December 1999
Surprise! The first person to wear this -- in any version -- out in the world was actually Donatella herself. Hardly anyone remembers this; I only found this when trying to locate a runway photo. It's without the sleeves, but otherwise the same.
I mean, this is really, essentially, a bikini bottom and swimsuit cover-up that's just missing its top -- like she was headed to a topless pool party at Caesar's Palace or something. It's ridiculous. She's worn so many better things. But she did bring this to life in her own way.
This lighting shows more of the sheerness, and also the precariousness of it.
She told this to Entertainment Tonight: "I felt like, an energy. Like everything started stirring. I was like, 'What's happening?' And my dress was happening and I didn't know it." Oh, honey. You knew it. You HAD TO KNOW IT. LOOK AT YOURSELF, JENNIFER. I will go to my grave believing you knew, and that's okay! It's the whole reason a person wears this dress! It's not because you woke up and said, "I want to look like a bored rich lady who's trying to seduce her pool cleaner."
I do think she must have re-taped it at various points in the evening? It seems to have slid a bit here.
"Thanks guys! I tried it, right? Go do your thing!"
Then Jennifer wore this again to close Versace in 2019 and it was a delightful re-run.