Elizabeth Hurley has never apologized for loving glamour. For more than three decades, the British actress, model, and entrepreneur has occupied a singular space in the global fashion consciousness. Whether she is stepping out in impeccably tailored eveningwear, re-defining red-carpet boundaries, or anchoring a major new international campaign, Hurley’s aesthetic remains unmistakably her own: feminine, sensual, unapologetically bold, and entirely grounded in personal confidence.
At 61, Hurley’s cultural footprint is as prominent as ever. Rather than fading into nostalgia, her iconic sartorial moments—most notably the legendary Versace safety-pin dress and the glimmering Atelier Versace chainmail look she wore to the 1999 CFDA Awards—continue to inspire today’s top-tier celebrities. This enduring influence is vividly demonstrated by modern style icons like Kylie Jenner, who donned an exact re-creation of Hurley’s CFDA dress at the 2025 Golden Globes.
Now, Hurley is channeling this timeless philosophy into a modern partnership, fronting the debut U.S. campaign for Joseph Ribkoff titled "She Icons." Photographed by Jake Rosenberg, the campaign highlights the intersection of rich seasonal neutrals, sophisticated tailoring, and Hurley’s signature fearless attitude. As the Montreal-based legacy brand accelerates its digital expansion across the United States and Europe, Hurley spoke exclusively with ELLE about personal style, the mechanics of reinvention, the surreal nature of seeing her archival looks resurrected by a new generation, and why aging should inherently grant women greater sartorial freedom rather than restriction.
Detailed Chronology: From 90s Sensations to Modern Milestones
To understand Elizabeth Hurley’s status as a generational touchstone, it is necessary to examine the trajectory of her most defining fashion milestones and how they intersect with the broader timeline of contemporary pop culture.
The 1994 Breakthrough: Hurley stepped onto the global stage alongside then-boyfriend Hugh Grant at the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral. Clad in a black Versace silk dress held together by oversized gold safety pins, Hurley transformed an evening out into a watershed moment in fashion history. The dress instantly redefined red-carpet risk-taking and catapulted both Hurley and Versace into a new stratosphere of global fame.
The 1999 CFDA Awards: Cementing her symbiotic relationship with Italian luxury house Versace, Hurley wore a shimmering, liquid-like Atelier Versace chainmail gown to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards. The look epitomized late-90s minimalism infused with high-octane glamour, setting a high watermark for eveningwear that would be referenced for decades.
The 2000s and 2010s—Diversification and Entrepreneurship: While maintaining her status as a global style icon, Hurley successfully expanded her repertoire into entrepreneurship, launching her eponymous beachwear line, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, in 2005. She maintained a steady presence on television and film while curating a personal style that balanced relaxed English countryside living with high-glamour international appearances.
The Archive Revival (2010s–Present): A new generation of artists began excavating Hurley’s 90s archive. Pop superstars like Lady Gaga and Halsey donned variations of her historic Versace looks, proving that her aesthetic transcended generational divides.
The 2025 Golden Globes and Joseph Ribkoff Campaign: Kylie Jenner’s decision to wear an exact re-creation of Hurley’s 1999 CFDA chainmail dress to the 2025 Golden Globes brought Hurley’s style back to the center of the Hollywood conversation. Simultaneously, Hurley announced her collaboration with Joseph Ribkoff for the brand’s first major U.S. campaign, aligning her legacy of timeless elegance with the brand’s global digital expansion.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Business of Heritage and Revival
The partnership between Elizabeth Hurley and Joseph Ribkoff is more than a standard celebrity endorsement; it is a calculated strategic alignment rooted in contemporary retail trends. Joseph Ribkoff, a staple of Canadian fashion with nearly 70 years of heritage, is currently navigating an aggressive expansion phase aimed at solidifying its digital footprint across the U.S. and European markets.
In the modern retail landscape, heritage brands face a distinct challenge: how to honor decades of loyal clientele while capturing the attention of digitally native, trend-conscious consumers. By bringing in a figure like Hurley—who bridges the gap between classic sartorial sophistication and enduring cultural relevance—Joseph Ribkoff successfully positions its collections as versatile, ageless, and culturally attuned.
Market Expansion: The "She Icons" campaign marks Joseph Ribkoff’s inaugural dedicated U.S. push, utilizing high-end digital imagery captured by acclaimed photographer Jake Rosenberg.
Visual Direction: The campaign embraces autumn’s richest tonal shifts—head-to-toe chocolate brown, high-gloss oxblood, and statement leopard-print outerwear. By blending soft knits with razor-sharp tailoring and pointed pumps, the collection targets modern professional and social calendars alike.
The Archive Economy: The resale and archive-revival markets have surged over the past five years. Celebrities wearing vintage or archival 1990s designer pieces has become the ultimate status symbol. Hurley’s private archive—which still houses the original Atelier Versace chainmail gown—represents a tangible piece of fashion history that continues to yield cultural dividends in the modern era.
Official Statements and Insights from Elizabeth Hurley
In her conversation with ELLE, Elizabeth Hurley offered candid reflections on the evolution of personal style, the mechanics of iconic fashion moments, and her philosophy on aging in the public eye.
On Modern Elegance and Personal Comfort
Discussing Joseph Ribkoff’s guiding philosophy of "Elegance in Motion," Hurley noted that contemporary elegance has discarded outdated rulebooks in favor of self-awareness.
"I think modern elegance is much less about rules than it used to be. It’s about knowing yourself and feeling at ease in what you’re wearing. You can be incredibly elegant in beautifully cut pants and a jacket, or in an evening gown. For me, there has to be an ease to it."
On the Nature of "Iconic" Fashion Moments
When asked what grants a person or a look true staying power, Hurley emphasized authenticity over calculated perfection.
"I don’t think you can set out to be iconic. Usually, the moments that last are the ones that feel completely authentic to the person at the time. There’s a confidence in not trying too hard or worrying about whether everyone will approve. The things we remember tend to have a point of view and a bit of fearlessness."
On Kylie Jenner and Generational Style Diffusion
Addressing the moment Kylie Jenner stepped onto the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet in her archival Versace design, Hurley expressed admiration for the cyclical nature of fashion.
"I thought Kylie looked absolutely beautiful in the Versace dress—I still have the original in my archive and may wear it again myself one day. Fashion is wonderful that way; a great piece can have one life and then suddenly be rediscovered by a completely new generation—like Lady Gaga re-wearing my safety pin dress or Halsey wearing a version of a red leopard-skin Versace I wore in the ’90s. I love seeing that happen."
On Longevity, Brand Evolution, and Personal Reinvention
Drawing parallels between her own career and Joseph Ribkoff’s nearly seven-decade history, Hurley articulated the importance of continuous adaptation without losing core identity.
"Very much. I don’t think longevity comes from staying exactly the same. You have to keep moving, stay curious, and be open to what comes next, but you also have to know who you are. I think that’s true of people and of brands. What I found interesting about Joseph Ribkoff is that it’s looking forward without trying to erase what made the brand successful in the first place. I can certainly relate to that."
On Breaking Age-Related Style Taboos
Hurley offered pointed, empowering advice for women navigating societal pressures regarding age and fashion choices.
"I’d say stop listening to all the rules. I don’t like the idea that women reach a certain age and suddenly there’s a list of things they’re no longer supposed to wear or do. If something makes you feel fabulous, wear it. Getting older should give you more freedom, not less."
Future Outlook: The Evolution of Glamour
As Elizabeth Hurley continues to balance her archival legacy with forward-looking commercial ventures like her collaboration with Joseph Ribkoff, her trajectory offers a blueprint for modern longevity in the entertainment and fashion industries.
The strict, prescriptive definitions of glamour that dominated the late 20th century have given way to a more fluid, individualistic approach. Women are no longer bound by rigid age brackets or seasonal mandates; instead, as Hurley observes, true style is defined by individuality, comfort, and unapologetic self-expression.
Looking ahead, as heritage brands modernize their digital strategies and younger generations continue to mine the rich aesthetic archives of the 1990s, figures like Elizabeth Hurley prove that true style is timeless. Whether she decides to pull the original Versace chainmail dress out of storage for her own future red-carpet appearance or continues to champion accessible, elegant everyday wear through her work with Joseph Ribkoff, Hurley remains a defining force in fashion—reminding us all that confidence is the ultimate accessory, and that getting older should always be celebrated with greater freedom.
