Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has undergone a stunning transformation since the start of her career. Although it’s now hard to imagine her without gorgeous blonde waves and glittery babydoll dresses, there was once a time when Carpenter opted for more subdued looks. In November 2025, a throwback photo posted in a Reddit thread had fans doing a double-take at just how different her style is today.
In the photo, Carpenter wears a chic all-black ensemble that is a far cry from the more shimmery, colorful outfits fans are used to seeing her in now. Her hair is also much straighter and slicked back into a neat ponytail. “I love the darker hair and big brows on Sabrina here,” one fan wrote in the Reddit thread. Others also agreed that this look was successful, but as another fan pointed out, her style has definitely come a long way. “Sabrinaâs rebranding is wild!” the fan wrote. “And itâs not a critique, before someone comes for me. She found her aesthetic.”
Carpenter’s Early Looks Were Simple & Age-Appropriate
Carpenter’s road to fame started early in life — even earlier than some fans may remember. She first appeared on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in 2011, when she was just 12 years old. Of course, one of her biggest early roles came in “Girl Meets World” a few years later, and the outfits she wore for public appearances during this time look very different from her on-stage wardrobe of today. Carpenter opted for more modest, age-appropriate outfits and clean, minimalist makeup, setting the stage for more over-the-top looks to come.
She Stunned in a Menswear-Inspired Look in 2015
Carpenter’s first album, “Eyes Wide Open,” hit shelves in 2015, and the timing coincided with some subtle changes to her style. At a NASCAR event that year, Carpenter stunned in a black-and-white menswear-inspired look, complete with a strategically messy, straight ponytail. The dark brows and eye makeup she paired with this outfit added a chic, grown-up vibe, signaling a departure from the younger looks she sported in years prior.
A Glittery Accessory Hinted at the Opulence to Come
When Carpenter took the stage at iHeartRadio Wango Tango in 2018, there was one part of her outfit that, in hindsight, was a sign of her personal style evolving: her sequin-covered thigh-high boots. These statement shoes were an outfit-making choice back then, but they could still look perfectly at home in Carpenter’s wardrobe today.
Carpenter Continued to Embrace Menswear, But With More Sparkle
Although 2015 certainly wasn’t the end of the “Espresso” singer’s relationship with menswear-inspired outfits, she jazzed up the style as the years passed. At the “Tall Girl” premiere in 2019, Carpenter donned an all-gold look with a tastefully plunging neckline. She had her hair pulled back, wore dazzling statement earrings, and chose a more natural makeup look. Gone were the days of simple all-black ensembles at major events.
She Decked the Halls in a Bedazzled Mini-Dress
Carpenter definitely hasn’t been shy about showing off her killer legs in more recent years, and the look she chose for Jingle Ball 2023 is a great example of that trend. The holiday-ready mini-dress featured plenty of eye-catching details, and she paired it with long, matching gloves. The singer had undergone a full style evolution by this point, and the age of the snazzy babydoll dresses was just around the corner.
Carpenter Went Full Glam at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards
Carpenter took home the Song of the Year award at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, and she definitely dressed like a winner. Carpenter wore a gorgeous, figure-hugging silver dress that would have looked perfectly appropriate at an Old Hollywood premiere. She wore full-glam makeup and coordinating silvery accessories to complete the look. And, of course, no Sabrina Carpenter ensemble is complete these days without her signature blonde waves and face-framing bangs. The singer hasn’t just come into her own in terms of personal style; she has grown up before our eyes.
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