History of the Met Gala

After recently watching the Netflix documentary ‘the first Monday in may’, I found a new interest in the Met Gala annual event. I have always seen the social media backlash from the event, the fashion fails and victories of all of our favourite celebrities, however I never realised or put much thought into the event itself, and what a huge staple it is in the fashion calendar.

Events and PR is also an area I am interested in as a job role, and so the documentary gave me a great insight into the behind the scenes of organising such a monumental event.

The costume institute at the met has been around since 1959, and is the core and reason for the Gala.

When Diana Vreeland, prestigious fashion editor, and former editor and chief of vogue got involved with the museum is when the gala was really born. She was tasked with raising awareness and money for the then underestimated and underappreciated costume institute.

The annual event quickly became a big and glamorous fixture in the new York social calendar. The guests always arrived, and much like today's gala had cocktails in their finery and best jewels, the guests would then descend into the met basement to view the exhibit, followed by a dinner and dancing.

The Gala has become much more commercialized and celebrity/media driven in more recent years, however judging by the documentary the glamour and prestige of the event, along with the importance of the exhibit at its core, i think the essence and original goal of the gala still remains. I personally love seeing the gala all over my social media, and cant wait to see how designers interpret this years theme.

A brief look at the galas over the years...

1973: The World of Balenciaga