NEED TO KNOW
- Amber Valletta attended the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City on Monday, Nov. 3
- The supermodel wore the iconic Versace jungle dress that she famously debuted on the runway in 1999
- Valletta opened up about the inspiration behind the dress, which was famously worn by Jennifer Lopez and more in the years that followed
Amber Valletta just pulled deep into the fashion archives for her latest look.
The supermodel, 51, brought a dose of nostalgia to the CFDA Fashion Awards 2025 red carpet when she stepped out in a design that she famously wore during the Versace Spring/Summer 2000 show over two decades ago: the iconic, green jungle dress.
At the event, Valletta spoke with reporters about her look and the inspiration behind rewearing it for the ceremony that celebrates a hybrid of American designers, brands and organizations from across the American Fashion Industry.
The zinger? The model, who laid the foundation for the pop culture phenomenon that took the fashion world by storm since it graced the 1999 runway, never wore the dress in public herself prior to Monday night.
Amber Valletta at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards.
John Nacion/Variety via Getty
“I feel extra special to be at the CFDA Awards because I’m in the Versace jungle dress and I’ve never worn my dress out in public. This is the first time that I’ve ever worn it on the red carpet and so I’m just really excited to be in the magical dress,” she told Vogue at the event on Nov. 3.
Valletta also made known that she was there to honor Donatella Versace, herself, who was being honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America — presided over by CFDA chairman Thom Browne and CEO and President Steven Kolb — with the Positive Change Award.
“And to be honoring Donatella who completely deserves the positive change award for all of her philanthropy,” she added, emphasizing, “All of it’s really special.”
Designer Donatella Versace walks the runway at the finale of the show with model Amber Valetta.
Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty
After Valletta debuted the green dress, which features a jungle-print and plunging neckline that drops past her navel, it was soon after worn by Jennifer Lopez when she hit the 2000 Grammy Awards red carpet.
A fashion frenzy soon after ensued.
According to Project Syndicate, the sartorial moment generated a spike in Google searches and led to the birth of Google Images.
“I put on the green dress and come out, and Benny goes, ‘That’s it. That’s it. Don’t even talk about it. That’s the dress,’ ” Lopez said in 2019 on the premiere episode of her YouTube series ‘Fashion Moments.’
Jennifer Lopez Versace in the Versace jungle dress in 2000 and 2019.
“And, of course my stylist is mortified,” the singer recalled. “She’s like, ‘No! It’s been worn before!’ But the guys were adamant, and we said okay.”
Ever since she debuted the jaw-dropping gown, Lopez hasn’t been afraid to recreate what she called her “biggest fashion moment ever.” Meanwhile, she hasn’t been alone in that move!
Donatella, herself, wore the design she created (her version was without sleeves) at the Met Gala on Dec. 6, 1999. Other stars like Lisa Rinna, Tyra Banks, Kerri Colby, Trey Parker and more stars rocked versions of the head-turning number.
In April 2023, Valletta reflected on her runway moment in the jungle gown.
“This dress I think has been Googled more times than any other look in history – literally broke the Internet when she wore it,” she said, referencing the Lopez’s bombshell appearance in the plunging green number at the 2000 Grammys. “Kinda cool to be a part of that history.”
However, she noted, “I wore it first.”
