Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. one who considers themselves a cut above their peers.

1907		Eve. Star (Wash., DC) 27 Oct. 8/2: Mrs Eddie van Astorbilt, surfeited with pleasures [...] will admire — adore if you like — Mr Croesus Lothario.
1920		Goodwin’s Wkly (Salt Lake City, UT) 7 Nov. 12/1: Can’t be done [...] I don’t think you quite understand who I am. I’m John Astorbilt Jones — Yale ’98.
1920		A. Baer Two & Three 20 Jan. [synd. col.] When an Astorbilt or Vanderfeller hopps his frau in the mouth with a leg of mutton [etc].
1993		(ref. to 1880s) I.L. Allen City in Sl. (1995) 221: By the 1880s a portmanteau Astorbilt had appeared to generic service for the whole crowd on Fifth Avenue [...] Astorbilt [...] evoked a complete social caricature of the rich, haughty, and pretentious social set.
1995		(ref. to 1880s–90s) in Urbanities 5:3 🌐 The ingenious and fiercely determined Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt used this tactic brilliantly to breach the citadel of high society ruled by the redoubtable Caroline Astor. From the ultimate dominance of society by these two strong-willed women emerged the emblem of all ambitious hostesses of the Gilded Age, a fictitious snob dubbed ‘Mrs. Astorbilt’ by one disenchanted critic.
2002		A. Sharpton at e9usn.com 🌐 She had a maid who came 5 days per week to do all her chores. She sat around like Mrs. Van Astorbilt, just running around and getting sassy.

2. one who dresses ostentatiously.

1908		B. Fisher A. Mutt in Blackbeard Compilation (1977) 87: The Mrs. has been [...] adding odd pieces of junk to her wardrobe. She says that she will make all the Mrs. Van Astorbilts look like selling platers when she starts to do a tin-can down Broadway.
1969		in DARE.
2002		www.longwood.k12.ny.us 🌐 ‘Ed’ Hoffman beating the box, the pool sharks playing ‘Drop Dead’ and old ‘Dutch’ behind his counter, all dressed in white like an Astorbilt.

3. used generically for any member of high society.

1908		Eve. Star (Wash., DC) 19 Apr. 64/1: [cartoon captionb] Sweet Muffy Shuffles [...] learning Mrs Astorbilt was seeking [...] a nursemaid for her little dears, apple. That lagr e and stately lady made our Muffy ill-at-ease.
1911		Pensacola Jrnl (FL) 1 Jan. 11/1: [cartoon caption] Mrs Astorbilt’s New Year’s Ball!
1911		B. Fisher Mutt & Jeff 26 July [synd. strip] Oh, is that you Mrs Astorbilt?
1924		O.O. McIntyre New York Day by Day 2 July [synd. col.] The head floorwalker said he did not care whether Mrs. Astorbilt ever came into the establishment or not.
1943		Kerouac letter 10 Jan. in Charters I (1995) 37: Watching a funeral of high grandeur and high solemnity purr down the street. It is the funeral of J.B. Astorbilt, or someone like that.
1965–70		in DARE.
1994		(con. 1930s) Mrs. Brown in Library Congress Amer. Memory 🌐 I got a man’s suit from a friend of Bill’ s – he jest gave it to me – and me and a friend of mine made me a suit out of it. She really did most of the work, but I’m so proud of it. I jest feel like ‘Mrs. Astorbilt’ when I wear it.