Vanderbilt Ball, 1883
The fête that would change Manhattan society forever, the Vanderbilt Ball was thrown in 1883, by super social climber Alva Vanderbilt. Intended as a housewarming bash at her new Fifth Avenue abode, the costume ball was actually a strategic move to become officially accepted into the city's famously snooty 400 - the list of rich people who ruled the scene. At the time, the reigning queen was Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, who looked down on the nouveau riche Vanderbilts. Alva withheld a coveted invite from Caroline's daughter, whose friends were all attending, and so Mrs. Astor had no choice but to make nice and officially accept the Vanderbilts. A fun fact, though, is that the star of the ball turned out to be Alva's sister-in-law Alice, who arrived in what's now called the most famous party dress in history - the "electric light" gown.
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