CFDA Fashion Icon and award-winning actress Zendaya — and noted “image architect” Law Roach — have dominated headlines this year. Seemingly out of retirement, Roach has styled the Challengers star in show-stopping look after show-stopping look for her press run. With not one, but two Vogue covers in the month of April, and The Hollywood Reporter calling the pair “Fashion Soul Mates,” here’s a run-down of their iconic partnership.
It All Started In 2011
The pair started working together in 2011, after being introduced through a friend of Zendaya’s father’s friend. Roach styled Z for the premiere of Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never documentary in a glittering silver blazer, pale green lacquered skirt, and a whole mess of stacked necklaces — it was 2011, after all! A few short years later, Zendaya started gaining traction as a street-style darling after Roach styled her in a yellow Muiniko coat.
2017
In 2017, the actress was featured on the cover of Vogue for the very first time. Law Roach did not style Zendaya for this shoot; however, he was heavily featured in the behind-the-scenes photographs taken by Mario Testino, further solidifying the pair as a dynamic fashion duo even off the red carpet.
2022 – Present
Since then, Law Roach has been responsible for catapulting Zendaya into the “Fashion Darling” space. From sleek and chic looks like the Sportmax suit she wore to the 2022 Vanity Fair afterparty and the liquid leather Balmain look she wore for the Venice premiere of Dune, to more theatrical fantasies like the Joan of Arc Versace ensemble for the 2018 Met Gala and the internet-shattering archival cyborg suit from Mugler FW95 for the Dune: Part Two world premiere, Roach has always committed to stretching the limits of how an actress should dress to promote their work.
Law Roach and Method Dressing
Popularizing the idea of “method dressing,” Roach believes in evoking the spirit of the project he’s promoting while styling his stars. This idea couldn’t be clearer in how he’s styled Zendaya for her Challengers press run. Highlights include: this custom Thom Browne drop-waist, halter-neck gown that featured mini rackets throughout (of course styled with a high-braided ponytail and big white tennis bow); this 1930s nightgown and bed jacket combo that the stylist dyed the perfect shade of tennis ball green; and this plunging Loewe mini dress encrusted in hundreds of crystals, complete with a pair of perfectly kitschy tennis ball heels.
This type of method dressing hasn’t been limited to just Zendaya’s red carpet looks — the actress has been frequently spotted off-duty wearing more casual tennis-inspired faire. Courtside at the BNP Paribas Open, she was photographed alongside longtime boyfriend, Tom Holland, while wearing an optic white skirt and sweater set, complete with sneakers and a bouncy blowout.
During a string of Challengers screenings in New York, the star was photographed wearing three separate tennis looks: a black and green windbreaker mini skirt set by Longchamp; a flowing white collared jumpsuit by the Swiss athletic brand On; and a highly-coveted ‘90s Alaïa short-sleeve maxi dress with an attached hood.
Zendaya, Law Roach and the Met Gala
Of course, we can’t forget the latest sartorial splash from Roach and Z: the 2024 Met Gala.
Zendaya donned not one but two looks for the “Sleeping Beauties”/ “Garden of Time” green carpet. ICYMI, the first was a spectacular custom Margiela moment by John Galliano. The beautifully striped sage and indigo trumpet gown included a fascinator by none other than Stephen Jones — and referenced Look 28 from Christian Dior’s Spring Summer 1999 show (which was creatively directed by Galliano).
Her second look was a true archival pull. The actress wore an off-the-shoulder black ball gown with a massive train from the Spring 1996 Givenchy Couture collection (also designed by Galliano) and paired it with a Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen Spring 2007 bouquet hat.
Clearly, both Zendaya and Law Roach have some serious styling chops — and with the actress’ career on a decidedly upward trajectory, we can only expect more jaw-dropping looks from the two of them. We can’t wait to see what she wears while winning her first Oscar.
