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Damian Hurley recreates his mother’s Versace ‘Safety Pin Dress’

Model shows off suit inspired by the Versace design

Katie O'Malley
Thursday 25 July 2019 14:03 BST
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Pat McGrath Muse Damian Hurley launches the Pat McGrath Labs new product range, 'Sublime Perfection: The System' at Selfridges
Pat McGrath Muse Damian Hurley launches the Pat McGrath Labs new product range, 'Sublime Perfection: The System' at Selfridges

Damian Hurley has taken a note from his mother, Elizabeth Hurley's fashion book and recreated her famous Versace “Safety Pin Dress” but with a modern twist.

On Thursday, the 17-year-old attended the launch of Pat McGrath Labs' new product range – Sublime Perfection The System – at Selfridges in London.

For the launch, the model – who recently made his fashion debut in the cosmetic company’s latest campaign – wore a pair of black cigarette trousers and a black blazer.

The blazer featured seven gold oversized pins which was reminiscent to the black dress worn by his mother to the Four Weddings and a Funeral Premiere with her then-boyfriend and star of the film, Hugh Grant, in 1994.

The Versace design, worn by Hurley, featured a plunging V-shaped neckline with thick black straps, side cut-outs, and several large gold safety pins.

Damian, who has hit headlines in recent years given his uncanny resemblance to his famous mother, updated the look with a pair of black and gold brogues, and styled his long brunette hair in waves that cascaded past his shoulders.

Pat McGrath Muse Damian Hurley launches the Pat McGrath Labs new product range, 'Sublime Perfection: The System' at Selfridges

The 54-year-old actor recently opened up about how she came to choose the now famous look.

“I urgently needed to find a dress to wear for Hugh [Grant]’s premiere, and in those days I had no idea about fashion,” Hurley told Harper’s Bazaar, 25 years after wearing the look.

“I remember going to an office where they literally fished a dress out of a white plastic bag,” she said.

The design has become one of the Italian fashion house’s most memorable looks, and has inspired the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa to wear similar safety-pin designs inspired by the 1994 original.

Actress Elizabeth Hurley wears a Giani Versace dress to the premiere of 'Four Weddings and A Funeral' held in Leicester Square on March 09, 1994 in London, England.

Donatella Versace, vice president and chief designer of the Versace Group, explained the thought process that went behind her late brother Gianni Versace's bold design.

"Gianni made that dress for a woman who is sure of herself and who isn't afraid to break the rules," Donatella stated.

"Liz embodies all of this in an extraordinary way."

Hurley told the publication that she still fits into the dress but wouldn’t choose to wear it again.

“Just because it still fits doesn’t mean I would wear it today – it wouldn’t be appropriate!” she told the magazine.

In 2007, the dress was put on sale for more than £10,000 as part of an exhibition at Harrods in London dedicated to "the little black dress".

Earlier this month, Pat McGrath Labs shared campaign footage for its first foundation product line, featuring Damian among a host of models including Sonjdra Deluxe, Violet Chachki and Zhengyang Zhang.

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In the footage, which was shot and directed by US fashion photographer Steven Meisel, Damian is dressed in a white T-shirt and a black leather jacket. Meanwhile, his bouffant hair-do, which is back-combed and teased to perfection, billows in front of the camera.

The teenager, who is signed to model agency TESS Management, sports a similar look to his famous mother, with his high cheekbones and a high eyebrow arch.

Damian posted a photograph from the photo shoot, revealing he was “so excited” to share his work with the cosmetics brand.

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