Badge of honour? Not really

Get ready for Cannes fashion, folks. The -much-touted Met Gala is mercifully over.

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But we will be bombarded with multiple images of a few Bollywood stars on the red carpet, who supposedly “put India on the global fashion map”. Let's get the record straight. The Met Gala is a highly publicised fundraiser for a prestigious museum in New York. The event is controlled by an imperious grande dame called Anna Wintour, feared and despised in equal measure.

It has become the most hyped glamour event on the planet with high-profile celebrities working on their costumes for months. To be seen at the Met Gala is considered a badge of honour, even though it comes with a hefty price tag. There are no free lunches/dinners/cocktails in this set up. Seats cost up to ₹63 lakh each, and where you are placed is entirely up to madame Wintour. Conversely, a film star gets to sit at a billionaire patron's table. Or at a sponsor's table if the star endorses that particular brand. You don't need to be a global icon to get invited. You just need to know the right billionaire.