There's a reason that Zendaya consistently shuts down the red carpet. No, it's not our May cover star's preternaturally and always-on-point fashion choices (the work of the actor and longtime stylist Law Roach, who she considers something of a fashion professor) or her aura of effortless confidence. No, it's not even her chameleonic beauty. It's the intoxicating intentionality behind all of the above, elements combined with a cohesiveness that makes each event appearance a complete character study—one that extends from head to toe.
“During glam, we always speak about the fact that a story is being told and Z is the main character,” says hairstylist Ursula Stephen. “Everything should complement each other to support that story.” An analysis of the actor's recent red carpet beauty showcases the truth of this. During the Dune II press tour alone, Zendaya rocked a nude makeup palette and pre-Raphaelite curls (the work of hairstylist Tai Simon) inspired by the film's landscape and balanced by an appropriately futuristic white gown from Stéphane Rolland; luminous highlighter and wet-look coiffure in keeping with her robotic and archival Mugler couture; and bronze touches that played up her neat brunette, hair tucked into the neck of her Arrakis-esque Bottega Veneta.
"We adopted method dressing,” Roach tells Vogue of the visual feast. “The looks served as an extension of the wardrobe from the movie; It was intentional and purposeful.” This penchant for storytelling through style is further evidenced by Zendaya's iconic Met Gala moments. In fact, the event, which encourages attendees to visually iterate on a given theme, provides the perfect platform for the actor's approach. “I have a soft spot for our Joan of Arc look," says Stephen, referencing the fiery red bob that accompanied Zendaya's armored Versace at the 2018 gala, themed “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” The steps also saw the actor's 2019 Cinderella cosplay (a playful nod to the year's “Camp”), her cinematic Tommy Hilfiger gown finished with pale blue shadow and a blonde bouffant updo that insisted on the allusion.
But of course, character-driven dressing is not relegated to the Met alone. For this year's Academy Awards, Zendaya donned a skin-skimming Armani Privé bedecked in silver palm trees, the L.A. motif paired with abbreviated Old Hollywood curls and a classic cat eye. Meanwhile, her emerald Vera Wang, worn for the 2019 Emmys, transmuted soft auburn waves into an ode to Poison Ivy. From slick and modern moments to hyper-feminine throwbacks, each of Zendaya's holistic looks is greater than the sum of its parts.
Recent press for Challengers has found Zendaya embracing new blonde hair styled to further a parade of character-driven looks. Ethereal Louis Vuitton calls for a cascade of soft curls, while a checked coat from the same designer suggests a twee updo replete with headband and side bang. And for custom Loewe inspired by a particularly luxurious court? A preppy, flipped-up bob, partially pinned. Though intricate and calculated, there's always room for aesthetic evolution. Zendaya's Challengers premiere tour blonde transformation is a perfect example of this. “I picked up a bunch of extension options from The Hair Shop in different blonde shades so we could play with each hair look since it's new for her,” says Stephen. “Things can change fast. We always do what works for the look."
