Weekly Style Icon: Sabrina Carpenter pays tribute to Madonna in a vintage Oscar-inspired ensemble
On Wednesday evening's crimson carpet, Addison Rae and Anitta donned bridal-inspired ensembles, channeling Madonna's iconic performance of "Like a Virgin" at the inaugural VMAs, nearly four decades ago. However, it was Artist of the Year contender Sabrina Carpenter who turned heads by securing a vintage gown straight from Madonna's sartorial archives.
The gown, adorned with a plunging neckline and embellished with sequins, pearls, and crystals, was initially created by renowned fashion designer Bob Mackie for Madonna. She made headlines by wearing it to the 1991 Oscars, accompanied by Michael Jackson, preceding her performance of "Sooner or Later," a track from the movie "Dick Tracy."
The dress exuded classic Hollywood glamour, possibly because Madonna had previously worn it as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.
Bob Mackie, the designer, shared the story behind the vintage gown through his official Instagram account that night. He mentioned that the dress had initially been borrowed by fashion stylist Maria Schiavo for a Madonna cover shoot with photographer Steven Meisel. Shortly after, Madonna herself requested her own version of the dress for the 1991 Academy Awards.
Mackie also pointed out that the dress subsequently graced the pages of Madonna's scandalous and massively successful 1992 coffee table book, "Sex." It later appeared on "The Nanny" star Fran Drescher during a 1994 episode.
Bob Mackie's red carpet designs have captivated some of the 20th century's most prominent stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Diana Ross, and Cher, for whom he designed the now-iconic towering headdress worn to the 1986 Oscars. Mackie's archived pieces have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with stars like Anya Taylor-Joy, Katy Perry, Zendaya, and Miley Cyrus all sporting him on the red carpet. Even Kim Kardashian sparked controversy by wearing a dress Mackie had sketched for Marilyn Monroe to the Met Gala in 2022 (a decision Mackie called a "major oversight." He argued, "It was designed for [Monroe]. Nobody else should be seen in that dress.")
Sabrina Carpenter's stylist, Jared Ellner, procured the vintage Madonna gown from LA vintage clothing studio, Tab Vintage. He finished her ensemble with a diamond necklace and additional jewelry from De Beers.
Tab Vintage's founder, Alexis Novak, revealed to Vogue that Ellner and Carpenter had presented her with a "really impressive moodboard." She added, "We sent them a selection of pieces in that style, and we're extremely pleased with the choice they made!"
The event was a significant one for Carpenter, with seven nominations in a standout year that saw her claim the top spot on the US Billboard 200 album chart for the first time.
Following her attention-grabbing red carpet entrance, Carpenter performed a medley of her hits, including "Espresso" (which later won the VMA for Song of the Year), "Please Please Please," and "Taste."
She had already changed costumes by that point, swapping her vintage Mackie gown for a corseted bodysuit designed by Victoria's Secret. Even though her on-stage outfit required over 180 hours to craft and featured 18,500 hand-applied crystal beads, it maintained the same shimmering allure as its predecessor.
Carpenter's Madonna references didn't end there. Though her stage kiss with an alien-costumed dancer may have coincidentally echoed Madonna's embrace with Britney Spears at the 2003 VMAs (her performance's earlier nod to "Oops!... I Did It Again" implied that Carpenter may have played Spears' role at that point).
The vintage gown Sabrina Carpenter wore, modeled after one Madonna once donned, showcased her appreciation for timeless fashion and style. Fashion enthusiasts were in awe of her ability to incorporate vintage pieces into her contemporary fashion sense, demonstrating her unique sense of style and appreciation for fashion history.
