Natasha Poonawalla's striking Met Gala 2023 tribute to Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette

The Indian businesswoman and socialite also struck gold at the star-studded event last year

Natasha Poonawalla paid homage to Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette with her mirrored Schiaparelli gown at the Met Gala. Photo: Reuters

She made waves at last year's Met Gala with her viral celestial-themed look. And this year, Indian businesswoman and socialite Natasha Poonawalla's geometric ode to Karl Lagerfeld is the talk of the town on one of fashion's biggest nights once again.

On Monday night, Poonawalla, 41, made an appearance at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in a mirrored Schiaparelli gown with the bodice shaped like a cat's ears — a nod to Lagerfeld's famed feline Choupette.

Themed Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty, this year's gala — one of the most photographed events in the world for its head-turning red carpet looks — and exhibition is an homage to the late designer and his influence.

Poonawalla's wasn't the only look that channelled Choupette. Actor Jared Leto turned up in a head-to-toe cat costume, while Grammy-winning rapper Doja Cat wore a silver hooded Oscar de la Renta gown, complete with cat ears and feline facial prosthetics.

Last year, Poonawalla pulled out all the stops attending the gala in a golden sari by Indian designer Sabyasachi, paired with an ornate Schiaparelli Couture corset that curved over her head. The look was accessorised with custom Sabyasachi Fine Jewellery pieces, and much in keeping with last year's theme Gilded Glamour.

Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures of Natasha Poonawalla's Met Gala look last year

Natasha Poonawalla in a Sabyasachi sari paired with an ornate Schiaparelli Couture corset. EPA

India businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla arrives at the In America: An Anthology of Fashion-themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, on Monday, May 2, 2022. Reuters

Poonawalla is the executive director of the Serum Institute of India and chairperson of Villoo Poonawalla Foundation. AFP

Poonawalla attends the 2022 Prince's Trust Gala at Cipriani 25 Broadway on April 28, 2022 in New York City. AFP

Poonawalla married Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, in 2006. EPA

From left: Dua Lipa, Marcus Piggott, Kristen McMenamy, Mert Alas and Poonawalla attend a cocktail reception ahead of The Fashion Awards 2021 at London's Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2021. Getty Images

Editor-in-chief of British 'Vogue', Edward Enninful, and Poonawalla attend an exclusive party hosted by Frieze and Versace to celebrate London's creative community at Toklas on October 15, 2021. Getty Images for Frieze

Poonawalla attends the British Vogue x Tiffany & Co. Fashion and Film party at The Londoner Hotel in London on September 20, 2021. Getty Images

Poonawalla attends the LuisaViaRoma for Unicef event at La Certosa di San Giacomo on July 31, 2021 in Capri, Italy. Getty Images for Luisaviaroma

Indian actress, model and singer Priyanka Chopra and Poonawalla on day 12 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on July 10, 2021. Getty Images

Poonawalla at the Exhibition Opening of L'Exibition[niste] by Christian Louboutin as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020. Getty Images For Christian Louboutin

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Royal Founding Patron of the British Asian Trust, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meet American musician Katy Perry and Poonawalla as they arrive at a reception for supporters of the British Asian Trust in London on February 4, 2020. Getty Images

Kristina O'Neill, Poonawalla, Imran Amed and Nikhil Mansata at an intimate presentation and cocktail event in celebration of BoF China Prize 2018 winner, Caroline Hu. This was held at Hotel Ritz in Paris. Getty Images for The Business of Fashion

Evangelo Bousis, Natasha Poonawalla and Peter Dundas at the 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2019 in New York City. AFP

Poonawalla at Michael Muller's HEAVEN, presented by The Art of Elysium, on January 5, 2019 in Los Angeles. AFP

Serum Institute of India's Executive Director Adar Poonawalla and his wife Natasha launch the country's first nasal H1N1 vaccine, 'Nasovac', at a news conference in Mumbai on July 14, 2010. AFP

Styled by Anaita Shroff Adajania and draped by sari expert Dolly Jain, the look was one of the most talked about of the evening.

“To be able to witness such an iconic fashion-meets-art moment in New York, and be a small part of it feels truly surreal,” Jain wrote on Instagram. “Between the flowing drape of her bespoke embroidered gold Sabyasachi sari and the architectural lines of her armour-esque gold metallic Schiaparelli couture bustier, Natasha strikes a note that is both feminine yet strong, bold yet beautiful.”

Poonawalla is the executive director of the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines, and the wife of Indian billionaire Adar Poonawalla. A regular at the Met Gala, she is known as much for her style choices as her jet-setting lifestyle and celebrity friends, often spotted at some of the biggest fashion events around the world.

Other Indians stars who attended the Met Gala included Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, in a dress by Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung, and Priyanka Chopra, who wore Valentino.

Met Gala 2023: The best fashion looks as stars pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld — in pictures

Alia Bhatt, in a custom Prabal Gurung, attends the 2023 Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. Getty Images

Rihanna, in custom Valentino, and A$AP Rocky arrive fashionably late. AP

Cardi B attends the 2023 Met Gala, which honoured the late Karl Lagerfeld, in a monochrome look by Chenpeng Studio. AP

Gigi Hadid in custom Givenchy. AFP

Gisele Bundchen wears vintage Chanel. EPA

Margot Robbie in Chanel. Reuters

Priyanka Chopra, in Valentino, with husband Nick Jonas. AP

Doja Cat chanelled Choupette in custom Oscar de la Renta. AFP

Jennifer Lopez in Ralph Lauren. AP

Anna Wintour in vintage Chanel, arrives with British actor Bill Nighy. EPA

Kim Kardashian in custom Schiaparelli. Reuters

Florence Pugh in Valentino. Getty Images

Jeremy Pope attends in a Balmain cape emblazoned with Karl Lagerfeld's face. AFP

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones in Gucci. AFP

Sean 'Diddy' Combs in a floral black cape by June Ambrose. AFP

Conan Gray pays homage to Lagerfeld's signature style. AFP

Designer Olivier Rousteing carries a 'Karl who?' bag. AFP

Amber Valletta arrives in a fan-inspired outfit. AFP

Olivia Rodrigo in Thom Browne. Getty Images

Miranda Kerr in Dior. AP

Serena Williams sticks to black and white. AFP

Janelle Monae wears custom Thom Browne. Reuters

Kendall Jenner in custom Marc Jacobs. AFP

Bad Bunny in a white suit and floral cape by Jacquemus. Getty Images

Jared Leto attends as Choupette, Lagerfeld's cat. AP

Viola Davis in hot pink. AP

Anne Hathaway in custom Versace. AP

Pedro Pascal bares his legs in red and black. AFP

Julia Garner in custom Gucci. AFP

Sienna Miller wears all-black. AFP

Teyana Taylor in Thom Browne. AP

Kylie Jenner in custom Jean Paul Gaultier. Reuters

Billie Eilish wears Simone Rocha. EPA

Karlie Kloss in Loewe. EPA

Mindy Kaling in Jonathan Simkhai. Reuters

Jodie Comer in Burberry. AP

Lily Collins wears a black cape emblazoned with the word 'Karl'. AFP

Stormzy attends. AP

Allison Williams wears Patou. Reuters

Jordan Roth in Schiaparelli. Reuters

Cara Delevingne pays homage to Lagerfeld with her hairdo. AFP

Jeremy Scott in one of his own designs. AP

Jenna Ortega attends. AP

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba attend. Getty Images

Lila Grace Moss and Kate Moss in Fendi, with designer Kim Jones. AFP

Lizzo in Chanel. Getty Images

Olivia Wilde in Chloe. AFP

Irina Shayk arrives. EPA

Michaela Coel arrives. AFP

Rihanna arrives in custom Valentino. AFP