Post by : Meena Ariff

At the CFDA Fashion Awards 2025 in New York, Amber Valletta delivered a potent dose of sartorial nostalgia, appearing on the red carpet in the signature green jungle-print Versace gown she first modelled more than two decades ago. The 51-year-old originally walked the look as part of Versace’s Spring/Summer 2000 presentation after first wearing it in 1999.

“This is the first time I’ve worn the dress out in public,” Valletta told reporters on the red carpet. “It feels particularly special tonight because this dress holds a kind of magic.”

The moment carried personal significance: Valletta posted behind-the-scenes footage to her social channels and made clear the revival was also a salute to Donatella Versace, who was celebrated at the ceremony with the CFDA’s Positive Change Award for her philanthropic work and global influence.

“Honouring Donatella is very meaningful — she truly merits the Positive Change Award for her philanthropy,” Valletta added.

A Look That Changed Fashion Forever

The jungle-print gown first created buzz when Valletta modelled it in 1999, but it reached iconic status after Jennifer Lopez wore a version to the 2000 Grammys, a moment so sensational it has been linked to the creation of Google Images.

Lopez later recalled that choosing the dress was instantaneous: “That’s it. That’s the dress.”

Since then, celebrities including Tyra Banks, Lisa Rinna and Donatella Versace have referenced the daring print, and Lopez herself brought the dress back to the spotlight with a runway appearance in 2019.

Reflecting on the garment’s place in fashion history, Valletta observed that the dress has been searched and discussed endlessly online, noting with a smile that she was the first to wear it publicly.

A Star-Studded Night

The CFDA Awards, overseen by the organisation’s leadership, assembled leading figures from the fashion and entertainment industries, yet Valletta’s revival of the jungle-print gown was widely regarded as the evening’s defining fashion moment.

#Global