As another Met Gala approaches, WWD looks at the history of the coveted event since it started in 1948.
How did the Met Gala start?
The first Met Gala was a dinner held that December, with tickets going for $50 each. From its creation until 1971, the event was not held in the Met as it is today, but in venues such as Central Park, the Rainbow Room and the Waldorf Astoria.The event started off as a fundraiser for the Costume Institute, serving as an opening celebration for its annual exhibit. After the Met Gala, the exhibit is in the museum for several months.
It was during Vreeland’s tenure the event started being held at the Met and themes for the galas were introduced. Instead of making it a typical charity event, Vreeland turned it into more of a party. It was not until 2004, when the theme was “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century,” that the Met Gala became an event with more elaborate costume moments. Notably, actress Amber Valletta wore a Marie Antoinette-meets-punk rock look that year, with a nude corset by Maggie Norris Couture and skirt by John Galliano, complete with an 18th-century hairstyle.
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