When Sabrina Carpenter stepped onto the 2025 MTV VMA stage, viewers felt an instant rush of nostalgia. Midway through her performance of “Tears,” the 26-year-old singer stripped off her fringe mini-dress and revealed a glittering lingerie-inspired look: a bedazzled bra halter top, sequin micro shorts, and crystal-studded tights. It wasn’t just bold — it was a direct nod to Britney Spears’ iconic 2001 “Dream Within a Dream Tour” costume, a Bob Mackie design that went down in pop culture history.
Fashion outlets like InStyle and Marie Claire were quick to call it: Carpenter’s sparkling bra was pure Britney, right down to the rain-dance vibes Spears once brought to HBO’s televised Baby One More Time performance.
Back in 2001, Britney — then at the peak of her reign — wore her blinged-out bra, underwear, and matching armbands for both live shows and promotional shoots.
That exact ensemble resurfaced earlier this year when Julien’s Auctions sold it for a staggering $78,000. Talk about a look that never goes out of style.
Carpenter’s choice to resurrect it in 2025 felt like a full-circle tribute. Britney, now 43, hasn’t graced the VMA stage since 2016, despite constant comeback rumors. Still, her fashion and performance legacy lingers — from the unforgettable “I’m a Slave 4 U” python dance in 2001 to that infamous Madonna kiss in 2003.
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