Blake Lively Honours Britney Spears in Vintage Versace Gown at NYC Premiere of It Ends With Us

Blake Lively turned heads at the New York City premiere of her latest film, It Ends With Us on Tuesday, August 6, by donning a vintage Versace gown once worn by Britney Spears in 2002.

Lively was thrilled to wear the iconic dress, sharing with PEOPLE, “It is Britney’s actual dress. It should be in the Smithsonian or the Met. But it’s on me. I feel so lucky!” The gown, a nod to her floral-themed summer wardrobe, features embellished flowers at the waist and a striking multicolored sequined pattern. The one-shoulder halter neckline and cutout bodice added to the dress’s unique appeal.

To complement the vintage look, Lively chose accessories from Lorraine Schwartz, including rings and dangle earrings in vibrant pink and pastel blue, echoing the dress’s hues. Her iridescent strappy heels kept the focus on the gown, while her makeup, with soft pink eyeshadow and matte lipstick, matched the dress perfectly. She styled her long blonde hair in loose waves that flowed down her back.

On Instagram Stories, Lively paid tribute to Spears, writing, “Today’s mood. The ultimate queen who made us all want to sparkle and write and share our stories.” She continued, “Britney, us millennials all have a story of a moment, or of years that you made us want to shine and inspire awe, with strength, and joy and immensely hard work. Thank you for your example and your contribution to women telling their stories.”

Lively was joined on the red carpet by her husband, Ryan Reynolds, who wore an olive green suit with a white floral boutonniere in honor of Lively’s character. They were also accompanied by Reynolds’ “Deadpool” and “Wolverine” co-star, Hugh Jackman.

Since starting the promotional tour for the film, based on Colleen Hoover’s book “It Ends with Us,” Lively has embraced floral fashion as part of her promotional strategy. She explained her method dressing approach to PEOPLE, stating, “I’m so excited method dressing is such a thing now because years ago when I did ‘A Simple Favor,’ people were like, ‘Why are you dressing like your character? Why are you in suits?’” She added, “It’s a marketing hack to try to get people to pay attention to our movie. And it worked.”

With the film’s release on August 9, fans can anticipate more floral-inspired looks from Lively, who has already showcased a range of flower-themed outfits from minidresses to embroidered chaps. The countdown to the film’s debut continues, and Lively’s wardrobe promises to keep the floral trend blooming.