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

Tags

Related Articles

Fashion

L'HISTOIRE: Christina Aguilera's Versace Chainmail Butterfly Dress at the 2000 Grammys

Fashion

L'HISTOIRE: Naomi Campbell’s Dazzling Versace Mini Dress at the 1991 AIDS Benefit

Fashion

L’HISTOIRE: Jennifer Love Hewitt’s 1997 Grunge-Glam for 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'

Recommended posts for you

Beauty

The November 2025 Beauty Edit: New Launches to Carry You Through Sale Season

Beauty

Dua Lipa’s New Skincare Line with Augustinus Bader: The Full Review

Film & TV

Everything We Know About 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Movie

Shopping

12 Gifts That Will Show Your Host How Much You Really Care

Music

The Best Covers To Add To Your 2025 Christmas Playlist

Shopping

The Ultimate 2025 Luxury Coffee Table Book Gift Guide

Fashion

The Pantone Color Of The Year 2026 Is Finally Here

Fashion

Generation Gucci: See All Of The Looks From Gucci's Pre-Fall 2026 Collection