Zendaya's "I Told Ya" Shirt from 'Challengers' Has a Surprising Link to JFK Jr.

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For many of her Challengers press tour appearances, Zendaya aptly leaned in to tenniscore, choosing outfits that nod to the sport at the center of the film. (Think neon green gowns, a white dress featuring tiny rackets, and several looks fit for a day in the stands at Wimbledon.) But earlier this week, she stepped out in New York City wearing a shirt that more subtly promoted the project: a casual gray tee emblazoned with "I Told Ya."

Her character, Tashi, wears the same shirt in one of the trailers for the movie; Josh O'Connor's character Patrick is also seen in the style later on in the film. But the design has a rich history beyond Challengers—one tied to the Kennedy family.

The reference was intentional. Jonathan Anderson, the creative director of Loewe, who also served as costume designer for Challengers (and sported his how "I Told Ya" shirt on the red carpet recently), shared that he looked to John F. Kennedy Jr. as inspiration for O'Connor's character, telling WWD that he channeled JFK Jr.'s "old-money nonchalance" when crafting Patrick's aesthetic.

"When JFK Jr. was younger, in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there was kind of an effortlessness to his wardrobe — like he could wear anything, and sex appeal would always be there," Anderson told WWD. "I felt like [Patrick] should not care how he looks because, ultimately, he is not endorsed, he is not the biggest star in tennis, so his look becomes a bit ad-hoc and stuck together. But when you look at the base parts of his attire, he has very aged, expensive things, including an old wallet that’s still very expensive, though it’s falling apart."

On multiple occasions, JFK Jr. was photographed in New York City wearing a shirt with the phrase "I Told Ya." That itself is thought to be its own reference to the past, a nod to many of President Kennedy's campaign buttons, which featured the tagline, "I Told You So."

Loewe is now selling multiple versions of the I Told Ya Shirt, and of course, the look has already spawned many dupes in a more affordable price range. Shop Loewe's version below:

I Told Ya Sweatshirt

I Told Ya Sweatshirt

I Told Ya T-shirt

I Told Ya T-shirt

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