Sabrina Carpenter has brought retro boudoir dressing back into focus, marking the second anniversary of her breakthrough album Short n' Sweet on 23 August in a teal tulle nightie with sheer layers, ruffled sleeves and lace trimmed socks. The Grammy-winning singer shared the look on Instagram as Victoria's Secret pushes deeper into push-up bras and its creative chief declares that 'cleavage is big back'.
Carpenter's anniversary posts also included a pale blue lingerie look, a heart-shaped cake and a custom bottle celebrating Short n' Sweet. Alongside the throwbacks, she wrote, '2 very sweet years. thank you for all of it.'
Sabrina Carpenter Makes Retro Lingerie Part of Her Pop Era
Carpenter's lingerie styling did not start with the anniversary post. During her Short n' Sweet era, the 'Espresso' and 'Please Please Please' singer repeatedly wore babydolls, corsets and bras onstage, including Victoria's Secret designs. In a 2025 interview published by Victoria's Secret, stylist Jared Ellner said the brand looks were 'very inspired by 1950's swimsuits and playsuits' and designed to feel 'both retro and classic at the same time'.
The connection is documented by Victoria's Secret, which has highlighted Ellner's work with Carpenter and the pieces created for her tour. Carpenter also wore vintage Victoria's Secret before the tour, including a sheer blue design from the brand's 1997 runway era.
The styling arrives with a major career milestone. Short n' Sweet won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, while 'Espresso' earned Carpenter Best Pop Solo Performance, and the album later won Best Album at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. Two years after its release, the record's pastel pin-up imagery and lingerie-heavy wardrobe remain part of Carpenter's public visual identity.
Victoria's Secret Says Cleavage Is 'Big Back'
The wider fashion shift is now being acknowledged inside Victoria's Secret. Adam Selman, executive vice president and chief creative officer for Victoria's Secret and PINK, recently summed up the moment with the phrase, 'Cleavage is big back'.
Push-up bras, balconette shapes and lingerie worn as clothing have also become more visible across celebrity styling and recent fashion collections.
Victoria's Secret has been leaning into that direction under chief executive Hillary Super. In May, the company announced that its New York Stock Exchange ticker would change from VSCO to VSXY, describing the move as part of a renewed focus on sexiness while emphasising a broader definition than the narrow beauty ideal historically associated with the brand.
'Sexy has always been part of our DNA,' Super said, adding that the company wants to reflect it in a way that feels 'authentic, expansive and modern'.
The Push-Up Bra Is Becoming an Outfit Again
The commercial push is visible in Victoria's Secret's current range. Its Very Sexy collection includes push-up bras marketed around lift and cleavage, while the brand continues to sell balconette and corset-inspired silhouettes alongside traditional lingerie.
That product direction mirrors the return of visible bras, structured bust lines and underwear as outerwear across red carpets and festival stages.
For Carpenter, the latest look continues an established styling pattern. Her 2026 Coachella wardrobe included pearl-embellished bras and a black lace bodysuit, while her House Tour video carried the pin-up inspired visual language into another part of her current era.
With her anniversary photos revisiting Short n' Sweet through tulle, lace and pastel lingerie, Carpenter's signature look is arriving at the same time Victoria's Secret is once again putting lift, structure and visible cleavage front and centre.
