[6] Guests included Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren, and Donatella Versace.

[7][8][9][10] In 1902, wealthy philanthropists Irene and Alice Lewisohn began to volunteer at the Henry Street Settlement House in New York, a community center that provided social services and healthcare to immigrant families.

[12] During their years of running the school theatre and producing plays, a body of knowledge was formed about acting, theater production, and costume, set and stage design.

[13] After Irene Lewisohn's death in 1944, Lord & Taylor president Dorothy Shaver worked to bring the collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

[16] Since 1946, with help from the fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert, the institute has hosted the annual Met Gala to raise money for operating expenses.

The high costs of maintaining and displaying the collection was the main impetus for the move, which followed years of close collaboration between the two organizations.