It is Very Short n’ Sweet: How Sabrina Carpenter Encapsulates the Female Gaze Through Flirtatious Costume
Sabrina Carpenter is the latest modern emblem for how reclaiming soft pastel femininity is the sexiest thing she is capable of right now to feel comfortable in her sexuality and self. The US tour of “Short n’ Sweet” has been a brilliant display of how she can dress flirtatious and exciting whilst targeting a female gaze.
The singers most recent album “Short N’ Sweet” includes a variety of sexual innuendos that are sexily comedic such as “Come ride on me, I mean, camaraderie,” and this satirical sexual behaviour has now been implemented into her costume for her most recent tour.
Whilst on stage, Sabrina has highlighted a multitude of custom Victoria Secret corsets styled by Jared Ellner, Carpenter’s stylist. Ellner has orchestrated quite transformative whilst pop-retro outfits on stage. Dressing in Gogo boots, sequins, and every pastel colour it has become evident that her attention is on embracing the female gaze. Her 150,000 crystals, baby doll dresses and lace are an ingenue execution of refashioning female sexuality and reclaiming power.
By incorporating a mix of 1950-70’s sense of style contrasted with 2000s fashion, Carpenters overall styling is a feminine throwback demonstrated further by the pin-up curls and bouncy bangs. As the concert goes on, she changes into a custom chic three-quarter length lace Patou jumpsuit establishing a humorous “less is more” approach.
Nevertheless, Sabrina Carpenter is not the only Gen-Z angel wearing custom Victorias Secret on stage whilst performing. Back at the 2024 Coachella Olivia Rodrigo displayed custom VS; the pop-punk princess typically wears a white cropped tank with a visible coloured bra underneath, usually red or pink.
It is evident through the current female Gen-Z performers that dressing more erotically and overtly sexually is currently seen as a pure form of femininity that these performers are embracing, and I am looking forward to seeing what costumes the pop princesses keep wearing on stage.
By Ella Hewitt