It’s Britney, B*tch! Britney Spears’ Style Evolution

Signed to Jive Records at just 15 years old in 1997, Spears was already on an industry fast-track by 1999, releasing her first studio album, with the second not far behind — both being massive global successes. Britney’s style has always been aligned with her musical sound at the time, and here she's looking like the quintessential pop princess.

Early on in her career, already a global sensation and teen idol, Britney seemed to spend most of her time onstage, rocking costumes that usually consisted of crop tops, super low-rise pants and no shortage of sequin sparkle.

In what will no doubt live on as one of the most talked-about celebrity matching outfit moments of all time, Brit and then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake showed up for the American Music Awards in 2001 rocking this. The denim-clad duo looked as tacky as possible, but somehow — and we still don’t know how, exactly — they made this explosion of style-wrong work itself out into a right.

From the hat to the lace inserts — and those shoes! — the fact that Britney showed up to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2002 dressed like a “sexy cop” at Halloween wasn’t as bad as the accessory choices that finished off the “look"…

Because can you really even call yourself a celeb from the 2000’s if you don’t have a collection of velour tracksuits?

Who wears a fedora, bow-tie, cropped-tee, short-shorts and printed stockings, all at the same time? Britney, b*tch.

In 2004, Britney married childhood friend Jason Alexander in Vegas — only to annul the union 55 hours later — getting engaged and married again to backup dancer Kevin Federline later that year. With her new plus-one almost always at her side for photo ops (if you don’t count the dogs), Britney was all smiles at the Billboard Awards, rocking yet another lacey mini-dress.

Pregnant with her first child in 2005, Brit kept her style — and self — more low-key than ever, taking a break in her whirlwind career to focus on starting a family.

From divorce to a family death, personal struggles with addiction and a rapidly deteriorating state of mental health, you’d thing the press might take the hint when things went south for Britney in 2007. Instead — predictably — the spotlight got bigger, and if her style was any reflection, the chart-topping pop princess was struggling behind the scenes.

It’s hard to believe with everything else she had going on, that Britney would still be expected to show up for awards shows — but in 2008, the pop princess took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards in a silver fringed-mini and knocked it out of the park.

While her life may have been in chaos, Britney seemed to be turning a corner with her style in 2009, still sticking to her signature mini-dresses, but opting for more low-key looks overall.

Rocking a body-con lime-green mini dress to a Southern Style event in 2011, Britney Spears looked every bit the Femme Fatale — in line with her seventh (!!!) studio album by the same name, released later that year.

For the second season premiere of The X Factor in 2012, Britney Spears kept her look simple, rocking a gold long-sleeved mini dress and metallic pumps for her officially launch into judging duties on the hit television show.

Rocking a colour-block bandage-style mini dress, Britney's best accessories for the premiere of Smurfs 2 in 2013 were her two adorable young sons, Sean and Jayden.

Brit looked statuesque and stunning in a bold red jumpsuit for the launch of her sleepwear line in 2014. We loved the simple style and bold hue for her, and she absolutely nailed the look with a fresh face and minimal accessories.

She graced the red carpet at Elton John's AIDS Foundation Gala in 2014 in this sleek and shimmery look at no doubt turned a lot of heads. You can also credit her darker locks for all the dropped jaws that followed in her wake.

Rocking ombre-rainbow hair and a low-cut, sparkly mini-dress, Britney had her signature more-is-more style in full effect for the 2015 Teen Choice Awards.

In an unexpectedly edgy style choice, Britney stunned at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2016, rocking a black one-sleeved dress with a funky cut-out detail down the middle.

Everything about this look is classic Britney — and we’re here for it. Overkill fringe detail and all.

Amid ongoing conservatorship battles, family drama and new romances, Britney showed up for a film premiere in 2019 and looked as calm and cool as ever, rocking a red one-shoulder mini dress and black pumps.