I can’t recall when the Met Gala crept into my consciousness, but it couldn’t have been more than a few years ago. Growing up in a suburb of Bombay, I don’t remember any newspaper or magazine mentioning this important event during my youth, so I grew up completely oblivious to its presence. I sometimes feel as if I missed out on all that coverage and thousands of photographs that could have changed how I see fashion as well as the world. I could have grown up to be a glamorous human being and failed because none of the people I hung around with had heard about the Gala.

Back then, the only events from America that attracted some attention from journalists (if at all) were the Oscars and the Grammys. They were both covered perfunctorily on The World This Week after all the wars, elections, and assorted tragedies had been discussed. I must thank social media for how this has changed, and why this evening dedicated to fashion now occupies so much media space. Everything worn by those accomplished men and women is dissected in much detail, and the world seems like a better, smarter place for it, so I continue to be grateful.