Oh, she means business.
Voguish vixens and bespoke blokes sizzled at the 2024 Met Gala on Monday.
From Kim Kardashian’s waist-erasing corset from Maison Margiela by John Galliano to NBA baller Ben Simmons toting a Flavor Flav-esque clock bag while wearing Thom Browne, big names celebrated the Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” in lively luxury.
However, the brilliance of the A-list stars notwithstanding, social media spectators couldn’t seem to keep their eyes off of the mesmerizing Met Gala “mystery woman,” Mona Patel, 43.
“B- -ch, I need to know who this is…,” demanded a pleasantly stunned X commenter alongside snapshots of Patel posing in custom Iris Van Herpen couture.
The tweet garnered over 4.3 million likes from equally impressed onlookers, who, too, had no clue that the show-stopper was a Forbes Next 1000 CEO with degrees from Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
“Mona Patel stole the night,” applauded yet another admirer of the brunette’s butterfly-embellished ensemble, curated by celebrity stylist Law Roach.
The ornately crafted corset of Patel’s nude-hued gown hugged her curves as its scalloped train cascaded down The Met steps. A kaleidoscope of kinetic butterflies adorned her arms like opera gloves.
The wings of the faux wildlife fluttered in slow motion as she soaked up the spotlight, setting the look in stellar alignment with the night’s official dress code “The Garden of Time.”
Metalsmith Casey Curran, based in Seattle, Wash., spent a month crafting the “technically challenging” mechanical accessories for the number, which he called “ASURA,” online.
Patel’s hair, nestled neatly into a chic bun by celebrity stylist Chris Martin, and flawless makeup, glowingly executed by haute cosmetologist Sidney Jamila, completed the look.
Hers was a glamorously grand Met Gala entrée — which was exactly what the multi-hyphenate fashionista hoped to achieve.
“I wanted my debut look to be something that celebrates my heritage and also combines my love couture,” Patel, an Indian-born businesswoman, told Vogue. “And when I heard of the theme, Iris Van Herpen seemed like the obvious choice.”
The tech-centric entrepreneur, who’s launched eight companies since moving to the U.S. in 2003, tapped Roach, 45, to mastermind her Met slay months in advance.
The revered “image architect” — who is also to thank for 2024 Met Gala co-chair Zendaya’s two red carpet bombshells — traveled with Patel to India in March.
The trendy twosome met up with members of Van Herpen’s team to set the production of her Met dress in motion.
Custom creations by the Dutch couturier, who weaves elements of nature into her architecturally-inspired designs, can cost upwards of $100,000 and can take up to two years to complete, per the New York Times.
However, it seems Patel’s piece was perfectly put together in record time.
Just ahead of making her inaugural premiere at fashion’s biggest night, Patel offered her over 57,000 Instagram followers a viral “sneak peek” at the hand-drawn artwork of her dress.
She, too, gave fans of her brands — which include HauteX Ventures, an investment imprint, and radXai, an AI-focused health-tech startup — a behind-the-scenes look at the team of coordinators it took to get her red carpet ready.
The fab fuss and muss paid off in spades.
“She won the Met Gala,” raved an Instagram fan.
The sentiments were echoed by a cyber supporter cheering “BEST DRESS OF THE NIGHT.”
