Sabrina Carpenter Unveils Mirror-Edge Mackie at 2025 VMAs in Elmont

Her final look of the evening, captured post-ceremony while clutching three Moon Person trophies, was a direct pull from Bob Mackie’s Spring 1986 collection. And it wasn’t just vintage—it was visceral. The dress, a beaded dance number originally designed for stage movement, shimmered with multi-color sequins arranged in floral bursts across the bodice. Below, a side-swept skirt of black beaded fringe cascaded like liquid rhythm, catching every flash of light and camera click. It was Mackie at his most kinetic, and Carpenter wore it like armor.

The silhouette was classic Mackie: fitted through the torso, with a dramatic fringe hem that flirted with asymmetry. The sequins—dense, iridescent, and floral—evoked a kind of psychedelic garden party, while the fringe added motion and mischief. The color palette danced between jewel tones and noir, a visual echo of Cher’s own stagewear from the mid-’80s. No accessories competed with the dress’s maximalism; instead, Carpenter let the garment speak in full sentences.

Hair was swept into soft, voluminous waves—a nod to Studio 54’s heyday—while makeup leaned into a peachy glow with a subtle smoky eye. Her pose, statuesque yet playful, suggested someone who knows she’s not just wearing fashion history—she’s rewriting it. The mood? Disco revival meets Gen Z precision. And the lighting, courtesy of the VMAs’ high-gloss setup, turned every mirror appliqué into a spotlight.

This wasn’t Carpenter’s first Mackie moment. At the 2024 VMAs, she wore a vintage sequin dress once donned by Madonna. But this year’s choice—Cher’s actual performance piece—felt more intimate, more daring. It wasn’t just a nod to the past; it was a reclamation. In an era where celebrity style often leans into algorithmic sameness, Carpenter’s look was a reminder that fashion history still has teeth.