Britney Spears is paying tribute to one of Blake Lively’s most iconic looks, just days after she stepped back into the spotlight.
Lively, 36, made waves when she attended the premiere of her latest film, “It Ends with Us,” in New York City on Tuesday, August 6, in a vintage Versace dress worn by the 42-year-old “Circus” singer back in 2002.
And the glittering, asymmetrical gown wasn’t a total replica: “This is Britney’s actual dress,” Lively exclusively told People magazine at the event.
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A few days later, the pop star seemed to acknowledge Lively’s stylish tribute: In an Instagram post shared on Saturday, August 10, she wore a similarly sparkly (but much shorter) dress, declaring it an “updated version of my 2002 Versace dress 👗!!!”
The “Gimme More” singer paired the updated dress with nude-colored pumps and dainty jewelry, dancing to The Outfield’s “Your Love” in true Spears style.
“I like this one much better,” she added in the caption of the mini dress. “You can see my legs!!! 💅🏻👗🌷🌷”
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Speaking about the vintage find in an interview with People magazine on Tuesday, Lively said, “This should be on display at the Smithsonian or the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” but instead replied, “This is on me. I’m so lucky!”
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With colorful flowers adorning the waist, the dress perfectly matched the floral-themed outfits Lively wore on the It Ends With Us press tour, paying homage to her character, Lily Bloom, a florist.
It was also, as she noted, a direct tribute to Spears, who also appeared in the film adaptation of the book: Ethel Kane’s cover of the pop star’s song “Everytime” appears on the star-studded soundtrack, and Spears gets a special thank you in the end credits.
In an Instagram Story post on Tuesday, Lively detailed Spears’ influence on her filmmaking and her decision to wear the Versace gown, and sent a sweet message to the “Oops!… I Did It Again” singer.
Next to a photo of Spears wearing a Versace gown in 2002, the actress wrote, “How I feel today. The ultimate queen who inspired us all to shine, write and share our stories.”
“Britney, all of us millennials have stories of moments, or even years, where you lit up and awe-struck us with your strength, joy and hard work,” Lively continued. “Thank you for your example and your contributions to women telling their own stories.”
