Britney Spears's highly-anticipated memoir, titled “The Woman in Me,” has finally been released, unveiling intriguing revelations about various aspects of her life, including her potential experiences with postpartum depression and her relationship with fellow pop sensation Justin Timberlake. One of the most iconic moments shared by the duo took place at the 2001 American Music Awards, where they made a bold statement on the red carpet by donning head-to-toe denim outfits. This particular fashion moment has transcended into pop culture history, even inspiring Katy Perry's playful spoof alongside Riff Raff at the 2014 MTV VMAs, and serving as a reference point for denim enthusiasts, affectionately known as the “Canadian tux.”
Reflecting on this moment in her memoir, Spears acknowledges that nearly two decades later, she recognizes the “tackiness” of the choice and attributes it to her Southern upbringing. She explains that in her hometown, it was common for mothers to gather their children and say, “Listen, we're going to church today, so we're all going to color-coordinate.”
When Spears discovered that Timberlake had plans to wear denim to the event, she playfully suggested, “We should match! Let's do denim-on-denim!”
“At first, honestly, I thought it was a joke,” she candidly recalls. “I didn't believe my stylist would go through with it, and I never expected Justin to go along with the idea. But they both fully committed.”
Describing her attire for the occasion, Spears shares, “My corset had me tightly cinched beneath my denim gown—I was on the verge of toppling over.” She even carried a tiny denim bag as an accessory. “I understand that it was considered tacky, but in its own way, it was also pretty remarkable. I'm even delighted to see it being parodied as a Halloween costume.”
She never anticipated the enormous cultural impact it would have, and to this day, she remains astonished.
“When he put it on, I thought, ‘Whoa! So, we're really doing this!'” Spears continues. “With our matching denim ensembles, we made a splash. I've heard Justin receive criticism for that look.”
“On a podcast where they playfully teased him about it, he responded, ‘You do a lot of things when you're young and in love,'” she reveals. “And that's absolutely true. We were filled with excitement, and those outfits captured that spirit.”