Asocialite is a person, typically a woman from a wealthy oraristocratic background, who is prominent inhigh society.[1] A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditional employment.[2][3][4]
The wordsocialite is first attested in 1909 in a Tennessee newspaper.[5] It was popularized byTime magazine in the 1920s.[6]
Historically, most socialites in the United Kingdom were from the families of thearistocracy andlanded gentry.[4] Many socialites also had close familial or personal relationships to theBritish royal family.
Notable examples of British socialites are,Beau Brummell,Lord Alvanley, theMarchioness of Londonderry,Daisy, Princess of Pless,Lady Diana Cooper,Mary Constance Wyndham,Lady Ursula d'Abo,Margaret Greville,Annabelle Neilson and theMitford sisters.[7] Since the 1960s, socialites have been drawn from a wider section of society, closer to the American model, with many socialites coming from families in business or from the world of celebrity. Despite this, the notion of theSloane Ranger still emphasises many socialites' connections toBritain's ruling class.[8] TheRoyal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is widely regarded as the home ofsocialite activity in the UK. The television showMade in Chelsea has explored the lives of young socialites living in London in the 21st century.[9]
American members ofthe Establishment, or an American "society" based on birth, breeding, education, and economic standing, were originally listed in theSocial Register, a directory of the names and addresses of the "preferred social contacts" of the prominent families in the 19th century. In 1886,Louis Keller started to consolidate these lists and package them for sale.[10]
With the increase of wealth in the US in the 19th century, being a socialite developed into a role that brought power and influence.[11] Women's lineage-based volunteering organizations, such as theColonial Dames of America and theDaughters of the American Revolution, became popular among socialites during this time period.
In the 21st century, the term "socialite" is still attached to being wealthy and socially recognized. The lines between being a socialite andcelebrity with an exuberant partying lifestyle have since become blurred due to the influence of bothpopular culture and themedia, particularly when the status of being a celebrity is largely due to that lifestyle. CelebrityParis Hilton is an example of a 21st-century socialite due to her ability to attract media attention and fame based only on her connections and associations. Hilton is the great-granddaughter ofConrad Hilton, the founder ofHilton Hotels & Resorts, and heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune. Due to her outrageous lifestyle, Hilton was hailed by the media as "New York's leadingIt Girl" in 2001.[12]
Gossip Girl, an American television series airing between September 2007 and December 2012, focuses on the lives of New York City socialites who live onManhattan'sUpper East Side. The show is a strong influence on how socialites are regarded in the 21st century because of the presence of scandal, wealth, and fashion in each episode. Pop culture gives the impression that by simply being wealthy and fashionable, an individual has the opportunity to become famous. Consequently, it is an individual's ability to climb the social ladder due to their wealth and recognition that makes them a socialite.
According toThe New York Times, socialites spend between $98,000 and $455,000 per year (young and old, respectively) to maintain their roles as successful socialites.[13] Just the evening wardrobe of an individual regularly attending society functions can cost $100,000 annually.[14] Examples of modern-day American socialites include: TheKardashian-Jenner family,Jill Kelley,Tinsley Mortimer,EJ Johnson,Olivia Palermo,Lauren Santo Domingo,Paris Hilton,Derek Blasberg, andJean Shafiroff.
BuzzFeed advises its writers to "not use thissexist term ... and consider how you would describe a man in a similar circumstance."[15]
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