Christina Aguilera just made a strong case for archival fashion, and L&rsquo;OFFICIEL traces the legacy of the Versace Fall/Winter 2003 dress she helped make iconic.

L'HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today&rsquo;s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
There&rsquo;s a reason Christina Aguilera remains a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/destinys-child-floral-bustier-bra-low-rise-jeans-outfit-mtv-icon-tribute-2001">Y2K fashion icon</a>: she&rsquo;s never shied away from a bold, head-turning statement. Just hearing her name conjures the &ldquo;Dirrty&rdquo; era: ultra low-rise jeans, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/shield-sunglasses-from-the-60s-to-now">shield sunglasses</a>, newsboy caps, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/schiaparelli-paris-couture-week-fall-winter-2025-whale-tail-thong-revival-history">whale tail thongs</a>, and two-toned blonde-and-black highlights. But in the sea of unforgettable looks, one vintage moment is making a comeback: the olive green corset dress straight off Versace&rsquo;s Fall/Winter 2003 runway.&nbsp;

Versace Fall/Winter 2003. Getty Images.

Christina Aguilera. Getty Images.

At a London photocall for Burlesque The Musical this week, Aguilera revived the iconic lingerie-inspired Versace dress, which features a corset bodice and a ruffled handkerchief skirt. This time, she gave it a rock-chic twist, styling it with over-the-knee black boots and a dark lip. Originally designed by Donatella Versace in her seventh year leading the house after her brother, Gianni Versace&rsquo;s, passing, the dress is a testament to early-2000s rebellion-meets-sensual aesthetic.&nbsp;
Donatella herself took the time to share her approval on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DMZsevetTrC/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>.&nbsp;
&ldquo;💜 I love you, Christina. What a moment to relive 💜,&rdquo; she captioned the post.&nbsp;

It wasn&rsquo;t Aguilera&rsquo;s first time in the Versace dress&mdash;she&rsquo;s very familiar with it. In 2003, it was among the few ensembles she wore for the Italian luxury fashion house&rsquo;s Fall/Winter 2003 campaign, photographed by Steven Meisel. Then, she leaned into the bare-faced, thin eyebrows aesthetic of the time, letting her platinum hair and edgy minimalism do the talking. Naturally, eagle-eyed fashion fanatics were quick to notice the reference; the latest revival trades nostalgia for attitude, after all.&nbsp;

Christina Aguilera wearing Versace at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Getty Images

Aguilera&rsquo;s relationship with Versace runs deep. At the 2000 Grammy Awards, she wore a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/christina-aguilera-versace-chainmail-butterfly-dress-grammys-2000">shimmering chainmail dress</a>&nbsp;from the brand, and Donatella has long praised the &ldquo;Genie in a Bottle&rdquo; singer.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I watch videos of Christina, and I always die. She is a great dancer, a great singer, her voice is amazing,&rdquo; she once told <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/aguilera-teams-with-versace-72085/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Billboard</a>.&nbsp;

Versace Moscow Fashion Week 2003. Getty Images.

Bella Hadid. Getty Images.

You might be thinking: where have I seen that corset dress before? You&rsquo;re not wrong. It&rsquo;s because Aguilera isn&rsquo;t the only one who&rsquo;s turned to it. It&rsquo;s somewhat become a staple in celebrities&rsquo; closets. On the heels of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, supermodel <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/science-says-bella-hadid-most-beautiful-woman-in-world">Bella Hadid</a> was spotted wearing a pale pink version, originally featured in Versace&rsquo;s Moscow Fashion Week runway in November 2003.&nbsp;

Beyoncé. Getty Images.

Iris Law. Getty Images.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/beyonce-cowboy-carter-tour-outfits">Beyonc&eacute;</a> wore the same olive green style to the 2003 MTV Movie Awards, pairing it with matching pumps and a gemstone necklace. More recently, Iris Law stepped out in the dress at a 2022 London Fashion Week party, bringing her own Gen Z edge to the archival piece. Rita Ora, Devon Lee Carlson, and Iris Apatow have also worn iterations of it in recent years, each interpreting the look differently.&nbsp;
With how popular it&rsquo;s gotten&mdash;and the current obsession with vintage designer pieces&mdash;it&rsquo;s likely we haven&rsquo;t seen the last of the Versace dress. It&rsquo;s even surfaced on secondhand platforms like 1stDibs. Either way, archival revivals like Aguilera&rsquo;s prove what fashion already knows: great style always comes back around.

L’HISTOIRE: Christina Aguilera’s Rebellious Lingerie Dress from Versace Fall/Winter 2003

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