Fashion

Britney's Best Performance Outfits

by Shorey Andrews

Never one to stick to the status quo, Britney Spears has provided fans with an endless amount of talked about performance outfits. From her days trolling the malls to get her music heard to her eventual over-the-top concert tours, Spears has a knack for giving the world plenty to gossip about. Her costumes are infamous in their own right with many hits, and only a few misses. Sort of like her entire music career.

There are so many looks this artist has become legend for. Whether greasing up her body to slide into the next fitted catsuit, or preparing to wear next to nothing at all, Spears has her performance looks down to a science. They set the tone for the set list ahead and glimmer, shine, and shock in all their risqué glory.

The ups and downs of this pop star's career have lead a heavy hand in the emotions she conveys while performing, and each outfits plays into those emotions effortlessly. This list highlights some of the most memorable Brit Brit outfits, and for better, or for worse we will forever know that she is not that innocent.

1. HEAD-TO-TOE LEATHER AT THE ONYX HOTEL

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

The year was 2004, and despite preparing for her walk down the aisle with backup dancer Kevin Federline, our precious pop star had not yet lost her marbles. She rocked a full on leather ensemble in March of that year at the Onyx Hotel in Miami, Florida. Proving to us mid-career that she still had the body, the stage presence, and her sanity.

2. THAT TIME SHE BROUGHT A SNAKE ON STAGE

Scott Gries/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Brit Brit originally wore this infamous outfit during a performance at the MTV VMAs and shocked the world with her sass, and sense of bizarre performance adventure. The sexy pop star donned the outfit once again during her Dream Within a Dream Tour sans snake. I'm willing to bet the outfit didn't make the same impact without the slithery reptile attached to her.

3. HER SEXY RINGLEADER OUTFIT, MINUS THE PANTS OF COURSE

Let's get something straight right away, this hit maker has never really been a fan of covering up her goods and this ringleader outfit from her circus tour further supports that statement. I love everything about this look, despite the black panties. The jacket is absolutely adorable and certainly fit the bill when the tour she wore it on was dubbed The Circus Starring Britney Spears.

4. THE ELVIS INSPIRED CATSUIT

Gabe Palacio/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Her collection of catsuits seemed to be endless, but during her Dream Within a Dream Tour, this pop star took her cues from Elvis in a catsuit that hugged her in all the right places. How she bounced around and danced like a maniac without tearing the snug parts of this costume, the world will never know

5. LIKE A VIRGIN THAT DOESN'T DRESS LIKE A VIRGIN

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

During one of her most notable performances to date, Spears caught the attention of the entire planet the night she locked lips with Madonna during their epic performance at the 2003 MTV VMAs. Taking a step back from the attention their lips got, her outfit for the "Like a Virgin" performance was spot on.

6. THIS SAD MOMENT IN TIME

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

This one is perhaps the saddest moment the world had to witness during the pop starts inevitable downfall. Spears attempt at a come back performance during the 2009 MTV VMAs had the world shocked and embarrassed, but surprisingly those emotions were not a direct result of her choice to wear nearly nothing on stage. The real sadness came way as we watched our fallen star dance depressingly around the stage in a cloud of confusion. Thank goodness she has since recovered.

7. THE WAY BACK PLAY BACK

Back in the day we saw many outfits similar to the above. If it fit like a glove and exposed her belly button, Spears was ready to rock it. There were a few versions of this costume, with this one specifically having its debut during the singers Oops!... I Did It Again Tour in the year 2000.

8. A SEXY WOMAN IN UNIFORM

During her Cirus kick off tour in New Orleans, this girl showed her fans just how sexy a woman in uniform can be. From the lace up knee boots, to her button down shirt, Spears caught our attention in all the right ways.

9. HER COLORFUL NOD TO BOLLYWOOD

Always one to have fun with her costumes, audiences got a taste of Bollywood when Spears hit the stage in this get-up. This look was made famous during the pop stars performance of "Me Against The Music" while on one of her many tours over the years.

10. THE MOST MEMORABLE OF THEM ALL

Without a doubt this image is by far the most memorable of all the Spears concert photos out there in the pop music universe today. This costume made its first appearance on her Baby...One More Time Tour during the height of her fame in the late 90s, and it has cemented a memory in our minds ever since. Long live pleather!