23 Photographs That Prove Studio 54 Was Iconic
Whether it’s Elton John partying with drag queen Divine, or Bianca Jagger riding a white horse — here, Vogue shares the most glamorous and grittiest moments captured at the New York hotspot in the ’70s.
Diana Ross, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Cher, Truman Capote, and Andy Warhol were all among its regulars, but Studio 54 was more than a celebrity hotspot and beacon of New York nightlife. From the moment it opened its doors in 1977, the era-defining club was, says writer Bob Colacello in Rizzoli’s Studio 54, “a sociological phenomenon and a historical event.” In a 1996 interview with Vanity Fair, Diane von Furstenberg concurred: “I had more fun at Studio 54 than in any other nightclub in the world” — which says a lot, coming from a doyenne of the New York Fashion Week schedule.
Picture this: Elton John partying the night away with drag queen Divine on the instantly recognisable parquet dancefloor. Debbie Harry, dressed in a black turtleneck and black glasses, sticking her tongue out for a photo; a tuxedo-clad Sterling Saint Jacques swinging around Shirley Bassey. Elizabeth Taylor shimmering in a glamorous iridescent bodysuit while chatting to legendary fashion designer Halston. And, who can forget the iconic image of Bianca Jagger riding a white horse through the club’s entrance? A guaranteed internet breaker, if it had been invented.
Under the helm of owners Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell, Studio 54 became globally renowned as a cultural institution for its lavish, over-the-top spectacles and sartorial displays. Its disco days, though, were short-lived and the club closed its doors in 1980 — these archival photos are a snapshot that only a lucky few had the pleasure of experiencing. Yet, Studio 54’s sensibility of inclusion and freedom lives on through the books, films, and fashion that it has inspired ever since.
As a mood-boosting tonic, and at a time when our festive calendars have been curtailed by social-distancing measures, Vogue delves into Studio 54’s world of excess and extravagance.
Rose Hartman1/231977
Model Bianca Jagger, in an off-the-shoulder number, is seen riding a white horse at the entrance of the club.
Sonia Moskowitz2/231977
Dancers showcase a performance on metallic cushions amid a curious crowd at a New Year’s Eve party.
Robin Platzer3/231978
A star-studded New Year’s Eve at Studio 54: Halston kissing Diana Ross, Jack Haley Jr with his wife Liza Minnelli, Bianca Jagger, and, of course, Andy Warhol.
Allan Tannenbaum4/231978
Model and musician Grace Jones shimmers in a sparkling bodysuit as she performs at a New Year’s Eve party.
Richard E. Aaron5/231977
Soul legend Curtis Mayfield makes an extravagant entrance outside the club with his wife and friend in their Rolls-Royce.
Images Press6/231980
Debbie Harry sticks out her tongue, while Steve Rubell is sprawled out on top of her and friends.
Rose Hartman7/231981
A costumed party-goer at a Halloween event sporting a platinum blonde wig, 18th-century-inspired face paint, lace bustier, and white bow tie.
Robin Platzer8/231978
Diane von Furstenberg lounging with her husband-to-be, media mogul Barry Diller.
