dressed List, founding the Coty Fashion Critic’s Award, creating NYC Fashion Week, and establishing the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The more fitting question may be – what didn’t Eleanor do? Her passion for supporting American designers and their work took her to far away places, showcasing our unique kind of style for the first time in parts of Europe, Asia, and Australia. In fact, remember our 1973 article on the fashion face off in Versailles? This groundbreaking runway show was her brain child as well. You’d be hard pressed to find a more ardent supporter of the American fashion industry – and it goes without saying that this lady could host a party. The Empress of Fashion’s legacy is pretty inspirational, reminding me that with some determination and hard work one woman can change the course of history. After all, just look at how American designers rocked the world in France all those years ago…
Eleanor Lambert (second from left, back row) & friends meeting Pres. Truman
Let’s leave France and journey to the backdrop for the Met Gala, New York City. A resilient city, filled with resilient people (including the hosts for this gala). This sort of lineage seems especially fitting since under Anna Wintour’s reign the soirée has turned over a cool $145 million into the museum coffers (as well as help launch countless careers). No small feat! But let’s rewind for a moment because this theme of strong women at the helm runs deep.
After Eleanor’s departure, Pat Buckley took over the gala. Keep in mind, the annual affair was successful, but it was largely targeted to the upper echelon of NYC society. (The gala invite list didn’t really “go big” until Diane Vreeland’s YSL show in the 1980s and Anna’s debut role as host in 1995.) But back to Mrs. Buckley. Pat, as you can imagine, was another force to be reckoned with. A towering beauty, she was very determined in whatever she pursued and her focus usually landed on charitable work. She not only cultivated a unique style presence, but like her predecessor, was devoted to America’s progression into the world of elite fashion. Pat was a constant fixture on the International Best Dressed List and was even voted into the Best Dressed Hall of Fame in the mid-1970s.
Looking into the less-distant past, by 1999, Anna Wintour officially took over Met Gala hosting duties. At that point the event followed the same path as Vogue itself – relying more on celebrity icons than high-fashion models to round out the attendance list. Like the hosts before her, Wintour continues to support American designers and sponsor up-and-coming talent. However, some critics feel like the event has shifted toward a more commercial vibe. Since I’ve never attended I can’t weigh in, but I do love drooling over the red carpet photos!
Some Prada inspiration
Since the 1970s, the gala has had an annual theme. You can see a complete list here and it’s fun to look through this list and pretend you’re holding an invite, shaking with excitement as you prepare for a night of glamor. For example, what would you wear to an event themed as Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations? Here are Vogue’s top choices from that 2012 soirée. (My personal favorite is Marion Cotillard in Dior.) Some feel that this year’s event was especially vintage – with an abundance of 1970s-inspired looks rocking the red carpet. We all know that trends repeat, but I think they may be on to something. Do you think the 1970s is the next decade to have a rebirth? While I haven’t really considered the Met Gala to be a lightening rod for change (it seems like Fashion Week would fill this role more fully), but perhaps I’m underestimating it. After all, history has shown this gala is run by disciplined women, whose voices are just as strong as the event itself. As we’ve seen, strong voices surely can set the stage for fashion’s future…
While we consider that big question, take a moment to drool over the 1960 Met Gala red carpet. Whatever the future brings for the Met Gala, it’s easy to see that the organizers’ hard work pays off: the parties are big, fun, and fashionable. Seems like the future of vintage fashion is in good hands, what do you think?