The Met Gala red carpet through the years
Fashion’s Biggest Night! While stars are turning heads on the Met Gala red carpet these days, the annual event began with humble beginnings.
The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City began in 1948. Publicist Eleanor Lambert came up with the idea of raising money for the Costume Institute’s newly opened exhibit. The gala included a midnight dinner at a special NYC location. Tickets were $50 a head back then. The event continued over the following years and had multiple venues around the Big Apple including the Waldorf-Astoria, Central Park and the Rainbow Room.
However, in 1972 former Fashion Editor-in-Chief Diana Vreeland became a consultant for the Costume Institute and decided to shake things up. The fashion columnist transformed the soirée into a glamorous occasion by incorporating themes that matched the show’s latest offering. Cher, Elton-John, Diana Ross and other A-listers attended the annual gala, cementing it as one of the most prominent and exclusive social events in the world.
In her second year as a consultant, the concept of the Celebrity and Socialite Cochairs was born. Most prominent was Jacqueline Kennedy – who attended the event annually – who served as co-chair in 1976 and 1977.
In 1995, Fashioncurrent editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, came on board as the chairman of the exhibition. In that role, she oversaw staging and the guest list for the star-studded affair – which takes place on the first Monday in May. Since 1997, Wintour has served as co-chair for every Met Gala that has taken place, except in 2021, when the fashion icon stepped down and took on the role of honorary co-chair for the first time.
Today, the Met Gala is the largest fundraiser night for the historical museum. A ticket to the glamorous event now reportedly costs guests $50,000 for solo entry, while a table is worth $300,000.
As money is raised for a good cause, celebrities team up with some of the world’s best designers to push the boundaries of fashion. Your task is to create an unforgettable look that matches the theme of the year. beyonce, Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Kardashian, rihanna and more have turned heads on the iconic red carpet with their one-of-a-kind ensembles.
While the world looks forward to the first Monday of May every year, there have been three instances where the event has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. In 2000, the gala was canceled after the museum’s chief curator, Richard Martin, died in November 1999. Two years later, the gala did not take place due to the aftermath of 9/11. Most recently, the Met Gala was postponed a year to 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sign up for Us Weekly’s free daily newsletter and never miss the latest news or exclusive stories about your favorite stars, TV shows and more!
Keep scrolling to see how the Met Gala has evolved over the years:
