hrvarts – As Elizabeth Hurley turns 60, her status as a British fashion icon remains as strong as ever. From running her own beachwear brand to turning heads at every red carpet event, she continues to be a fixture in style conversations. But for many, it all began with one unforgettable fashion moment in 1994 “that” Versace dress.
A Red Carpet Appearance That Made Headlines
At the time, Hurley wasn’t yet a global name. She had appeared in a few films, most notably Passenger 57, and was best known to many as Hugh Grant’s girlfriend. But all of that changed at the London premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral a film in which she didn’t even appear.
While Grant was the star of the evening thanks to his breakout role, it was Hurley who stole the show. Dressed in a jaw-dropping black Versace gown, she became the most talked-about figure of the night, and the paparazzi’s favorite flash target.
The gown, constructed of black silk and Lycra, featured dramatic cutouts along the sides and was famously held together with oversized gold safety pins. Paired with tousled hair and effortless poise, Hurley’s look was bold, daring, and completely unforgettable.
A Last-Minute Choice That Made Fashion History
The story behind the dress is almost as famous as the gown itself. In a BBC documentary, Grant recalled that when they tried to borrow a dress for the premiere, most top fashion houses declined. Hurley, relatively unknown at the time, was repeatedly turned away.
Eventually, she found herself at the press office of Versace. There, by chance, was a single sample dress left an experimental piece that no one expected to become historic. That dress would not only launch Hurley into stardom but also reshape the expectations for red carpet fashion.
More Than Just a Dress A Fashion Milestone
Hurley’s appearance that night didn’t just get her noticed it changed the tone of celebrity style. In an era when modest, subdued gowns were the norm, her bold ensemble brought back glamour, sensuality, and high-fashion risk-taking.
In an interview later that year, she reflected on the reaction with amusement. “Only in England could a saucy dress have such an astounding effect,” she joked to Tatler. Even her mother, she noted, was initially horrified.
Yet that moment helped redefine what was possible for actresses, models, and even red-carpet stylists. The look has since been credited with paving the way for other legendary fashion moments like Jennifer Lopez’s plunging green Versace dress at the 2000 Grammys, and Halle Berry’s sheer Elie Saab gown at the 2002 Oscars.
The Lasting Impact of “That Dress”
The dress didn’t just elevate Hurley’s profile it cemented Versace’s reputation as a brand that celebrates the female form with confidence and strength. In fact, when people today search “that dress” on Google, Hurley’s safety-pin number often appears above even the infamous viral “blue or gold” dress that confused the internet.
The gown has since become a cultural artifact. It has been referenced in fashion retrospectives, recreated by designers, and even worn again by Hurley’s own son, Damian, for a photoshoot in 2021 proving the power of fashion to transcend generations.
Celebrating Liz Hurley at 60
Three decades after that legendary moment, Elizabeth Hurley is far from fading into the background. She remains a symbol of timeless beauty, entrepreneurial spirit, and unapologetic style. From being named Maxim’s “World’s Sexiest Woman” in 2023 to running a successful swimwear brand, she continues to shape how women express confidence through fashion.
As we celebrate Hurley’s milestone birthday, we also celebrate the dress that started it all a look that changed her life, made history, and continues to inspire designers, models, and red carpet stylists around the world.
