Look of the Week: Sabrina Carpenter honors Madonna in vintage Oscars gown

At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Madonna made a striking impression despite her absence. On the red carpet, both Addison Rae and Anitta paid tribute to the Queen of Pop with bridal-inspired outfits reminiscent of her iconic 1984 “Like a Virgin” performance. However, it was Sabrina Carpenter, nominated for Artist of the Year, who truly dazzled with an exceptional nod to Madonna’s fashion legacy.

Carpenter turned heads by wearing a vintage gown once famously donned by Madonna. Designed by renowned fashion creator Bob Mackie, the white satin dress featured a dramatic deep-V neckline adorned with sequins, pearls, and crystals. This piece originally gained fame when Madonna wore it to the 1991 Oscars, alongside Michael Jackson, before her performance of “Sooner or Later” from the film Dick Tracy.

The gown exuded Old Hollywood glamour, a deliberate nod from Madonna to Marilyn Monroe. Mackie had first designed the dress for a Vanity Fair cover shoot with Madonna, before she requested a customized version for the Oscars. Mackie recounted this story on Instagram, detailing how the dress was initially borrowed for a Vanity Fair shoot, leading to Madonna’s personal request for the Oscars event. The dress also appeared in Madonna’s 1992 controversial book Sex and was later worn by Fran Drescher in a 1994 episode of The Nanny. Mackie’s designs have graced numerous icons, including Monroe, Diana Ross, and Cher, and his vintage creations have recently been revived by stars like Anya Taylor-Joy, Katy Perry, Zendaya, and Miley Cyrus. Kim Kardashian also drew attention in 2022 when she wore a Marilyn Monroe dress sketched by Mackie to the Met Gala, a choice Mackie criticized as a “big mistake” in an Entertainment Weekly interview.

Carpenter’s stylist, Jared Ellner, sourced the gown through LA-based vintage studio Tab Vintage. Ellner completed Carpenter’s look with a diamond necklace and additional jewelry from De Beers. Alexis Novak, founder of Tab Vintage, shared with Vogue that Ellner and Carpenter had provided a detailed mood board. Novak expressed satisfaction with the final choice, highlighting the collaborative effort.

The night was monumental for Carpenter, marking a breakthrough year where she topped the US Billboard 200 album chart for the first time and earned seven VMA nominations. Following her striking red carpet appearance, Carpenter performed a medley of her hits, including “Espresso,” which won VMA’s Song of the Year, alongside “Please Please Please” and “Taste.” After her initial look, she changed into a corseted bodysuit by Victoria’s Secret, featuring over 18,500 hand-applied crystal beads—a glamorous and intricate design that echoed her earlier gown’s shimmer.

Carpenter’s performance continued the Madonna homage with a kiss shared with a dancer in an alien costume, a moment that drew comparisons to Madonna’s famous kiss with Britney Spears at the 2003 VMAs. Additionally, her performance incorporated references to Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again,” suggesting a playful nod to both Spears and Madonna’s iconic moments.

Overall, Sabrina Carpenter’s tribute to Madonna at the VMAs showcased a thoughtful and glamorous connection to pop culture history, blending classic fashion with contemporary performance.