Zendaya’s fashion evolution success comes from trusting her stylist – her Met Gala outfit will be ‘outside of the box’
ZENDAYA’S showstopping style and stunning looks have made the acting sensation a firm fixture on some of the world’s most sought-after red carpets.
The Challengers star looks set to wow at tonight’s Met Gala during her debut co-hosting gig, adding credibility to New York’s coveted fashion event.
Fresh off her latest Netflix project tour, Zendaya, 27, has likely been preparing for her big fashion night.
The singer’s latest significant media appearance saw her dazzle in a floor-length gown in Sydney, Australia.
The glittering green dress exposed her bare cleavage and long legs.
The former child star is popular in fashion circles and had graced Vogue’s May cover.
“Hopefully with the Met, since I’ve been away for so many years, maybe this time around I won’t be so stressed,” Zendaya told USA Today.
This year’s event centers on The Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.”
Stylist Tavia Sharp predicted Zendaya’s outfit would speak to her usual “risk-taking” style narrative.
Zendaya has been selected as a co-chair and will co-host with Jennifer Lopez, Chris Hemsworth, and Bad Bunny.
The superstar, dating Tom Holland, 25, has worked the Met Gala red carpet as a guest since 2016.
“Zendaya is always willing to take more risks in fashion,” Sharp told The U.S. Sun.
“This means we can expect something fashion-forward.
“We will see something outside of the box for the Met Gala.
“Zendaya increasingly wants to be known for her fashion sense as much as her acting.
“She is an influencer and of the moment.
“Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, loves pushing the boundaries with her style.
“We can always tell that these two have a great working relationship.
“Her fashion success story is about her trust and collaboration with him.
“The Met Gala red carpet is pretty much meant for Zendaya.”
DISNEY PRINCESS
After breaking into acting in 2010 as Rocky Blue on Disney’s Shake It Up, Zendaya started to experiment with fashion.
Her Hollywood profile rocketed through singing and appearing on Dancing With The Stars.
Zendaya moved away from graphic tees and jeans as designers lined up to dress her.
She took on the self-entitled “Image Architect” Law Roach when she was 14.
“What she allows me to do is to come up with the big story, the big idea, and she takes that, and she whittles it down a bit,” he told Vogue.
Back then, Michael Kors labeled her “fashion fearless,” something Sharp agrees with.
“Since Zendaya hit the movie circuit, she has transformed from a shy, youthful-looking girl to a brave, mature woman,” Sharp said.
“From her beginnings as an interest in fashion, she evolved into the ‘sultry siren’ style over the years.
“Right from the start, she quickly hit her stride with it all, which helped her blossom into a fan favorite with plenty of confidence.”
STYLE LAWS
Zendaya’s longtime stylist has stayed with the Spider-Man star since the beginning.
The 45-year-old Chicago native admitted the early days were a struggle.
“We’ve been pulling vintage since Zendaya and I began working together, for 13 years now,” Roach told Vogue after her Dune Part Two press rounds.
“At first, it came out of necessity because back when we started, nobody would lend her clothes.”
He also told me that the budding star is naturally strong-willed.
“‘Oh, she’s so fierce.’ And, yeah, she is, on the inside,” he revealed.
“But she’d rather be at home, with her hair down and no makeup, with Noon, her dog, watching a movie, probably Harry Potter.”
Sharp claimed there was an apparent transformation parallel to Zendaya’s strengthening confidence in the spotlight.
“As she stepped more into the spotlight and garnered bigger roles, her style has evolved with that,” she said.
“This has given her a confidence boost, which you can see in her stance and how she shows off her clothes.
“Even in how she poses in front of the camera, she is much more confident and strong.”
WITH RESPECT
Zendaya’s 2015 Oscar gown set her on the road to fashion superstardom — although it did not come without a hitch.
The Euphoria actress wowed in a pristine white silk off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood dress.
This was accessorized with diamond jewelry and contrasted with dreadlocks.
On an episode of E!’s Fashion Police that aired afterward, cohost Giuliana Rancic said Zendaya’s hair looked like “she smells like patchouli oil and weed.”
Zendaya took to Instagram to fire back at harmful stereotypes about dreadlocks.
“Someone said something about my hair at the Oscars that left me in awe,” Zendaya wrote.
“Not because I was relishing in rave outfit reviews, but because I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect.”
“The Academy Awards dress is stunning on her,” added Sharp.
“The look from head to toe looked like old Hollywood glamour and showed pure elegance.”
WORN IN WHITE
Through to 2019, Zendaya continued to rock up at premieres and experimented with her clothes, accessories, and hair.
Her red carpet look at the 2018 Met Gala included plenty of silver fabric and beads.
The actress channeled Joan of Arc for the event, which was themed “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”
Zendaya’s attractive Versace dress incorporated thigh-high splits to boost her appeal.
The Oakland native’s white suit jacket efforts at the GQ Men of The Year Awards saw her wear her hair down in curls.
Her jacket by Monot was cut just above the navel.
“The long white column skirt is not one of my favorite looks on her,” said Sharp.
“It hangs on her body, and it feels slightly shapeless.
“This is one outfit is wearing Zendaya, rather than her owning the look.
“She has, however, shown off plenty of other more impressive looks.”
NAKED BEAUTY
Zendaya’s 2021 Venice Film Festival “naked” tan dress for the screening of Dune sent the fashion world into a spin.
The unique Balmain number’s thigh-high slit showed off her legs.
Zendaya teamed it up with emerald and diamond jewelry and Louboutins.
“Zendaya’s tan body-conscious goddess dress stands out,” said Sharp.
“She wears it, owns it, and I can not picture it on anyone else.
“From the styling of her hair down to the necklace and the shoes, this look was made for her, and she stole the show.”
After hosting the Met Gala, Zendaya’s fearless fashion sense might translate into her new career dreams.
In her Vogue interview, she discussed aspirations of becoming a filmmaker.
“Picking things from different people and hopefully one day not being afraid, and trying to do it myself,” she said about directing.
