I don’t know about you, but for me, Zendaya is the queen of method dressing. She hasn’t missed a beat from Spider-Man to Dune: Part Two and now Challengers.
After serving us chic green and white looks during the movie’s Paris promotional run, Zendaya took things up a notch by sporting two amazing tennis-inspired ensembles for the Challengers photo call and premiere in Rome on Monday.
Zendaya Slays Tenniscore With Preppy Dress and Tennis Ball Heels by Loewe
Taking method dressing to new heights, Zendaya literally wore a tennis ball on her heels for the Challengers photocall in Rome. She’s quite dedicated, I must say!
Loewe, the Spanish label behind the viral quirky shoe collection of weird heels made of balloons, cracked egg, soap, and nail polish bottles, created Zendaya’s bizarre tennis pumps. Though I find it rather peculiar, they fit the event’s theme well.
Loewe fashioned the pumps from white leather, molded in a classic pointed-toe pump silhouette. While it appeared plain from the front, the rear and side sections reveal a neon tennis ball pierced into the heel, adding a fun element to the design.
Zendaya honors her new sports-drama movie, Challengers, with custom white Loewe pumps with a neon green tennis ball pierced into the stiletto heel (Credit: Marco Provvisionato / IPA / INSTARimages)
Of course, no preppy athleisure look is complete without a preppy dress. Zendaya’s tennis dress reminds me so much of Maria Sharapova’s on-court fashion choices but without the plunging neckline. Honestly, who would even dare step onto a tennis court with such a low-cut dress?
The youngest CFDA Fashion Icon winner looks amazing, as expected. She was sparkling at every step in her bespoke Loewe dress decked out in glistening crystals. Expertly tailored to fit her slender figure, the sleeveless mini dress highlighted her tiny waist before flaring out into a pleated mini skirt fit for a tennis player.
I thought the black stripe trimmings along the navel-deep plunging V-neckline, around the drop waist, and arm holes were a great design element that further enhanced the overall sporty vibe of the look.
Zendaya pairs her tennis ball pumps with a custom Loewe tennis dress featuring a plunging V-neckline, crystal embellishments, black stripe trims, and a pleated mini-skirt for the Challengers photocall at the Hotel Hassler in Rome on April 8, 2024 (Credit: Marco Provvisionato / IPA / INSTARimages)
I applaud Law Roach for deciding against attaching jewelry to Zendaya’s neck, as it could have looked over the top. He instead kept the rest of Zendaya’s accessories simple, styling her with white gold and diamond jewelry from Bulgari, for which Zendaya is an ambassador.
The Euphoria star wore the B.Zero1 Bangle and the $14,900 B.Zero1 18k white gold with 1.41ct. diamonds bangle on her left wrist, secured the $7,100 Bulgari 18k white gold earrings with 0.38ct. diamonds on her ears and adorned her pink-manicured hands with the $6,600 B.Zero1 18k white gold three-band ring set.
While I’m not a huge fan of her light blonde hair, I adore how Ursula Stephen styled it in a sporty half-up, half-down ponytail with retro flipped-out ends.
Two-time Emmy-winning makeup artist Ernesto Casillas gave Zendaya pinkish-bronze makeup, with mascara and eyeliner highlighting her eyes.
Styling her preppy athleisure with Bulgari jewelry, Zendaya completes her look with bronze makeup and a half-up blonde hairstyle with retro flipped-out ends (Credit: Marco Provvisionato / IPA / INSTARimages)
Zendaya Puts Sultry Spin on Tennis Whites in Custom Calvin Klein
Later that day, Tom Holland’s girlfriend chose to take a seductive approach to tennis whites by embracing the shirtless blazer trend at the Challengers movie premiere in Rome.
Zendaya looked incredible in her custom white Calvin Klein skirt suit, exuding a powerful girl-boss attitude that had me in awe. She opted for a sleek white open-style jacket with nothing underneath except a Bulgari Serpenti Viper necklace that served as a replacement for a bra or shirt.
Zendaya goes shirtless underneath a custom white Calvin Klein longline blazer with a floor-sweeping skirt at the Challengers Rome premiere on April 8, 2024 (Credit: Anna Maria Tinghino / Future Image / Cover Images)
The Shake It Up actress teamed the daring longline blazer with a floor-sweeping white skirt with a risque thigh-high slit on one side, revealing her Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pumps.
Crafted from white leather, these pumps rounded out Zendaya’s chic monochromatic white outfit. They have a classic pointed-toe silhouette and 4.7-inch stiletto heels, adding to the look’s allure.
I love the ensemble’s homage to ‘90s minimalism. With its sleek design and crisp lines, it perfectly captures Calvin Klein’s signature minimalist aesthetic, which I find amazing on Zendaya.
Zendaya teams her white blazer and skirt co-ord with white Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps for a chic monochromatic finish (Credit: Anna Maria Tinghino / Future Image / Cover Images)
Aside from the Serpenti Viper necklace slithering on her decolletage, she also wore large diamond earrings and three Serpenti Viper rings in 18k white gold set with pavé diamonds, priced between $9,600 and $17,200.
Everything about her in this attire impresses me. Her confidence and aura are unmatched. Not to mention, I love that she sported a darker hair color after rocking a light blonde look at the photocall earlier in the day!
It was styled in a low bun, pulled away from her gorgeously made-up face. She was radiant with bronze makeup, smokey eyeshadow, peachy blush, and nude lips.
Zendaya styles her sultry tennis whites with Bulgari Serpenti Viper jewelry and wears warm bronze makeup to complement the look (Credit: Anna Maria Tinghino / Future Image / Cover Images)