From mansions in Midtown Manhattan to summers in the South of France, L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;looks back on the extravagant history of New York's upper crust.

You might have come across street signs with the word Astor on them, or perhaps you are familiar with family legacies that stem from monopolized railroad and oil fortunes&mdash;these are the pinnacles of prestige that sealed the exclusivity of Manhattan's upper echelon.&nbsp; Elusive and lavish, members of NYC's elite circles across generations helped build Manhattan's high society with the illustrious reputation it holds. From the exclusivity of Carnegie Hall operas to the battle over the biggest mansion on Fifth Avenue, New York society is just as outrageous as they are exciting to watch. The definition of opulence with obliviousness to the world outside of their own, L'OFFICIEL delves into the history behind the allure and scandal of New York society.
It all began with The Four Hundred, a list of New York's biggest names graced with the highly-coveted invite to one of Mrs. Astor's most lavish parties in her Fifth Avenue mansion. During the Gilded Age, the Astor Family were considered Manhattan's old money&mdash;being one of the first Dutch settlers on the island, they hailed the prestigious title of a true Knickerbocker, or in today's terms a native New Yorker. Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, more notably remembered as simply Mrs. Astor, was the arbiter of New York society. Many high-profile figures from America's 1 percent fought for their seat at the table, such as Alva Belmont&mdash;known by her previous name Alva Vanderbilt from the Vanderbilt railroad fortune&mdash;<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">who not only failed several times to rise through the ranks in high society, but attempted to overthrow the woman who created it, birthing the most notorious high society rivalry in the late 19th century. With lavish summer homes in Newport, Rhode Island and massive mansions in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, New York society was emerging into a new age of extravagance.

Alva Vanderbilt.

The stories of Manhattan's most fabulous Fifth Avenue f&ecirc;tes and fashionable appearances passed the baton to a generation of 20th-century socialites who played a pivotal role in high society within a contemporary landscape. From the highly-publicized heiress Gloria Vanderbilt to the Public Relations powerhouse <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/most-outrageous-met-gala-looks-of-all-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eleanor Lambert</a>, the women of New York Society in the 1960s were early "influencers" whose unique taste and admiration for American designers helped propel American fashion to the global stage, donning pieces by the likes of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/oscar-de-la-renta-fall-2020-runway-show-photography" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oscar de la Renta</a> and Bill Blass that encapsulated the sophistication of the '60s. Truman Capote, legendary writer and novelist behind <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/jewelry-moments-chanel-cartier-breakfast-at-tiffanys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breakfast at Tiffany's</a> and In Cold Blood,&nbsp;called these women his swans. The embodiment of grace, elegance, and sheer class, these women were regarded as the world's most beautiful and society's most sophisticated. Among his swans, his nearest and dearest was Barbara Cushing Mortimer Paley, or just simply "Babe." A daughter of a renowned brain surgeon, Babe was married to media tycoon William S. Paley, founder of Columbia Broadcasting System, better known as CBS.&nbsp;

C.Z Guest, Truman Capote, & Diana Vreeland

Babe Paley.

Left: Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Right: Princess Lee Radziwill.

Slim Keith.

Marella Agnelli.

Gloria Guinness.

C.Z. Guest.

Truman Capote and Babe Paley shared an amicable friendship that made heads shake in disapproval within New York society. Members of Manhattan's upper crust saw Capote as an opportunist&mdash;surrounding himself with the likes of Slim Keith, Gloria Guinness, C.Z. Guest, and many more for his benefit. An aspiring arbiter of New York society, Capote hosted the legendary Black &amp; White Ball at The Plaza Hotel, emblematic of Mrs. Astor's lavish parties, with an exclusive guest list drawing parallels to gatherings from the Gilded Age. The Black &amp; White Ball was the peak of New York City's social scene in the '60s; with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/famous-musicians-with-celebrity-parents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frank Sinatra</a>, Lauren Bacall, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/lee-radziwill-jackie-kennedy-socialite-sister-facts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lee Radziwill</a>, and more in attendance, Capote took helm of Manhattan society.
However, Capote's fall from grace in New York society has his way with words to point the blame. In 1975, Capote published excerpts from his then-unreleased novel Answered Prayers titled &ldquo;La C&ocirc;te Basque 1965" where the writer unraveled the secrets and scandals behind the glitz and glamour of New York's most fashionable women; from financial affairs to whirlwind infidelities that caused waves of controversy around elite members of society. Capote was ostracized from New York society until his death in 1984.

High society in the '80s and '90s began to shift gears. Out with the old and in with the new, the concept of money as a moral crusade became representative of the new generation of Manhattan's wealthiest families. Leaning towards a flamboyant approach of wealth flaunting, the art of subtlety was a relatively outdated practice. Donald and Ivana Trump became New York society's biggest names, literally and figuratively, with kitsch gold signs of the Trump name plastered all over the city in an extravagant display of wealth. And what is society without scandal? The end of Trump's 15-year marriage spawned by an affair to remember and a now-famous line that reads "Don't get mad, get everything" that rocked Manhattan's social scene at its core.
The early 2000s birthed a new dawn for New York society and onlookers alike. Manhattanites were all the rage across tabloid magazines nationwide. Active members of high society transitioned from tycoons and their wives to their heirs and heiresses, utilizing their trust in the most lavish ways possible, from lunch dates at Per Se to summers in the South of France. The world became more interested in the posh lifestyles of trust fund successors; from Tinsley Mortimer and Olivia Palermo to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/paris-hilton-nicky-hilton-interview-sisters-for-life-family-childhood-careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Hilton</a> and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/nicole-richie-home-inspired-by-chanel-store" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicole Richie</a>, these women produced a new definition of a socialite and divided it into two categories: Park Avenue princesses and Page Six party girls.&nbsp;
With its extensive history rooted in wealth, rivalry, and scandal, New York high society members today keep a relatively low profile. Yet with the rise of influencer culture at the palm of our hands, it's certain that the next generation of socialites will unravel a new beginning for New York high society in the 21st century.

A History of New York's High Society

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