Sabrina Carpenter paid tribute to early 2000s pop fashion with a bold nod to Britney Spears’ iconic 2001.
The Espresso hitmaker continued to flaunt her love for vintage fashion at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards over the weekend.
Fresh off rocking a 2003 Naomi Campbell-inspired lingerie look, the Please Please Please chart-topper doubled down on her vintage style obsession, this time seemingly channeling her inner Spears during a sultry performance of Tears.
Taking the stage on September 7, the 26-year-old Grammy winner first appeared in a glittering fringe top and matching miniskirt, which she dramatically removed mid-performance to reveal a daring, lingerie-inspired ensemble.
The look featured a bedazzled halter bra, sequined micro-shorts, and sparkling tights, a striking reference to one of the Gimme More singer’s most iconic stage outfits.
Fashion outlets like InStyle and Marie Claire quickly picked up on the homage, noting similarities to the Bob Mackie-designed diamonds outfit Spears, 43, wore during her Dream Within a Dream Tour in 2001 where she famously danced in the rain.
Additionally, netizens couldn't help but also drew parallels to the pop queen's dazzling green and pink bedazzled bra and low-rise shorts from her I’m a Slave 4 U VMAs performance that same year, complete with belly jewelry and fierce attitude.
While Spears hasn't attended the VMAs since 2016, Carpenter’s look brought back her iconic memories and major pop nostalgia.
Carpenter, who earned her first VMA in 2024, added another major trophy to her growing collection by taking home Album of the Year for her sixth studio album, Short n' Sweet, at this year’s show.