Zendaya's Tennis Outfits & Hair Transformations Are Challengers-Coded

Nobody move. Zendaya is making public appearances. The latest Luca Guadagnino film, Challengers, is set to come out April 26, and the star is showing up to each event on the press tour to score match point. The film is about a female tennis star who’s forced to retire from playing. And based on what we’ve seen so far, we can expect a glorious press tour of Zendaya’s tennis outfits and evocative hair transformations.

Zendaya changed out of her black and baby pink corset gown that she wore to the premiere in Los Angeles and into a custom neon green Celia Kritharioti dress for the Afters. The dress has a deeper than deep, plunging neck, secured with a tennis ball at the navel.

Zendaya is famous for making intentional fashion choices at public appearances. The 27-year-old actress previously wore a sparkly green gown with the subtle silhouette of a tennis player tossing up a serve to the Sydney premiere of Challengers. And we expect to see even more tennis-inspired looks throughout the rest of the press tour.

Zendaya’s work with Law Roach, image consultant and fashion star in his own right, has always seemed like more of a collaboration toward a vision than a styling service. There’s no doubt, as Zendaya’s star has risen, so has the potential for the kinds of looks that are possible for the two of them. On putting together the looks for the Dune: Part Two press looks, Law very iconically said, “We don’t borrow—we buy,” referring to the infamous designer loans that fashion fans tend to discuss.

1. Challengers Photo Call, London, April 11, 2024

The rule of thumb with Zendaya now is that it’s either custom or it’s vintage archival, and in this case, it’s the latter. To the London photo call, she wore a vintage Vivienne Westwood from the spring 1994 collection. It’s a vest red, white, and blue vest and skirt set with a fluffy tail at the butt. Twitter user @BOTTEGAHOENETA pointed out that Carrie Bradshaw wore a version of this skirt on Sex and the City.

2. Challengers Premiere, London, April 10, 2024

At the London premiere of Challengers at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, Zendaya wore a Thom Browne custom (always custom) white gown that plays up the classic white polo tennis dress. The skirt of the dress is a long maxi with panels of mesh in between the pleats and classic Thom Browne stripes at the hem. Zendaya styled the look with a bow in her hair, plus hair extensions that transformed her bob into a braid that hit her lower back. (This is one of a number of hair transformations Zendaya’s debuted during the press tour so far.)

3. Challengers Photo Call, Rome, April 8, 2024

Zendaya wore a custom white suit from Calvin Klein sans shirt, with a Bvlgari serpent choker. The suit consisted of a long, fitted blazer with a straight silhouette maxi skirt with a high slit. She styled the look with white pumps and her hair tied up in a sleek, back-combed bun.

4. Challengers Photo Call, Rome, April 8, 2024

Let’s be honest, the custom Loewe tennis ball heels are the stars here. We know you’re twisting your neck for a glance.

Z kept the look playfully on the nose in a custom silver Loewe mini dress with a pleated skirt and a low varsity-striped V-neck. Freshly blonde, Z styled her hair to look country club classic: a sleek half-updo that flips out at the shoulders. The outfit’s pièce de résistance? A pair of white, pointed-toe pumps—the heels piercing through bright green tennis balls, also custom from Loewe. Tennis allusions aside, her look wasn’t too referential: There wasn’t a tennis bracelet or tennis necklace in sight. For jewelry, all she’s wearing are silver earrings and bangles.

5. Challengers Premiere, Paris, April 6, 2024

Zendaya wore a gorgeous custom white gown from Louis Vuitton to the Challengers premiere in Paris, really leaning into the larger concept of a “tennis white.”

6. Challengers Photo Call, Paris, April 6, 2024

For Paris’ first photo call of the day, Zendaya wore this green and white checkerboard jacket dress from the Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 runway. She looks as preppy as she does mod.

7. Challengers Photo Call, Paris, April 6, 2024

Zendaya’s Wimbledon green satin co-ord from the Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs SS 1999 collection, and yes, the tennis abs are part of the outfit.

8. Challengers Premiere, Sydney, March 26, 2024

To the Australian premiere in Sydney, Z wore a sparkly, green gown with the silhouette of a tennis player from Loewe. It’s definitely evocative of a green tennis match and a diagonal shadow of the person tossing up a serve.

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