Celebrities in Versace at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards

At the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards, Amber Valletta, Ariana DeBose, and Donatella Versace delivered a masterclass in legacy dressing — each look carrying its own piece of fashion history.

The Original Jungle Queen

Amber Valletta wore the Versace Spring 2000 jungle print dress — yes, the same one made famous by Jennifer Lopez, whose appearance in it at the 2000 Grammys literally birthed Google Image Search. But fashion historians will know that the story started long before that viral moment.

Amber was the model who debuted the gown on the runway in September 1999, followed by Donatella Versace wearing it to the Rock Style Met Gala that December — back when the event was held in winter rather than the now-iconic first Monday in May slot. Geri Halliwell even got there before J.Lo, wearing the same dress to the NRJ Music Awards in France in January 2000. Only then did Jennifer take it global a month later.

Twenty-five years on, Amber stepping back into the dress feels like a poetic full circle. The gown may have passed through pop culture’s hall of fame, but seeing it on the woman who started it all — still radiant, still magnetic — is the kind of fashion nostalgia that makes your heart skip.

Gold Standard Glamour

Ariana DeBose shimmered in a gold chainmail Versace Spring 2018 gown — the same collection that reunited the original supermodels for an emotional tribute to Gianni Versace, closing the show to George Michael’s Freedom. Six years later, the energy of that moment still lingers in this gown’s metallic drape and asymmetrical cut. The look suits Ariana beautifully, though I can’t help wishing she’d opted for metallic sandals over black.

The Icon Herself

Donatella Versace, ever the embodiment of her brand, wore a sculpted black Atelier Versace gown with subtle beaded detailing and a fluid train. There’s no one who understands red carpet sensuality quite like her — it’s confident, commanding, and timeless. At this point, Donatella isn’t just part of fashion history; she is fashion history.