Sabrina Carpenter's Archival Ralph Lauren Gown Delivers Spring Vibes in Winter

She received Variety's Hitmaker of the Year honor wearing a strapless patchwork gown from 2003.

Sabrina Carpenter wearing vintage Ralph Lauren from Spring 2003 at the Variety Hitmakers 2025 Sponsored by Tik Tok event on December 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California
(Image credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Following the success of Man's Best Friend, it's hardly surprising that Sabrina Carpenter has been named Variety's Hitmaker of the Year for 2025. To receive the honor, the "Manchild" singer wore an archival Ralph Lauren strapless floral patchwork gown from the designer's Spring 2003 collection.

It might be winter, but Carpenter gave positively spring vibes on Variety's red carpet. With her blonde hair in loose beachy waves and a pared-back makeup look, the pop star proved less really is more sometimes.

Her vintage Ralph Lauren mermaid gown, constructed from floral silk intricately arranged in a subtle patchwork pattern, originally debuted during the designer's Spring 2003 runway show.

Sabrina Carpenter wearing vintage Ralph Lauren from Spring 2003 at the Variety Hitmakers 2025 Sponsored by Tik Tok event on December 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

Sabrina Carpenter wearing vintage Ralph Lauren from the designer's Spring 2003 collection.

(Image credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Accepting her Variety award, Carpenter told the audience, "The easiest way to write a bad song is to try to write a hit." Offering her advice to prospective musicians, the "Espresso" singer said, "Write the opposite of what you think a hit is. Write what speaks to you, write something that only you can write. Write the music you want to listen to yourself. Add the weird chord progression and key change, and call men stupid in as many ways as you can."

Sabrina Carpenter wearing vintage Ralph Lauren from Spring 2003 at the Variety Hitmakers 2025 Sponsored by Tik Tok event on December 6, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

"Write the opposite of what you think a hit is," Carpenter told the audience.

(Image credit: JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)

Sabrina Carpenter's archival Ralph Lauren gown was originally worn by model Candice Lake at the designer's Spring 2003 runway show.

Ralph Lauren Spring 2003 Ready to Wear Runway Show BackstageModel Candice Lake

Candice Lake wearing Sabrina Carpenter's archival Ralph Lauren gown at the designer's Spring 2003 runway show.

(Image credit: Kyle Ericksen/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Even though it might be tempting to reach for the warmest coat possible right now, Carpenter is proof that sleek floral gowns work anytime, regardless of the weather.

Shop Outfits Inspired by Sabrina Carpenter's Style

Amy Mackelden
Weekend Editor

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.