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

Britney Spears is paying homage to one of her most legendary looks — just days after Blake Lively brought it back into the spotlight!

Lively, 36, made headlines on Tuesday, August 6, after attending the New York premiere of her latest film, It ends with usin a vintage Versace dress that the “Circusa” singer (42) wore in 2002.

And the sparkly, asymmetrical dress was not a duplicate. “It’s Britney’s real dress,” Lively told PEOPLE exclusively at the event.

Britney Spears wearing a Versace dress in October 2002.

Cuttlefish/Shutterstock

Blake Lively looks truly regal in a corset dress It ends with us Red Carpet — Check Out Her Show-Stopping Dress!

Days later, the pop star appears to have acknowledged Lively’s style tribute. In an Instagram post published on Saturday, August 10, the singer donned a similarly sparkly – albeit far shorter – dress, which she declared was an “UPDATED VERSION OF MY VERSACE DRESS FROM 2002 👗 !!!”

The “Gimme More” singer paired the “updated” dress with bare bottoms and fancy jewelry as she — in true Spears style — danced to “Your Love” by The Outfield.

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

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Speaking to PEOPLE about the vintage piece on Tuesday, Lively also stated that it “should be in the Smithsonian or the Met.” Instead, she said, “I’m paying. I feel so happy!”

Blake Lively wears Britney Spears’ 2002 Versace dress at the ‘It Ends With Us’ premiere on August 6, 2024.

Cindy Ord/Getty

With its colorful, embellished flowers around the waist, the dress was the perfect match for the floral outfit Lively made for It ends with us press tour — a nod to her character, Lily Bloom, who owns a flower shop.

It was also, she said, a direct nod to Spears — who also appears in the book-to-movie adaptation. Ethel Cain’s cover of the pop star’s “Everytime” is included on the star-studded soundtrack — with Spears getting a special nod in the closing credits.

Blake Lively is beautiful in a pink Versace minidress with a corset on It ends with us After party

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

Alongside a picture of Spears wearing a Versace dress in 2002, the actress wrote: “Today’s mood. The ultimate queen that makes us all want to shine and write and share our stories.”

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

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Source: HIS Education