Jennifer Lopez's Incredible Fashion Evolution: Photos
When Jennifer Lopez hits a red carpet, all eyes and camera lenses are focused on her — but it wasn’t always that way. She, of course, was destined for Hollywood superstardom, but her fashion had to catch up with her star wattage and talent. Let’s just say it’s been a journey… but in a moment, one designer and one dress changed the game for J.Lo, and a fashion icon was born.
On Feb. 23, 2000, Lopez stepped on the red carpet in a green Versace silk-chiffon gown that was so revolutionary, Google created their “Image Search” tab because “it was the most popular search query we had ever seen,” according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The world paid attention, and “Jenny From the Block” knew there was no going back from the iconic dress that even boasts its own Wikipedia entry.
While she would describe the plunging green dress as her “most famous” fashion moment, she told Vogue that her favorite dress doesn’t exist, “it’s too hard to choose.” Her preferred daily style is “kind of relaxed and tomboyish but with a little bit of sexy in it.” Yet when she steps in front of the cameras — it’s all glam, baby. And fashion designers trip over themselves trying to get Lopez to wear their creations, from Marchesa to Gucci, she made everyone pay attention to her gorgeous curves.
And while her style grew from following the trends to creating the trends, Lopez has always made an impression.
Take a look at her fashion evolution from 1996 to 2024 below, in honor of her 55th birthday today!
A version of this article was published in April 2023.
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2024: ‘Atlas’ Premiere in Mexico City
Lopez steered clear of her usual form-fitting looks at the Altas Mexico City premiere in this ultra-plunging flowy layered look by Chloé.
2024: ‘Atlas’ L.A. Premiere
Lopez looked so chic at the L.A. premiere of Atlas on May 20 in this black and white Greta Constantine two-piece set paired with a statement green necklace and matching earrings.
2024: ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’ Met Gala
As one of the night’s co-chairs, Lopez looked so stunning at the 2024 Met Gala in this intricately lace silver dress from Schiaparelli.
2024: ‘This Is Me… Now: A Love Story’ Premiere
Lopez embraced her movie’s astrological theme at the This Is Me… Now: A Love Story premiere in this plunging black gown with the astrological signs decorated along the hem of the skirt.
2024: 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards
Jennifer Lopez stole the show at the 2024 Golden Globes in this floral, baby pink custom Nicole + Felicia Couture gown.
2023: LACMA Art+Film Gala
Jennifer Lopez was the definition of showstopping in this lacy, silky bige Gucci dress for the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala.
2023: ‘The Flash’ Premiere
Jennifer Lopez fully embraced her chic style icon status at the premiere of The Flash in June 2023. She donned this Gucci RE24 gown, which she paired with Le Vian and Anabela Chan jewelry.
2023: ‘The Mother’ Premiere
Jennifer Lopez is bringing out all the chic and sleek fashion stops for her red carpet premieres in 2023. For the premier of The Mother, she donned this sparkling white suit from Brunello Cucinelli.
2023: Grammy Awards
Lopez is in her most confident era yet; you can tell she looks and feels good in this stunning rhinestone-covered navy Gucci gown. It shows off every gorgeous angle and proves what a superstar she is.
2023: ‘Shotgun Wedding’ Premiere
Jennifer Lopez unleashed her girly side with this sparkling naked dress that perfectly combined her love for rocking show-stopping gowns and embracing her feminine side on the red carpet.
2022: MTV Movie & TV Awards
Jennifer Lopez was a vision at the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2022 with this plunging leather look from Monot.
2021: Venice Film Festival
The moment everyone was waiting for the debut of Bennifer 2.0 on the red carpet. The Georges Hobeika couture dress was perfectly styled with a dash of diamonds and a revealing neckline that was just as exciting as seeing Lopez and Affleck back together again.
2020: Super Bowl Press Conference
J.Lo found a sleek and stylish way to rock her Super Bowl press conference with an on-trend crop top and high-waisted pants in all-white. She knew all eyes were on her, and she was ready!
2019: Toronto International Film Festival
One look that needs to be talked about more is the yellow Maison Yeya gown Jennifer Lopez wore at the Hustlers premiere for the Toronto International Film Festival.
2019: Met Gala
This sparkling Versace dress had it all: cleavage, a plunging V-neckline, and a high-cut slit.
2018: ‘Second Act’ Movie Premiere
She went for the drama at the Second Act movie premiere with a high-low hemline gown by Giambattista Valli.
2017: People’s Choice Awards
At the People’s Choice Awards in 2017, Jennifer Lopez turned heads in this black, embellished gown from Reem Acra.
2017: Grammy Awards
J.Lo took an unexpectedly soft and pretty turn in a Ralph & Russo lavender gown from their Spring 2017 Couture collection.
2015: Met Gala
Lopez ditched the undergarments and invested in double-sided tape for her very revealing red dragon Versace gown. The theme of the 2015 Met Gala was “China: Through The Looking Glass” — and she nailed it!
2015: Billboard Latin Music Awards
Jennifer Lopez showed off her daring side yet again in this all-white ensemble consisting of a cape and a sheer lace jumpsuit from Zuhair Murad at the 2015 Billboard Latin Music Awards.
2015: 87th Annual Academy Awards
Back in 2015, she gave all the princess vibes in this nude, tulle and sparkling gown from Elie Saab that continued her Oscars ballgown streak.
2014: Billboard Music Awards
Jennifer Lopez looked amazing in this sheer red Donna Karan Cape Gown at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.
2010: Met Gala
Jennifer Lopez wowed in a sparkling Zuhair Murad gown at the 2010 Met Gala themed “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity.”
2009: Golden Globe Awards
She looked like a Golden Globe statuette, opting for another plunging neckline in a very sophisticated design from Marchesa.
2006: MTV VMAs
J.Lo loves a 1960s moment and she nailed this sultry look in a Biba mini dress and headscarf.
2006: 78th Annual Academy Awards
For the 78th Annual Academy Awards in 2006, Jennifer Lopez wowed in this ruched olive dress from Rita Watnick.
2003: Oscars
Nobody could forget this epic red-carpet night because this was the Bennifer 1.0 era and the start of the J.Lo glow (Ben Affleck had a matching spray tan, too). The mint-green gown from Valentino is still one of her most memorable looks.
2002: Oscars
Lopez was pretty in pink in this structured Versace gown with bombshell hair that gave off a 1960s vibe.
2001: Oscars
Freeing the nipple in 2023 isn’t that big of a deal, but in 2001, it was downright shocking, especially at the Oscars. But this Chanel gown was so soft and pretty that she was one of the night’s best-dressed stars.
2001: Super Bowl
J.Lo looked cute and country with her statement belt bedazzled with rhinestones. She would return to the Super Bowl 19 years later as the halftime show headliner with Shakira.
2000: MTV VMAs
This look was from her Puff Daddy dating era, and this outfit (with a Sean John crop top) perfectly reflected the synergy of their relationship and their music styles.
2000: Grammy Awards
The game-changing dress that cemented J.Lo as a red-carpet superstar — she became a hot commodity among fashion designers, thanks to Versace’s daring creation.
2000: Grammy Awards Photoshoot
Lopez joined other Grammy-nominated artists for a photoshoot in 2000, so she wanted a vibe that showed she belonged in the music industry while still showing she meant business.
2000: ALMA Awards
Jennifer Lopez wowed everyone during the 2000 ALMA Awards in this halter-necked-plum satin gown.
2000: ‘Enough’ Premiere
Jennifer Lopez looked angelic in this 1980s-inspired, baby pink gown at the premiere of Enough in New York City at Loew’s Lincoln Square Theater.
1999: Billboard Music Awards
Minus the chunky-heeled boots, Lopez could easily rock this edgy style from 24 years ago at the Billboard Music Awards.
1998: Grammy Awards
This was the year that Lopez’s sleek style began to form with the chic gold dress that shimmered from every angle and showed off her gorgeous dancer legs.
1998: MTV Movie Awards
This metallic outfit screams late-90s fashion with the silver kerchief top and long skirt paired with butterfly clips in her hair. J.Lo was trendy, but she was still finding her style here.
1997: ‘Anaconda’ Premiere
She was ahead of her time in working those curves in body-con dresses, and we wouldn’t mind if those curls made a comeback.
1996: ‘Selena’ Press Conference
J.Lo was all business in a pale pink skirt suit at the 1996 press conference for her breakthrough role in Selena.
