ZENDAYA HAS IT GOING ON
Embracing a Bold, Broad Scope of Fashion
Zendaya has been a red carpet fashion force to be reckoned with ever since she burst onto the scene in the Disney series “Shake It Up.” Over the years, she has cemented her place among the fashion elite – so much so that she recently became the youngest ever recipient of the CFDA’s Fashion Icon award. The CFDA called Zendaya fashion’s “reigning monarch” who “makes a style statement as soon as she steps out of her car.” Zendaya has now joined the ranks of Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé, who have all won the award, and it has been a pure delight to see her transform into one of Hollywood’s most stylish women.
Zendaya’s red carpet journey began when she landed the role of Rocky Blue in the Disney series “Shake It Up.” At first, her red carpet choices were pure Disney girl – loud prints, layering, graphic tees…you get the idea. Yet, at the same time, she always managed to add just the right amount of flare, which quickly proved that she had an innate sense of style. As she grew into her teenage years, she blossomed into the fashion-forward star we now know. Her choices became more fearless, but not the kind of daring that veered into the ridiculous. It was a boldness that always worked – whether it was bucket heels or perfect execution of that season’s big, “hard leather with soft tulle” trend.
Perhaps the stylistic turning point in Zendaya’s career came when she crossed paths with uber-stylist Law Roach – a meeting that proved to be one of Hollywood’s most fruitful celebrity-stylist relationships. A big head-turning point (and a cringe-worthy one, through no fault of Zendaya’s) came when one of her looks was dissected on the E! show “Fashion Police.” She wore a beautiful white Grecian-inspired gown, paired with bold dreadlocks. Co-host Giuliana Rancic decided to make that now-infamous comment that Zendaya looked like she smelled of “weed and patchouli.” We all know what happened next: Zendaya received worldwide support, and Rancic got fired.
Zendaya’s huge fashion moments continued over the years. Who can forget that jaw-dropping Tommy Hilfiger dress she wore to the 2019 Met Gala – she effortlessly transformed into Cinderella, while Roach brilliantly came with her, dressed as her fairy godmother. Then there was the iconic two-piece Alaia she wore in Paris for the “Dune” premiere in September – a deep eggplant-hued back and midriff-baring top with matching feathered skirt. She continued to raise the bar at Britain’s “Dune” premiere when she showed up in a sculptural ivory-sequined Rick Owens creation, which seemed to capture stylistically both Zendaya and the movie itself.
Check out several more of Zendaya’s big fashion moments while you’re here. Not since Emma Stone have we seen an actress truly become a bona fide fashion icon right before our eyes. She doesn’t just wear really beautiful things – any actress can do that (and, sadly, most of them do). The difference is that she wears the right thing. She keeps us excited to see what she’ll wear next. And if her custom Vera Wang ensemble she wore to accept her CFDA award this month tells us anything, it’s that she’s just getting started.
