Gigi Hadid has paid homage to a pivotal moment in 1990s fashion, recreating Elizabeth Hurley's iconic safety pin Versace dress for the cover of EE72 magazine. The ensemble, originally worn by Hurley in 1994 ahead of the premiere of "Four Weddings and a Funeral," catapulted her to international fame.
Hadid, who was not yet born when Hurley first wore the daring dress, is featured in a spread titled 'Made in the 90s.' In the striking images, she sports the black Versace gown held together by safety pins, paired with sky-high heels, a tousled hairstyle, and dramatic eye makeup, as photographed by Craig McDean. The spread also includes nods to other 90s brands, with Hadid posing in Calvin Klein briefs.
A Dress That Made a Statement
Elizabeth Hurley has previously spoken about how she came to wear the then-unknown Versace design. In a 2024 Disney+ Vogue documentary, she recalled needing a dress for the premiere and securing the £3,000 gown through a PR firm on the day of the event. She described the dress, which she picked up in a plastic bag, as looking "precarious" but confirmed its secure fit with a few movements before heading to the premiere. The dress's bold design, coupled with Hurley's status as a relative unknown at the time, generated massive media attention, with the next day's newspapers featuring her prominently.
Gigi Hadid's Versace Connection
Hadid, who began modeling at a young age, has also credited Versace with significantly impacting her career. She recounted to Vogue France how Donatella Versace offered crucial support when she faced body image pressures early in her modeling career. Hadid explained that she was told she needed to lose weight to walk for certain designers, including Victoria's Secret. However, Versace's affirmation, with Donatella telling her she was "the sexiest girl I've ever seen," provided her with invaluable confidence. Hadid's walk in Versace's Spring/Summer 2016 show, and subsequent selection as the face of a campaign, marked a turning point for her self-perception and career.
Nineties Fashion Echoes
The EE72 magazine feature also includes other tributes to 90s fashion. Alongside the Versace dress, Hadid is shown in other looks evocative of the era, including Calvin Klein underwear peeking out of jeans and an unbuttoned men's tailored shirt. The spread also features a cover appearance by 90s icon Cindy Crawford, photographed by Peter Lindberg, who was renowned for his work with supermodels in that decade. Lindberg's 1990 British Vogue cover famously united Crawford with Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Tatjana Patitz.