Last night, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an institution within itself, held its “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Costume Institute Gala. To be clear, you would have had to intentionally ignore the fanfare to wake up this morning without at least a glimpse of the notorious attendees of last evening’s function.

This year the theme was all about technology and how it’s impacted the design of fashion. Science and technological invention is a prominent thought in the mind of designers and fashion producers around the world. We loved seeing how every attendee interpreted (or ignored) the theme with their ensemble. The Met Gala has certainly evolved into one of the most influential events on the fashion calendar.

Everyone from Beyonce and Taylor Swift to Marc Jacobs and Prabal Gurung, displayed their version of black tie fashion for the dinner and celebration. But you might be surprised to hear that the Met’s event did not have such ostentatious beginnings.

We’ve found some of the most interesting facts about the Costume Institute and the Met Gala that demonstrate how the benefit turned from a New York whose-who into Hollywood’s hottest ticket.

1. The Costume Institute’s collection of more than 35,000 costumes and accessories represents five continents and seven centuries of fashion.

2. The Founder of the CFDA, Eleanor Lambert, created and ran the Met Gala event initially.

3. The Met Gala, formally known as The Costume Institute Gala originates in 1948, as a midnight supper dubbed, “The Party of The Year.”

4. This is the first year ever that mainstream news coverage aired the red-carpet of the event. E! News dissected the affair for eager viewers.

5. Vogue’s Anna Wintour actually took over the running of the Met Gala in 1995, where she changed it from a society event into a Hollywood event.

6. A single ticket to the Met Gala costs as much as $25,000.

7. An entire table at the Met Gala can reach as much as $250,000.

8. Most of the tickets are purchased by major fashion houses.

9. However, some people get a free ride. Vogue compiles a celebrity wish list and secures their attendance to the event.

10. Fashion powerhouses are not just present at the Gala, Vogue also invites selected up-and-coming designers to the affair.

11. Vogue has a coordinator, whose sole job is to plan the party, which reportedly takes 8 months to fully plan.

12. About 650-700 people attend the gala every year.

13. A calligrapher is kept on hand the day of the event for last-minute place card changes.

14. The Met Gala is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year, reportedly raising 9 million dollars last year.

15. The Gala has evolved. See the themes from the past two plus decades, according to Marie Claire:

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Source: styleBlazer