It’s been a hell of a year for Sabrina Carpenter. For starters, her infectious pop album Short n’ Sweet topped many charts (and our Spotify Wrapped lists); she spent much of 2024 touring North America, while releasing bops like “Taste” and “Please, Please, Please.” (We know you still have them in your head.) And this weekend, Carpenter released her new Netflix Christmas special, A Nonsense Christmas, featuring guest performances from a few of her famous friends, including Tyla, Chappell Roan, and Shania Twain.
Now, Carpenter is enjoying a high-fashion moment to round out the year, courtesy of Versace. Released today, Carpenter stars in a new Biggie eyewear campaign for the Italian label, in which she models the house’s signature sunglasses and optical frames. In honor of her big year, Vogue recently spent 15 minutes catching-up with Carpenter—and we covered a lot of ground. Below, the pop star discusses filming her new Netflix Christmas special, spending the year on the road, and how she will be spending the holidays. Plus, the star dishes on what made her Spotify wrapped list. (Turns out: She has great musical taste.)
Vogue: Hi Sabrina! First of all, congrats on your new Netflix Christmas special. I just watched it last night.
Sabrina Carpenter: Thank you, I appreciate it! I’ve always wanted to make it. It felt like my own little variety special; It’s something that’s so sweet and fun, and I’m so proud that we accomplished it this year. There was just no time [to make it]; I feel like I blacked out, and we shot it. I don’t know what happened.
It seems like it was a lot of fun to create.
It was a lot of fun. We actually shot it in two days, so it was kind of a shit show—but in the best possible way. A Christmas shit show, which is way better than normal ones, because everyone’s festive and dressed up. You can’t really be mad when everyone is dressed like Christmas. And I’m so lucky that my friends were a part of it, that just made it all the more fun.
We’ll get into that, but I want to talk about your new Versace eyewear campaign first. What excited you about working with the brand?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of Versace and Donatella, and they way they make women feel in the clothes. I write my songs from that perspective, and I try to live every day with that kind of confidence, so it was an effortless collaboration. I’m also a big shades girl. The [Biggies] are such an iconic frame that we all have different memories of, so I was really excited to put my own twist on it; You can wear them everywhere. The photos are very classic and timeless.
You have worn a lot of amazing Versace dresses on the red carpet. What is it about Donatella’s designs that keep you coming back for more?
The femininity of the clothes is really what always keeps me coming back for more. They just know a woman’s body. I’m very petite, so a lot of the time, fashion for me is more than just a beautiful dress—it’s the way that it lays on you, and accentuates you. There’s been so many moments where I’ve gotten to wear Versace; they have such beautiful fabrics and chain mail. And I’m never against a corset, and they make them better than anyone.
Do you have any favorite pieces you have worn over the years?
I wore this gorgeous custom dress for the Time [100 Next] Gala. We probably did three or four fittings. I wore it for about 20 minutes, and then had to take it off because I was performing. I was like, this just isn’t fair! I need more events to wear it to. Or, I need to be able to wear these things to the grocery store without people looking at me weird.
Given this campaign comes out during peak holiday season, I was curious: What is going to be your approach to holiday style this year?
Honestly, I really hope to be in pajamas the whole time. But if I do leave the house, which I did the other night, my main request was that I really wanted to wear something that wasn’t sparkly, just because I wear so many damn sparkles on stage all the time. I’m constantly in a sparkly number, so I want to do the holiday season in a different way. I save the sparkles for New Years. Me and a mini dress, we are best friends. Or I’m really into little capris and turtleneck sweaters. I’m trying to go thrift shopping a lot over the holidays, and see what I can find.
You crafted a lot of amazing festive looks for your Christmas special. What was that like, putting the designs together?
That was all Ronnie Hart, who’s worked with me a lot on my music videos—like Please, Taste, and Espresso. We’ve worked together for many years. He has such a great eye when it comes to seeing something that is modern and timeless at the same time. Even when it came to my version of a Santa look—that was the first thing he pulled off the rack. I tried it on, it fit me perfectly, and we went to set. He just gets it and knows what I love. Usually, he will put me in the most uncomfortable shoe, but it’s all out of love. And when it looks as good as it does, I can’t really complain.
I loved how you got so many amazing guest cameos in the special, including Tyla, Shania Twain, and Chappell Roan. You and Chappell especially have had an insane year. Did you bond over that?
Yeah! We’ve been signed to the same label for quite some time. It’s been such a beautiful gift to be able to celebrate everything that all of these amazing women have done this year. I’m not, like, leaving out men, but the women have taken the cake this year. So it was a perfect opportunity to be able to bring some of them together. Kali [Uchis] has been one of my favorite artists for such a long time. And Shania fucking Twain! I’ve looked up to her my whole life. I was so lucky that they volunteered their time. There was a lot of giggles on set; A lot of laughing and talking about girl shit.
You just finished your first leg of the Short n’ Sweet tour. How are you reflecting on that?
Touring is never easy, I’m pretty honest about that, but it was such a gift. This tour has been so much more fun than any other show I’ve ever put on. It’s so theatrical and it involves the audience, so every night feels different, based off of how the audience is feeling and what they’re giving to me. I was just blown away by the fact that it was my first arena tour, and we sold out every show. That was really overwhelming in such a positive way.
Is there anything you do during the chaotic tour schedule to maintain a sense of peace, or normalcy?
This would sound a little annoying to me a couple years ago, but I definitely had a certain ritual. Overall, it was just being more conscious around making healthy choices for myself. Making sure I’m prioritizing sleeping, and prioritizing protein. (I know that sounds like I’m a caveman or something.) Getting the supplements and nutrients that I need. If I feel good on the inside, then I can make it through as much as I humanly can. I also had my sister and my best friend on the road with me, so that also kept me sane.
Well, hopefully you can relax a little now. You were recently on a lot of people’s Spotify Wrapped lists this year: Who was on your list? Did you do one?
I did. It’s funny because when I first saw mine, my initial reaction was, “Oh, damn, I can’t post that, because I’m on my own [list]. It’s a bit conceited.” But then I was like, I guess it’s a good thing that I’m on my list and listening to my own music, because it means I fuck with what I do. But the other ones were Dolly Parton, ABBA, Kacey Musgraves, and the Bee Gees.
So many people got the Bee Gees this year! Lastly, going into the end of the year, we are curious: do you have a New Years resolution?
Every time someone asks me this, I constantly am just like, “drink more water.” But it’s definitely not that. Let me get back to you on this one. I’m still forming it as we speak—doing a lot of thinking right now.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
