As Liz Hurley celebrates her 60th birthday on Tuesday, the British model and actress remains a timeless fashion icon. From her thriving beachwear line to being named Maxim’s “World’s Sexiest Woman” in 2023, Hurley has spent decades captivating audiences. Yet her meteoric rise to fame traces back to a single night in 1994—when she stole the spotlight at a movie premiere in a dress that rewrote fashion history.
The Dress That Overshadowed a Blockbuster
Hurley, then 29, attended the London premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral not as a star of the film, but as the girlfriend of its lead, Hugh Grant. The romantic comedy would go on to earn an Oscar nomination and become the highest-grossing British film at the time. But the evening belonged to Hurley, whose jaw-dropping black Versace gown—held together by oversized gold safety pins—instantly became legendary.
With its daring thigh-high slit and plunging neckline, the silk-and-Lycra creation was a radical departure from the conservative red-carpet norms of the mid-’90s. Paparazzi swarmed, and headlines erupted. Grant, who won a Golden Globe for his role, grinned beside her, seemingly unbothered by the attention shift.
An Accidental Fashion Revolution
In a twist of fate, Hurley nearly didn’t wear the dress at all. As Grant revealed in a 2019 BBC documentary, multiple designers rejected her loan requests due to her then-obscurity. Versace, however, had one last-minute sample available—a “favor” that catapulted her to global fame.
The impact was immediate. Tabloids dubbed it “that dress,” and Hurley, previously known as “Hugh Grant’s girlfriend,” became a household name. Reflecting in Tatler later that year, she quipped, “Only in England could a saucy dress have such an astounding effect.”
A Lasting Legacy
Beyond personal fame, Hurley’s Versace moment redefined red-carpet boldness. It paved the way for future iconic looks, from Jennifer Lopez’s 2000 Grammys gown to Halle Berry’s 2002 Oscar sheer dress. Versace, too, cemented its reputation for audacious, body-celebrating designs.
Decades later, the gown’s influence endures. Google “that dress,” and Hurley’s safety-pin masterpiece still outranks even the internet’s infamous 2015 “blue/black or white/gold” debate. Proof, perhaps, that true fashion history is made not just by what you wear—but how you wear it.
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