More than three decades after Elizabeth Hurley stopped the world in a barely-there black Versace gown, Gigi Hadid has revived the moment — and earned the ultimate seal of approval from the woman who made it famous.
The supermodel slipped into a version of the iconic Versace safety pin dress for the Fall 2026 issue of Edward Enninful's 72 Magazine, shot by photographer Craig McDean. The image forms part of Issue #5's sweeping '90s tribute, in which the London-based independent publication — founded by the former British Vogue editor-in-chief under his EE72 media company — celebrates the creative legacy of that era and its continued influence on fashion and culture.
The Dress That Launched a Thousand Headlines
The original moment came in 1994, when Elizabeth Hurley accompanied Hugh Grant to the London premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral, wearing a plunging black Versace gown held together by bold gold safety pins. It instantly became one of the most talked-about red-carpet appearances in fashion history, and has lost precisely none of its power in the years since.
Hadid's recreation — wearing Versace Spring 1994 — is faithful to the drama of the original. The gown features an incredibly deep plunging neckline extending toward the waist, with strategically placed oversized gold safety pins fastening the daring cutouts running down its side. A thigh-high slit climbs dramatically up one leg, with additional gold pins securing the fabric near the upper thigh, before the fitted black material flows into a longer, fluid skirt. Wet-look hair swept back with loose strands falling across her face, and smoky black eye makeup, complete the sultry look.
Hurley's Verdict: 'You Look Divine'
The real coup, however, came from Hurley herself. The actress shared a side-by-side comparison of her 1994 original and Hadid's 2026 recreation on Instagram, with a message that left little room for ambiguity.
"Viva Versace! Gigi, you look divine," Hurley wrote, tagging Hadid, Versace, and Donatella Versace.
Hadid's response in the comments was equally warm, if rather more economical: "Queeeeen."
A Star-Studded Issue With a Dual-Cover Concept
The Versace moment is just one strand of a richly conceived issue. 72 Magazine — now marking its first anniversary — has produced nine dual cover offerings for this fifth edition. One side features a new generation of supermodels: Hadid alongside Anok Yai, Paloma Elsesser, Imaan Hammam, He Cong, Adwoa Aboah, Mica Argañaraz, Julia Nobis, and Emily Ratajkowski. Flip it over, and you'll find archival photography of '90s icons including Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Kristen McMenamy, Yasmeen Ghauri, Karen Elson, Christy Turlington, and Amber Valletta.
The concept has sparked lively debate online. Readers on the publication's forum were broadly enthusiastic about Hadid's cover — "I am particularly fond of the Gigi Hadid cover – and love the archival Versace," wrote one commenter — though not everyone was won over by the dual-generation framing.
"What an unfortunate decision to juxtapose the 90s vs today. You make people realize how the past is superior to the present," wrote one reader, under the handle Lola701.
Whether you find the comparison inspiring or invidious, one thing is hard to dispute: that black Versace dress, with its gold pins and its audacious proportions, remains one of fashion's most enduring conversation starters. Hadid's recreation — and Hurley's gracious blessing of it — only confirms as much.
