STYLE EVOLUTION

From Demure to Daring: Jennifer Lopez’s Red Carpet Style Has Come a Long Way

by W Staff
Updated: 
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Jennifer Lopez wearing her iconic plunging green Versace gown
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Whether she’s winning hearts in a rom-com or singing about being “Jenny from the Block,” Jennifer Lopez has always had a penchant for putting on the glitz. Since the famous plunging chiffon Versace dress she wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards, J.Lo’s name has become synonymous with daring, curve-baring looks.

But it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t always so—Lopez once favored more demure designs, albeit always those with a shimmer, which is why she often gravitates to Zuhair Murad’s dramatic pieces. (In fact, she even wore the designer to her midnight Las Vegas wedding to Ben Affleck.) Two decades later, Lopez still shines on every red carpet she walks. As we wait for her to deliver another eye-catching look, revisit her highlights below.

2023: The Flash Premiere
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Lopez traded her usual sequined gowns for this scuba-inspired look from Gucci to attend The Flash premiere.

2023: Met Gala
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The Bronx-native turned heads at the 2023 Met Gala in this velvet cut-out Ralph Lauren gown complete with a bow-shaped train and dramatic opera gloves.

2023: The Mother Premiere
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Lopez kept things neutral for the premiere of her movie The Mother in this cream Brunello Cucinelli maxi skirt, coat, and bandeau top.

2022: Halftime Premiere
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The star attended the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her documentary Halftime in a part velvet, part mesh gown by Tom Ford.

2022: MTV Music and TV Awards
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Just a few days later, Lopez accepted MTV’s Generation Award dressed in black from head-to-toe, topping off a long black Mônot gown with an equally plunging leather vest.

2022: Marry Me Premiere
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Five months before she married Ben Affleck, Lopez prophetically posed alongside her now husband in a lace bridal-style dress to the premiere of her film Marry Me.

2021: The Tender Bar Premiere
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She again posed with Affleck, this time in a plunging blue Elie Saab gown, at the premiere of his movie, The Tender Bar.

2021: The Last Duel Premiere
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Lopez showed off her abs in a glittering copper Hervé Leger two piece set at the premiere of Affleck’s project, The Last Duel.

2021: Met Gala
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Wearing custom Ralph Lauren, Lopez attended the 2021 Met Gala celebrating “In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion.”

2021: Venice International Film Festival
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Lopez posed with Ben Affleck in a low-cut Georges Hobeika crepe satiné gown at the red carpet for the premiere of The Last Duel at the Venice International Film Festival.

2021: 59th Presidential Inauguration
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Wearing an all-white Chanel ensemble, complete with sequined wide-leg pants and a pirate blouse, Lopez performed at President Joe Biden’s Inauguration ceremony in 2021.

2020: Screen Actors Guild Awards
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Wearing a black column dress with a large bow in the back, Lopez posed with her then-fiancé, Alex Rodriguez, at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards.

2020: Critics' Choice Awards
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Lopez looked like a full glass of champagne in this backless George Hobeika gown at the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards.

2020: Golden Globe Awards
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Looking like the best Christmas present under the tree in this green, gold, and white Valentino couture gown, Lopez posed with her now-ex Rodriguez at the 2020 Golden Globes.

2019: Hustlers Premiere
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The actress and singer stunned in this deconstructed yellow Maison Yeya dress with a very fitting money clutch at the premiere of Hustlers.

2019: Met Gala
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Lopez dripped in diamonds in this Versace dress with a matching headpiece for the 2019 Met Gala celebrating “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”

2019: Academy Awards
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Wearing a long-sleeved turtleneck Tom Ford dress, Lopez almost looked like an Oscar trophy herself at the 2019 ceremony.

2019: Grammy Awards
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Lopez nabbed this couture Ralph & Russo gown straight off the runway for the 2019 Grammy Awards.

2018: Second Act Premiere
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Wearing this bright and voluminous Giambattista Valli gown, Lopez attended the premiere of her 2018 movie Second Act.

2018: MTV Video Music Awards
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Lopez wore a classic, one-shoulder silver Versace dress to the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.

2018: Met Gala
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Wearing a jewel and feather encrusted cutout Balmain dress, Lopez attended the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.

2017: Met Gala
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Lopez looked angelic in this blue Valentino gown at the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Met Gala.

2017: Grammy Awards
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Wearing a Ralph & Russo dress with a high slit and tulle neckpiece, Lopez attended the 2017 Grammy Awards.

2016: Golden Globe Awards
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Lopez shined in this Giambattista Valli couture caped gown at the Golden Globe Awards.

2015: Tony Awards
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Lopez really amped up the glam in this deep blue, embellished Valentino couture gown at the 2015 Tony Awards.

2015: Met Gala
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Wearing a beautifully intricate Atelier Versace gown, Lopez attended the 2015 Met Gala.

2015: Academy Awards
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Lopez brought the drama in this flesh-toned, low-cut Elie Saab gown for the Academy Awards.

2015: Golden Globes
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Wearing this caped Zuhair Murad fitted dress, Lopez attended the 2015 Golden Globes.

2014: Billboard Music Awards
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Lopez proved she loves a good cape moment in this belted Donna Karan bodysuit at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.

2014: Video Music Awards
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This cutout, high slit Charbel Zoe dress is quintessential Lopez.

2013: Grammy Awards
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The simplicity of this one-shoulder Anthony Vaccarello dress meant all the attention was on Lopez’s leg at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

2013: Golden Globes
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Lopez attended the 2013 Golden Globes with her then boyfriend, Casper Smart, wearing this sheer lace Zuhair Murad gown.

2012: Academy Awards
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The lines of this sparkling Zuhair Murad gown accentuated Lopez’s figure beautifully.

2011: Met Gala
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Lopez opted for a more feminine Gucci dress with a floral shoulder piece for the 2011 Met Gala.

2011: Golden Globe Awards
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The caplet on top of Lopez’s Zuhair Murad gown brought the right amount of sparkle to her Golden Globes look.

2010: Academy Awards
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Lopez stunned in this structural Armani Privé dress at the 2010 Academy Awards.

2009: Golden Globe Awards
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The entertainer looked statuesque in this gold, low-cut Marchesa gown at the Golden Globe Awards.

2007: Academy Awards
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This empire-waisted Marchesa was a bit of a departure for Lopez, but of course, she pulled it of beautifully.

2004: Golden Globe Awards
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The yellow hue of this Michael Kors dress paired well with Lopez’s sun-kissed skin at the 2004 Golden Globe Awards.

2003: Academy Awards
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Lopez has many iconic looks from over the years, but this pale green Valentino dress will always top the list.

2002: Academy Awards
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The star paired this corseted pink Versace dress with some bouncy curls for the 2002 Academy Awards.

2001: Academy Awards
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Lopez looked gorgeous in this gray Chanel gown at the 2001 Academy Awards.

2000: MTV Video Music Awards
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This all-white look made up of a Sean John crop top, jeans, and a white bandana is one of Lopez’s most iconic to date.

2000: Grammy Awards
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They say this Versace dress launched Google Images when Lopez wore it to the Grammys in 2000, and we can see why.

1999: Academy Awards
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Lopez looked like a real princess in this strapless black ballgown at the 1999 Academy Awards.

1998: Grammy Awards
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Lopez opted for this blue knitted halter dress with a matching cardigan for her first-ever Grammy Awards in 1998.

1997: Academy Awards
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Lopez glowed in this gorgeous Badgley Mischka dress at the 1997 Academy Awards.

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