A short history of the Met Gala and its iconic looks

The gala in New York City raises funds for the Met’s Costume Institute, which exhibits fashion across centuries and continents.

The Met Gala has raised more than $223.5 million for The Costume Institute since 1999, under the leadership of Anna Wintour (seen here wearing a John Galliano dress at the gala in 1996.)
Photograph by Penske Media, Contributor, Getty Images
ByAllie Yang
May 6, 2024
In December 1946 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, students examine racks and drawers of garments from the Study-Storage collection, where the articles are filed according to their historical period.
Photograph by United States Information Agency, PhotoQuest, Getty Images

Since it started in 1948, the Met Gala has delivered boundary-pushing fashion modeled by celebrities and cultural icons, from rock stars to activists. The star-studded event generates millions of dollars for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

“Fashion’s biggest night” is hosted annually on the first Monday in May. It began as a fundraiser for the newly-founded institute, with tickets at only $50. Instead of modeling looks on the museum’s famous steps and partying in the Temple of Dendur as they do today, attendees were hosted at famous New York City venues including the Waldorf Astoria and Central Park for the first 20 years of the event.

After helping found the Costume Institute at the Met, Eleanor Lambert created the first Costume Institute Fundraiser, a $50 dinner, in 1948. She led the event for the next two decades, and is also known for founding the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Photograph by Bettmann, Contributor, Getty Images
Diana Vreeland worked for Harper's Bazaar (seen here, in her office in 1963) and as editor-in-chief at Vogue. She went on to become a special consultant to the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 
Photograph by Ben Martin, Getty Images

Stars are dressed by designers according to a theme tied to that year’s exhibition at the Costume Institute. The dress code for 2024 is “The Garden of Time,” while the exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” uses technology to examine garments and accessories spanning four centuries.

Take a look at some of the most inspiring and creative pieces worn to the gala and put on display at the Met’s Costume Institute.

"The Art of Fashion" exhibition, which was on display from October 23, 1967 to January 1, 1968. Pictured are a collection of dresses from the 1920s.
Photograph Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Click through the gallery below to see some of the historic pieces exhibited at the Costume Institute

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This luxurious silk doublet is one of only two surviving examples of its type from the 1620s. Pinking, or the intentional slashing of fabric, was a popular decorative technique used to reveal colorful linings, shirts, and chemises.
Photograph Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Costume Institute Fund, in memory of Polaire Weissman, 1989
Jackie Onassis attends the gala for the "Fashions of The Hapsburg Era" exhibition on display from 1979 to 1980.
Photograph by Ron Galella, Getty Images
A person in drag poses on the carpet at the Met Gala in 2007.
Photograph by Eric Weiss, WWD/ Getty Images
Business woman, recording artist, and songwriter Rihanna arrives in a gown designed by Guo Pei at the 2015 Met Gala celebrating the opening of "China: Through the Looking Glass."
Photograph by Lucas Jackson, Reuters/ Redux
Guests on the dance floor of the Costume Institute's annual gala to preview the 'American Women of Style' exhibition, which ran from 1975 to 1976.
Photograph by Fairchild Archive, Penske Media/ Getty Images