Jennifer Lopez on Why That Green Versace Dress Is So Important

Fans are annoyed that Jennifer Lopez was snubbed during this year’s Oscar nominations, but Academy recognition or not, she still has some award-winning pop culture moments that outshine any golden statue. Case in point: the green Versace dress, which made fashion history when Lopez first wore it in 2000 and then again on the runway 20 years later. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, J.Lo spilled on what it feels like to wear this now-iconic garment.

“The first time I wore it, I actually didn’t have another dress,” Lopez said. “Usually I have choices. It was a last-minute thing that caused a sensation that was unexpected.”

Things were pretty different when she wore an updated version for a Versace show last year. “The second time was very planned out,” she said. “It started at the Met ball; Donatella [Versace] said, ‘You know, this year is the 20th anniversary of the jungle dress,’ and I said, ‘No, I didn’t.’ And she goes, ‘I think I’m going to do a whole show about it. Would you come?’ And I said, ‘Of course. Just call me.’ You know, it’s all timing—schedules and stuff. And then she wound up calling and said, ‘I want you to walk at the end, and I want you to come out in the dress.’ ‘The same dress?’ ‘The same dress. We’ll make a new one for you.’”

Jennifer Lopez had just turned 50 when she put it on again, something that made the moment even more special. “The second time I wore it and walked out there, it was such an empowering thing,” she said. “Twenty years had gone by, and I think for women, knowing you can put on a dress 20 years later—it resonated. It was like, ‘Yes, you know, life is not over at 20!’”

Hear, hear! Fingers crossed she wears another version of this dress during awards season. Or maybe even her Super Bowl halftime performance. How epic would that be?

Originally Appeared on Glamour