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The mansions, designed by renowned architects like Richard Morris Hunt, drew inspiration from Renaissance palaces and elaborate European architecture, adorned with gilded detailing and marble facades. During the summer, Newport’s social life became a whirlwind of balls, garden parties, and lavish dinners. A famous example was the "Dog Party" hosted by society matron Mamie Fish, where over 100 pampered dogs dined with their owners dressed in formal attire.
This era epitomized social status—who was invited, who got engaged, whose cottage was the most magnificent on Bellevue Avenue. The town’s social calendar was packed with competitions for prestige, blending extravagance with a social hierarchy where the pinnacle of society flaunted their wealth openly.