Elizabeth Hurley proved that true fashion classics never go out of style. The British actress and model surprised fans over the weekend after revisiting one of her most memorable red-carpet looks — nearly three decades after its debut.
Hurley, 60, shared a striking side-by-side photo on Instagram showing herself wearing the same plunging black Versace gown she first wore to the 1999 Met Gala alongside a fresh snapshot taken during her recent trip to India.
The glamorous halter-neck dress featured a dramatic deep-V neckline, a thigh-high slit and jeweled embellishments at the waist in shades of pink and amber. Even after 27 years, the vintage design still made a bold statement.
For its 2026 revival, Hurley styled the gown with chandelier earrings, a pendant necklace and a sparkling silver crystal bindi, adding a touch of local influence to the classic ensemble.
“Viva Versace!” Hurley wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. “For this weekend’s adventure in India, I dug into my archives and unearthed one of my favourite pieces, which I last wore to the Met Gala in 1999. 27 years may have passed, but some loves never fade.”
Fans quickly flooded the comments section with admiration for the actress’ timeless look and seemingly ageless appearance. One follower joked, “What elixir do you take?” while others dubbed her “Benjamina Button” and compared her to “the finest of fine wines.” Another fan summed up the reaction succinctly: “Aging backwards.”
Hurley’s son, filmmaker and model Damian Hurley, 23, also reacted enthusiastically to the post, writing, “Hell yeaaaaaa.” Fashion designer Donatella Versace joined the celebration as well, leaving a trio of celebratory emojis in the comments.
The dress originally debuted at the 1999 Met Gala, which that year celebrated the “Rock Style” exhibition. The event featured a number of memorable fashion moments. That same evening, Versace wore the plunging tropical-print gown that Jennifer Lopez would famously wear to the Grammy Awards just months later, while Liv Tyler and Stella McCartney turned heads in matching studded “Rock Royalty” one-shouldered T-shirts.
Hurley’s love affair with bold silhouettes and daring necklines has long been a signature element of her style. As observers noted even in the late 1990s, the actress never shied away from a dramatic plunging neckline or a daring slit.
Revisiting vintage Versace pieces has also become something of a tradition for Hurley. During the global lockdown in 2020, she revisited another archival look — a pink Versace chainmail dress she originally wore to the 1999 CFDA Fashion Awards. At the time, she told Harper’s Bazaar she had carefully preserved the piece after the event.
“I put it away in acid-free tissue paper straightaway, and it’s still perfect!” she said.
Of course, Hurley’s most legendary Versace moment dates back even further. In 1994, she famously wore Gianni Versace’s daring black safety-pin dress to the London premiere of then-boyfriend Hugh Grant’s film “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” The provocative design instantly became one of the most talked-about red-carpet outfits in fashion history and helped cement Hurley’s status as a style icon.
Years later, Hurley revealed that the original dress still fits. However, she joked in 2019 that just because she can still wear it doesn’t necessarily mean she would.
“Just because it still fits doesn’t mean I would wear it today — it wouldn’t be appropriate!” she said at the time.
Hurley’s trip to India involved more than just a fashion throwback. During the visit, she also celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi in Delhi alongside her son Damian, beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall and her ex-husband Arun Nayar.
For the colorful celebration, Hurley traded the glamorous Versace gown for a traditional white kurta, embracing the spirit of the festival of colors while spending time with friends and family.
Even so, her revived 1999 gown proved that some fashion moments truly are timeless — and that, nearly three decades later, Hurley can still command attention in the very same dress.
