What do Versace, J Lo and Google have in common?
The singer modelled an updated version of the dress that changed internet searches forever
Donatella Versace helped build the internet, and now she might just “break” it.
At Friday’s Versace show in Milan the Italian fashion designer enlisted American actress and singer Jennifer Lopez to walk the runway in an updated version of the jungle print dress the star wore to the Grammys in 2000.
The story behind the original Versace dress is that millions of people went online after the event to search for images of the singer wearing it, making it the most popular search query Google had seen at the time. However, when they couldn’t find the right picture, heads at the search engine were inspired to create Google Images.
The audience went wild, as the singer strutted down the catwalk in a version of the dress which had significantly less fabric than the first one. Just two strips of fabric across the bust and a slashed skirt.
And Donatella knows how to create anticipation. After a catwalk show which featured variations on the jungle print theme, giant screens around the circular catwalk showed her asking Google Assistant “now. Google. Show me the real jungle dress” before the star appeared. Cue mass filming, photographing and Instagramming. It was a nicely choreographed fashion moment that illustrates how the internet has changed the fashion landscape over the last twenty years.
It also underlines how much harder it is now to create dresses with the same level of impact because we are so overwhelmed with images competing for our attention. However, Versace has produced numerous garments which genuinely deserve the overused “iconic’ label, such as the black dress held together with safety pins worn by Liz Hurley in 1994. And this show is a reminder of their place in pop culture as well as fashion history.
As for the new collection, which may have got temporarily lost in the JLo excitement, there were strong, fierce clothes, with exaggerated 1980s-inspired shapes and of course, jungle print. It came in an airbrushed version on a skinny suit and matching shirt, on a tiny silk mini, a clear mac, and on a shimmering mini dress with clusters of large sequins and beads which looked like dripping foliage. Suits had gold palm tree brooches pinned to them to match the towering gold palm tree in the centre of the catwalk.
Eveningwear included a shimmering red sequin cocktail dress with puffed sleeves and tropical looking 3D sequinned flowers. 1990s supermodel Amber Valetta appeared in a long black column dress with moulded bra cups. Sharp black tailored jackets — some worn as dresses, some in leather — came with gold buttons, and sweetheart necklines, and also with huge puffed sleeves.
When it came to more casual looks, a tie-dye marble-effect was splashed over a check jacket, and also appeared on shoulder-padded hooded tops, while other more relaxed clothing included skinny jeans worn with a puffed sleeve trenchcoat and stilettos.
Everything was accessorised with chunky gold and crystal earrings, and bangles. Donatella Versace said, “this show is dedicated to all women, from the millennials to non-millennials, to working women, or women raising a family.” This show was bold, it was sexy, it was totally fabulous.