A Night at the Met Gala: The Vreeland Years
by Alice Fashion History Lifestyle
Diana Vreeland and Bill Blass at the Met Gala - 1981
Before Anna - there was Diana.
Diana Vreeland was the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue for almost a decade. But as she was let go from Vogue in 1971, she set her sights on something else... The flailing and underfunded Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
With Diana's breadth of historical fashion knowledge and little black book overflowing with fabulous women with even more fabulous checkbooks - Diana took the Met Gala from a museum fundraiser to fashion's hottest night. (A night in December to boot!)
So please take a sartorial scroll through these oft-forgotten early days of the Met.
American Socialite Wallis Simpson - 1974
“Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design” was the theme of 1974's Met Gala. This was the year after Diana's breakout exhibit in 1973, “The World of Balenciaga,” honoring the late courtier who had passed in 1972.
Barbara Walters attends the 1977 exhibit, “Vanity Fair: A Treasure Trove.”
In the 70s, guests opted for classic evening wear styles of the time rather than dressing on theme for the show.
Socialite Lee Radziwill arrives at 1978's event: “Diaghilev: Costumes and Designs of the Ballets Russes.”
Socialites were the backbone of Diana Vreeland's Met Gala reinvention. Before Anna ushered in the era of celebrity co-chairs, socialites like Jackie Onassis and Pat Buckley served in the role through the 80s.
Texas Socialite and HI LP fave, Lynn Wyatt, attends a 1980s event focused on China and the Chi’ng Dynasty.
Lynn Wyatt, while never a co-chair herself, was a regular at the Gala into the early 90s. Often the date of Bill Blass, Wyatt's devoted patronage to couture, as fashion leaned more towards sportswear, made her an ideal date for the occasion.
Halston and his "Halstonettes" attend the 1981 show entitled: “The Eighteenth-Century Woman."
Into the early 80s, we see a staple of the Gala to this day - the designer and muse. While Halston, seen above, often traveled around with his "Halstonettes," The Met Gala became the ideal stage for creator and model/star to collaborate on a showstopping moment.
Miss J Alexander, in an early themed look, for the Gala in 1981.
While the Met was a stage for socialites and fashion's household names, it was not without hot, young attendees making a splash. Here, J. Alexander, at the time a 23-year-old model, attends in a themed look. Long before he began coaching models like Naomi Campbell and long, long before his star turn on America's Next Top Model.
C.Z. Guest and daughter Cornelia attend the 1981 exhibit.
Before the Kardashians took to the steps of the Met, C.Z, and daughter Cornelia were the mother-daughter duo to watch.
Diana Ross and Patrice Calmette in 1981.
Celebrities begin to take notice of the Gala in the 80s as well. Here, Diana Ross attends with photographer Patrice Calmette.
Bianca Jagger with Halston in 1981.
Bianca Jagger took a break from her humanitarian efforts and nights at Studio 54 to join the party with her good friend Halston.
Raquel Welch attends in a snakeskin gown in 1982.
Welch gives us a taste of 80s excess with a look complete with snakeskin, sequins, pearls, and gold chainmail.
Fashion Designer Mary McFadden attends the 1984 event themed around “Man and the Horse."
A close friend of Vreeland's iconic designer of the 70s and 80s, Mary McFadden, was a constant at the Met Gala during Vreeland's tenure.
Bob Mackie and Cher (wearing Bob Mackie) at the 1985 event themed around “Costumes of Royal India."
You cannot speak about designers and muses of the 1980s and not talk about Bob Mackie and Cher. Here, Cher wears an iconic Bob Mackie gown and headpiece that speaks not only to the theme of the evening but also to Mackie's artistry.
Issey Miyake and guest attend the show in 1986.
In 1986, the theme was "Dance." While Issey Miyake's work with the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (which would inspire the creation of his Pleats Please line in 1993) was a few years away - Miyake, with his signature draping, was already known for creating clothes with great consideration for the body and movement.
Diane von Furstenberg attends the 1986 show.
DVF attends the show in 1986, one year before the final show of the Vreeland era. The Met Gala would go on hiatus after Diana Vreeland's death until it returned in the mid-90s under the leadership of Anna Wintour, who turned it into the celebrity spectacle it is today.
