L'HISTOIRE: Britney Spears' Iconic Versace 'Butterfly Dress'

L’HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.

One of Britney Spears' most iconic looks in the early aughts comes straight from the hands of Donatella's Versace.

The pop singer wore the famed "butterfly dress" to the Versace Spring/Summer 2003 runway show in Milan, Italy. The glitzy, multi-hued number came from the label's Fall 2002 ready-to-wear collection. It boasts a rainbow-hued collage of sequins with a butterfly-inspired design. Its asymmetrical silhouette, nude illusion mesh, and intricate beading all exude signatures of the Y2K look.

The dress was also given a second life in August, thanks to Blake Lively. While promoting her It Ends With Us film project towards the end of the summer, Lively wore the exact same garment to the New York premiere's red carpet. "It should be in the Smithsonian or the Met. But it’s on me. I feel so lucky!” Lively told People at the time.

To recreate this archival look, it's important to find a sparkling, multicolored dress tinged by florals (like this one by Nadine Merabi). To mimic Spears' original look to the fullest, leave your tresses loose and bouncy with a glossy, light pink lip. As for the shoes? Metallic heels will do it best.

This one-shoulder gown is a testament to Britney's influence on the Y2K fashion aesthetic. The dress symbolizes Spears' fashion legacy, and symbolizes her glamorous style at the height of her fame and her influence on pop culture.

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