The 13 Going on 30 Dress Is…Gone Forever?
It’s because she had those incredible boobs to fill it out!
The multicolored minidress worn by Jenna (Jennifer Garner) during a pivotal scene in 13 Going on 30 (the magazine party where she performs the “Thriller” dance to liven things up) is apparently lost forever.
Thank gosh for dupes.
The dress, an early-aughts Versace that was produced only in a limited batch, ended up in a warehouse after filming wrapped and was eventually tossed. At least, that’s what costume designer Susie DeSanto assumes.
“I sadly think it’s in a landfill somewhere,” she told People to commemorate the movie’s 20th anniversary. DeSanto says that neither she nor Garner took the dress home, though she doesn’t remember why not. She said that if the OG garment were out there anywhere, someone probably would have found it by now.
The instantly recognizable garment has, however, been copied to hell and back, and you can get a pretty good facsimile on Amazon for $20, should you care to dress as Jenna for Halloween (or just want to wear it out).
Or, if you’re Ariana Grande, you can ask Donatella Versace for a real one.
Grande’s a big fan of the movie and reenacted some scenes in the “Thank U, Next” video too.
Courtesy of YouTube, @arianagrande
DeSanto also has a theory as to why the dress—and moreover, the movie—has such staying power.
“The reason I think people fall in love with it is because of Jen,” she said. “I think anybody else in that role, it would’ve just been a cute movie, but I think right then she was the exact right person with right energy and ability to tap into her youthfulness.”
13 Going on 30 also benefits from pitch-perfect performances by Andy Serkis, Judy Greer, and Mark Ruffalo, plus a bangin’ soundtrack I may or may not still have in my car.
I do—I have the CD in my car. It’s really good.