Met gala History: From a museum dinner to a cultural phenomenon

On May 6, the world will be held by the Metro Museum again in the expectation of the first guests in the Year Gala New York. In the last decades, the ball has become a global cultural event that set a fashion agenda from a charity, initiated discussions in social networks and became the main visual manifesto of the season. On the eve of the new ball, we understood how the Met Gala was so effective, and why it was more than just beautiful dresses that set the format and this evening.

What is this event?

In early May, everyone is talking about Met Gala, but not everyone can give a clear definition of the event. For this reason, we understand once and for everyone: the annual aid ball of the Costume Metropolitan Museum Institute in New York, which is traditionally organized on the first Monday of Gala-May. This is done to coincide with the opening of the Exhibition of the Costume Institute and to attract the maximum attention of the press and guests at the beginning of the cultural season of New York. The ball was not only a way to collect money for the needs of the museum, but also the main activity of the year for the fashion industry. So today, the ball of the Costume Institute is a kind of test for fashion history knowledge: not only one outfit is important, but also an idea and compatibility to a particular subject.

Met gala History to Anna Wintour

In the middle of the last century, the first ball was the person who founded the Initiative of Eleanor Lambert, which was called the baptism of the baptism of American fashion ”, and was the person standing at the origins of New York Fashion Week. And in 1948, Eleanor created Met Gala to attract funds and attention to the Costume Institute. Initially, Met Gala was a closed event for a narrow charitable circle and took place in the form of an official dinner. An interesting fact: the event took place in early December at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel or Rainbow Room Restaurant. And the cost of the entrance ticket is only $ 50. It also included a costume rental from the archives of the institute.

Only in 1960, the event took place at the famous Büyük Hall Metro Museum. Since 1972, thanks to Diana Vriland’s influence, the event has become more eye -catching and focused on celebrities. The situation changed significantly in 1995 with the emergence of Anna Wintour, which transformed the ball into a large -scale cultural activity.

What did Anna Wintour change?

The American Vogue’s editor – great and terrible Anna WinTour – in 1995 met Gala. Under his leadership, the ball returned from an event that was elected to a magnificent cultural event that attracted the attention of the whole world. Under Windura, it turned out that the tradition invited Met Gala, one of the most debated social activities of the year, invited the first -sized celebrities and stars. Thanks to its effect, it was prestigious to visit the event, and guests’ clothes were annually the main information breeders in fashion media and social networks.

Exhibitions and clothing code topics

Every year, the costume institution opens an exhibition in which the concept of ball is built. Andrew Bolton is responsible for the subjects of exhibitions, the main curator of the Costume Institute. They are selected on the basis of cultural tendencies, historical anniversary or related fashion problems. At the same time, the met gala dress code can only reflect the subject of the exhibition indirectly. The task of the guests is to interpret the subject and to present your unique reading with a costume.

For example, in 1995, the subject of the ball in 1998 was “Cubism and Fashion”, the White House in 2001 in 2001, the White House in the Kennedy years ”, in 2008“ Super Heroes and Fantasy ”and Met Gala“ Sleep Beales: Mods Wake up ”. In the meantime, we have made a separate material about the most memorable issues of Met Gala in history.

Do you meet the Gala?

You can get an invitation in two ways: to be a celebrity with cultural influence or sponsor of the event, to get a table worth $ 200,000 and above. The final decision is always beyond the editor of the American Vogue Anna Wintour. Who decides who will be invited and who will stay behind the scenes.

Leading committee gala

In addition to Anna Wintour, Met Gala, which includes celebrities, cultural figures and designers, is appointed every year. Considering the relevance and effect of the person, they are selected by WinTour himself. Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Harry Stiles, Serena Williams, Blake Lylyu and other celebrities were the presentations. The main task of the committee members is to help to draw attention to the event and create a public image. For example, this year, this honorary role went to A $ ap Rocky, Farrell Williams, LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton.

Why does Met Gala cause such attention?

Met gala is one of the most important cultural activities of the year. In 2024, the event broke more than 26 million dollars for the Metro Museum and became the largest source of financing for the Costume Institute. Since the beginning of the leadership of Anna Wintour in 1995, the total amount of funds for funds exceeded $ 223.5 million. The organization of the collected funds is sent to the scientific research and training programs of the Institute of Costume, the restoration and protection of historical costumes.

MET Gala is also an important platform for luxury fashion brands. Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Loewe not only sponsor the event, but also dress celebrities, and are widely handled in the media and the same social networks. This cooperation attaches great importance to brands and strengthens its position in the fashion industry. It turns out to unite the elements of art, fashion and charity, which makes it a unique event that attracts the attention of millions of people around the world.