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How Jennifer Lopez felt Wearing That Green Versace Dress Twice

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Updated on July 5, 2023

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Jennifer Lopez’s legendary green Versace dress virtually broke the internet both times she wore it. The photo of her wearing the gown at the 2000 Grammy Awards prompted the development of Google Images. The second time, it went viral when she wore it to finish up Versace’s fashion presentation this fall.

The most famous fashion statement of the decade was a last-minute wardrobe decision for the 2000 Grammy Awards.

Jennifer Lopez’s omission from this year’s Oscar nominations has enraged fans, but whether or not she receives Academy recognition, she has some award-winning pop culture moments that transcend any golden trophy.

Jennifer Lopez went down the red carpet of the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in the barely-there slither of emerald green chiffon by Versace, printed with palm leaves, tethered against her body with little more than sparkly underwear and the then-unknown phenomena of ‘tit tape.’

Lopez was asked by Vanity Fair how it felt to wear the outfit each time.

“I really didn’t think about it. I didn’t think it was all that risque, to be honest,” she remarked in a Vogue video interview commemorating the dress’s 10th anniversary. “I was more excited that it was the Grammys. I wasn’t even thinking about the dress that much. I was just glad I had something to wear.”

Lopez wearing the Versace dress for the second time this September, at age 50.
VITTORIO ZUNINO CELOTTO
GETTY IMAGES

The second occasion was well planned. Donatella remarked, ‘You know, this year is the 20th anniversary of the jungle dress,’ and I said no, I didn’t. And she goes, ‘I think I’m going to do a whole show about it. Would you come?’ And I said, ‘Of course. Just call me.’ You know, it’s all timing—schedules and stuff. And then she wound up calling and said, ‘I want you to walk at the end, and I want you to come out in the dress.’ ‘The same dress?’ ‘The same dress. We’ll make a new one for you.’ The second time I wore it and walked out there, it was such an empowering thing. Twenty years had gone by, and I think for women, knowing you can put on a dress 20 years later—it resonated. It was like, ‘Yes, you know, life is not over at 20!’”

The transparent gown, with its deep V-neck that revealed both her cleavage and belly button, left little to the imagination. The effect of her attire — now commonly referred to as simply “The Dress” — was instantly apparent when she arrived with then-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Let’s hope she wears a different version of this gown throughout award season. Maybe even her halftime show at the Super Bowl.

The garment sparked outrage and prompted millions of Google searches — according to Eric Schmidt, Google’s former CEO, it was the most searched-for “thing” the site had ever seen. People didn’t want to read reams of prose about the outfit; they wanted to see it. One month later, Google Image Search was born.

Jennifer Lopez also discussed the beginnings of her friendship with Donatella Versace. “I met her when [her brother] Gianni died. So we’ve had a long journey, and to see her slowly realized from that moment to this moment. There was so much in the moment that you can’t even begin to kind of emotionally understand—for her, from me, for her life, for my life. And I think people felt that.”

“In terms of my career, this dress really marked a moment in time,” Lopez told Vogue.
“If you don’t know my music and you don’t know my movies, people know about that moment and that dress — that was it.”