The Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Gala and also known as the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit.[5] Each year's event celebrates the theme of that year's Costume Institute exhibition, and the exhibition sets the tone for the formal dress of the night, since guests are expected to choose their fashion to match the theme of the exhibit.
The Met Gala was established in 1948 by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as a way to raise money for the newly-founded Costume Institute and mark the opening of its annual exhibit. The first gala was a midnight dinner and tickets were fifty dollars each.[6] For the first few decades of its existence the gala was simply one of many annual benefits held for New York charitable institutions. Accordingly, the attendees of the early galas were almost entirely members of New York high society or the fashion industry. From 1948 to 1971, the event was held at venues including the Waldorf-Astoria, Central Park, and Rainbow Room.[7]
When former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland became consultant to the Costume Institute in 1972, the Gala began to evolve into a more glamorous affair, although one that was still aimed at the societal set.[8] The event started to become more celebrity-oriented with attendees like Andy Warhol, Diana Ross, and Cher intermixing with the city's elite.[9] It was during the Vreeland years that the Gala was first held at the Met and that Gala themes were introduced.[10] By the time Vreeland died in 1989, the Met Gala was well known as a luxurious, blockbuster event and was considered "the jewel in New York City's social crown
When former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland became consultant to the Costume Institute in 1972, the Gala began to evolve into a more glamorous affair, although one that was still aimed at the societal set.[8] The event started to become more celebrity-oriented with attendees like Andy Warhol, Diana Ross, and Cher intermixing with the city's elite.[9] It was during the Vreeland years that the Gala was first held at the Met and that Gala themes were introduced.[10] By the time Vreeland died in 1989, the Met Gala was well known as a luxurious, blockbuster event and was considered "the jewel in New York City's social crown
Institute Gala is a major fundraising benefit that serves as an opening celebration for the Institute's annual fashion exhibit.[13][14] Following the event, the exhibition runs for several months. The 2014 exhibition was scheduled to run from May 8 until August 10, 2014.[15] The Gala is widely regarded as one of the most exclusive social events in the world and one of the biggest fundraising nights in New York City, with US$9 million raised in 2013 and a record of $12 million the following year.[16][17][18][19] It is one of the most notable sources of funding for the Institute.[20] The affair, attended by personalities from the arts, fashion, high-society, film, and music, has been held at the Met since 1948[21] and is considered to be the fashion industry's premier annual red carpet event.[14][22][23][24][25][26] Its red carpet fashions are widely photographed, reviewed, critiqued, and emulated.[27][28][29][30] The museum is closed to the general public on the first Monday of May due to the gala occurring.[31]
Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief and a chair of the event since 1995 (excluding 1996 and 1998), oversees both the benefit committee and the guest list, with Vogue staffers helping assemble the list of invitees.[5][23] In 2014, the individual tickets cost US$30,000 for those outside the official guest list, after prices were raised by $10,000 to increase the exclusivity of the event.[32][23][33] The annual guest list is limited to approximately 650 or 700 people
Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief and a chair of the event since 1995 (excluding 1996 and 1998), oversees both the benefit committee and the guest list, with Vogue staffers helping assemble the list of invitees.[5][23] In 2014, the individual tickets cost US$30,000 for those outside the official guest list, after prices were raised by $10,000 to increase the exclusivity of the event.[32][23][33] The annual guest list is limited to approximately 650 or 700 people
