Britney Spears Debuts 'Updated' Version of Her 2002 Versace Gown Worn by Blake Lively: 'I Like It Way Better'

Mar. 15, 2025

Britney Spears wears an “updated” version of her 2002 gown; Blake Lively wears the Versace dress Britney Spears wore in 2002.Photo:Britney Spears/Instagram; Gotham/WireImage

Britney Spears, Instagram, Blake Lively

Britney Spears/Instagram; Gotham/WireImage

Britney Spearsis paying homage to one of her most iconic looks — just days afterBlake Livelybrought it back into the spotlight!

Lively, 36, made headlines on Tuesday, Aug. 6, after she attended the New York City premiere of her latest film,It Ends with Us, in a vintage Versace gown that the “Circus” singer, 42, wore in 2002.

And the glittering, asymmetrical gown was no duplicate.“It is Britney’s actual dress,“Lively exclusively told PEOPLE at the event.

Britney Spears wears a Versace gown in October 2002.Sipa/Shutterstock

Britney Spears, Versace Spring Summer 2003 Fashion Show

Sipa/Shutterstock

Days later, the pop star appeared to acknowledge Lively’s stylish tribute. In anInstagram postshared on Saturday, Aug. 10, the singer donned a similarly sparkly — though far shorter — dress, which she declared to be an “UPDATED VERSION OF MY 2002 VERSACE DRESS 👗 !!!”

“I LIKE IT WAY BETTER,” she added of the minidress in the caption. “SHOWS MY LEGS !!! 💅🏻👗🌷🌷.”

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Speaking with PEOPLE about the vintage piece on Tuesday, Lively also declared that “it should be in the Smithsonian or the Met.” Instead, she said, “it’s on me. I feel so lucky!”

Blake Lively wears Britney Spears' 2002 Versace gown at the ‘It Ends With Us’ premiere on Aug. 6, 2024.Cindy Ord/Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 06: Blake Lively attends the “It Ends With Us” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on August 06, 2024 in New York City.

Cindy Ord/Getty

With its colorful, embellished flowers around the waist, the gown was the perfect choice for the floral-themed dressing Lively has been doing for theIt Ends with Uspress tour — a nod to her character, Lily Bloom, who owns a floral shop.

Lively elaborated on Spears' influence on her filmmaking — and her decision to wear the Versace gown — with a sweet message for the “Oops!…I Did It Again” singer in an Instagram Stories post on Tuesday.

Alongside a picture of Spears rocking the Versace gown in 2002, the actress wrote, “Todays mood. The ultimate queen who made us all want to sparkle and write and share our stories.”

“Britney, us millennials all have a story of a moment, or of years that you made us want to shine and inspire awe, with strength, and joy and immensely hard work,” Lively continued. “Thank you for your example and your contribution to women telling their stories.”

source: people.com