Serving Looks: Zendaya’s Epic ‘Challengers’ Press Tour Fashion Proves She’s Game For Anything

As we near the end of the press run, Zendaya's back-to-back tenniscore looks offer two contrasting takes on the aesthetic
Ahead, every look Zendaya has worn on the Challengers press tour. Credit: Getty Images

Be it a Fremen from an intergalactic planetary desert wasteland or a sardonic high schooler from New York entangled with your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, Zendaya’s press tour wardrobe shows no bounds. Irrespective of the character she’s embodying or the film she’s promoting, her inimitable ability to capture the essence of the creative project by sartorially referencing her role has catapulted her into a league of her own. With assistance and direction from her “image architect” Law Roach, Zendaya’s publicity wardrobe is the embodiment of the phrase: “often imitated, never duplicated”.

Fresh from peddling Dune: Part Two in Mugler’s rare “Gynoid” suit of armour and archival cybernetic sets from Givenchy by Alexander McQueen, Zendaya has pivoted her red carpet approach to an athleisure-adjacent style fitting for her latest film Challengers. In true method dressing mode, the 27-year-old has paid homage to her tennis wunderkind character ‘Tashi’ from Luca Guadagnino’s new steamy romantic drama by displaying every iteration of sportif silhouettes.

GRAZIA joined the cast of ‘Challengers’ at the film’s global premiere in Australia. Below, watch our dispatch from the red carpet and interview with the film’s stars, including Josh O’Connor.

Reviving the tenniscore aesthetic—with assistance from the Challengers costumes designed by Jonathan Anderson—Zendaya has rendered every element of the game at a couture level, whether it be embracing the lawn green shade du jour in vintage Louis Vuitton designed by Marc Jacobs, emulating courtside chic in slouchy boxer shorts or literally wearing a tennis court on her body in custom Loewe. A grand slam, indeed.

Zendaya has elevated the game with a hat-trick of red carpet looks that will undoubtedly ricochet into stands come the Wimbledon and US Open tournaments later this year. And with the press tour just underway, we’ve really only scratched the surface of what Zendaya and Roach have concocted for us. As the pair themselves say, they “never miss!” Acolytes were given a delicious exclusive look at upcoming looks in a video documenting Zendaya’s getting-ready process at the recent Sydney premiere of Challengers—the film’s global opening. But until the looks are fully realised on the red carpet with flawless hair and makeup, we’re reliving everything Zendaya’s adorned to get us into theatres to see the film (so far) below.

Every Look Zendaya Wore On The Challengers Press Tour

Sydney, Australia — Custom Loewe

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Zendaya attends the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre on March 26, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images)

“I don’t know where to start!” Zendaya remarked in her harbour-side hotel room hours before attending the global opening of Challengers in Sydney. As we know, the actress opted for a literal embodiment of the film’s themes in a custom Loewe halterneck gown that featured a still from the film depicted in a dazzling crystal arrangement. “It’s the Loewe, we start out by punching them in the face,” Roach explained in a behind-the-scenes video. 

GRAZIA was present at Sydney’s State Theatre to watch the cast unveil the highly-anticipated production to the world. Here, we take you inside the exclusive premiere.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Zendaya attends the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre on March 26, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Sydney, Australia — Custom Lacoste

Challengers Premiere Sydney Australia 26th March 2024 Photography Caroline McCredie

Also while in Sydney, Zendaya posed for a photocall on a mock grass tennis court in front of one of the city’s icons; the Sydney Opera House. Before changing into an olive neoprene long-sleeve dress from Italian brand K-Way for an intimate press conference, Zendaya displayed her best ‘tennis whites’ in a custom set from Lacoste. Fusing sports and style, the two-piece featured athletic staples like a crop top and briefs and a crystal-embellished mesh skirt.

Paris, France — Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2013

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 06: Actress Zendaya attends the “Challengers” Paris Photocall at Maison de l’Amerique Latine on April 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

As an ambassador for Louis Vuitton, it was only a matter of time before Zendaya gravitated toward the French luxuriate’s archives. Naturally, this moment took place in Paris, the home of the Maison, where she looked to a decade-old checkerboard silhouette designed by Marc Jacobs for one of his last ready-to-wear collections as creative director of the house. The swinging 60s-inspired modish button-up dress featured a mid-century rendering of Vuitton’s Damier check motif, with the enlarged tesselating squares reminiscent of the prep ensembles hailing from the bygone era.

Paris, France — Vintage Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 1999

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 06: Actress Zendaya Coleman attends the “Challengers” Paris Photocall at Hotel de Crillon on April 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Zendaya bridged modernity with late 90s minimalism in this sleek satin set, also by Louis Vuitton. Bookending the press tour with looks from Marc Jacobs’ tenure, Zendaya reached for a piece from one of the designer’s earliest ready-to-wear collections for the maison, toting a rare Spring Street top handle in mint monogram vernis leather. For the collection presentation in 1999, Jacobs styled the look with a Martian helmet, which Zendaya abstained from wearing at the photocall. (Presumably to show off her freshly dyed blonde bob). However, this ‘IYKY’ tidbit might be symbolic of Zendaya’s red carpet evolution as she leaves the interstellar galaxy of Dune behind and enters the sporty realm of Challengers. What better way to do so than in LV?

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 06: Actress Zendaya Coleman attends the “Challengers” Paris Photocall at Hotel de Crillon on April 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Paris, France — Custom Louis Vuitton

PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 06: Zendaya attends the “Challengers” Paris Premiere at UGC Normandie on April 06, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Concluding the fashion narrative Roach coined, ‘one girl, one city, one day, one brand, three looks’, Zendya wore a custom Louis Vuitton look inspired by the codes exhibited in the brand’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection. Designed by the current creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, the dress featured a white leather bustier gown with a multilayered mousseline skirt and matching white leather belt.

A viral video of Zendaya being handed an oversized croissant may have piqued netizen’s interest, but it was the Bulgari diamonds she’s worn throughout the entirety of the press tour that captured our editorial team’s fascination. Who needs a tennis bracelet, when you have High Jewellery pieces featuring 5-carat pear diamonds, 16 marquise diamonds (11,32 ct), 124 fancy shape diamonds (15,96 ct), 1 round brilliant-cut diamond and pavé-set diamonds!

Rome, Italy — Custom Loewe

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ROME, ITALY – APRIL 08: Zendaya attends a photocall for the movie “Challengers” at Hotel Hassler on April 08, 2024, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage) (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

In the ‘Eternal City’ (as Rome is regarded), Zendaya showcased her perenially enviable style in another custom look from LOEWE. Zendaya’s mini-dress recontextualised the codes worn on the court with the drop-waist pleated tennis skirt and plunging V-neck bodice articulated in a dazzling diamante finish. The piece harked back to the 20s in the casual gamine fit but was given a flirty touch with a mid-thigh grazing hemline.

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ROME, ITALY – APRIL 08: Zendaya attends a photocall for the movie “Challengers” at Hotel Hassler on April 08, 2024, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage) (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

However, the look’s pièce de résistance came in the form of her custom Loewe tennis ball heels. Inspired by her preferred ‘So Kate’ style from Christian Louboutin, Anderson took cues from the Spanish luxuriate’s hallmark SS21 show (the first staged in-person following the COVID-19 pandemic) by giving the heels his signature surrealist touch. We have already seen everything from split eggs to bars of soap serve as a high heel, but for a movie centred around the sport, piercing a tennis ball with her razor-sharp stiletto feels like a pertinent nod to the events on-screen.

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ROME, ITALY – APRIL 08: Zendaya, shoes detail, attends a photocall for the movie “Challengers” at Hotel Hassler on April 08, 2024, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage) (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

Rome, Italy — Custom Calvin Klein 

ROME, ITALY – APRIL 08: Zendaya attends the premiere of the movie “Challengers” at Cinema Barberini on April 08, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage) (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

For the film’s official premiere, Zendaya changed into a custom white set from Calvin Klein. Fitting with the rise of the ‘office siren’ aesthetic and prevalence of 90s minimalism, Zendaya stripped back the in-your-face theatrics for something more quietly statement-making, yet still true to her body-conscious silhouettes with the touch of skin. The set featured a white maxi skirt with her trademark thigh-high split and a white blazer that was left open to draw attention to her Bulgari Serpenti necklace.

London, England – Custom Thom Browne

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Zendaya attends the UK premiere of “Challengers” at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on April 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)

In a coquettish hair bow and an exaggerated ponytail, Zendaya arrived at Leicester Square’s Odeon Theatre in London for another faithful fashion adaptation of Challengers’ tennis themes. Acing method dressing, Zendaya arrived in a custom Thom Browne dress made of a deconstructed polo bodice, and pleated mesh and sequin skirt adorned with tennis racket motifs and Browne’s signature tri-coloured stripe. This look was the perfect serve given Browne’s reputation as the patron saint of uniform dressing.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Zendaya attends the UK premiere of “Challengers” at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on April 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

London, England – Vintage Vivienne Westwood

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Zendaya attends the “Challengers” Photocall at Claridges Hotel on April 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

To cite Doja Cat to describe Zendaya’s vintage Vivienne Westwood look at the London photocall for Challengers, “If you could see it from the front, wait ’til you see it from the back.”

We’re, of course, referencing the feathered bustle attached to the nautical-coloured unbalanced striped mini skirt. The vintage set debuted in Westwood’s Spring 1994 collection titled Café Society, a title given to the intelligentsia and ‘Bright Young Things’ of high society who gathered in fashionable restaurants in New York and Paris in the 1920s.

As Roach pointed out, this look was inspired by the bustle skirt Carrie Bradshaw famously wore in season four of Sex And The City. Few style savants can compete with Bradshaw’s on-screen wardrobe, but Zendaya has certainly taken this grand slam.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 11: Zendaya attends the “Challengers” Photocall at Claridges Hotel on April 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Monte Carlo, Monaco – Brunello Cucinelli

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – APRIL 13: Zendaya Coleman during the ‘Challengers’ photocall during day 7 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 13, 2024 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin near Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

When in Monaco, you do as the Monégasque do. Case in point: Attend a ‘Masters’ tournament overlooking the Côte d’Azur in head-to-toe ‘quiet luxury’. For the occasion, Zendaya emulated the ‘old money aesthetic’ of the region in a Brunello Cucinelli set from the label’s Fall/Winter 2024 runway.

Milan, Italy – Vintage Ralph Lauren

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 14: Zendaya attends the photocall for the movie “Challengers” on April 14, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images)

Continuing her cross-continental weekend of tennis whites, Zendaya arrived at Milan’s Piazza del Duomo in a vintage Ralph Lauren set from 1992. The halterneck mini dress was famously worn by supermodel Cindy Crawford on the original runway, proving once again that Zendaya might have missed her calling by going into acting rather than modelling.

NEW YORK- CIRCA 1991: Cindy Crawford models Ralph Lauren during New York Fashion Week 1991 in New York. (Photo by PL Gould/Images/Getty Images)

Milan, Italy – 16Arlington

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 14: Zendaya attends the “Che Tempo Che Fa” TV show at Nove Studios on April 14, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images)

Zendaya selected a custom piece from London-based brand 16Arlington for her appearance on a Milanese television show. The square-neck bodice graduated into a ruched skirt that ties perfectly into the bubble skirt trend. If you couldn’t tell already, the dress is made entirely from terry cloth, grounding the piece in the tennis backdrop of the film.

Los Angeles, California – Custom Vera Wang

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 16: Zendaya attends the premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “Challengers” at Westwood Village Theater on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Debuting her most voluminous look yet, Zendaya arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of Challengers in custom Vera Wang. The dress, the first non-tennis-related press tour look, featured a lingerie-inspired lace bodice and trompe l’oeil suspenders layered over black tulle and layers of baby pink.

Los Angeles, California – Custom Celia Kritharioti Couture

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 16: Zendaya attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ “Challengers” After Party at Funke on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios)

Zendaya is game for anything, literally! The star arrived at the Los Angeles premiere afterparty at the Westwood Village Theater wearing a lime Celia Kritharioti Couture halterneck gown. The sultry, plunging gown gathered at her midriff with an actual tennis ball fixed to hold the material together. Game, set, and match!

Los Angeles, California – Custom Carolina Herrera

Zendaya via Instagram.com/luxurylaw
Zendaya via Instagram.com/luxurylaw

Zendaya and Roach may be in a league of their own, but they haven’t forgotten about the icons who came before them. As shared by Roach on Instagram, the actress’ latest look pays homage to a 1998 photoshoot of Venus and Serena Williams by Annie Leibovitz (see pictures here).

In a custom striped gown by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera, Zendaya could be seen posing on a couch with a beaded wig by hair stylists Kim Kimble and Ursula Stephen, reminiscent of the Williams sisters’ iconic looks from the ’90s.

“An ode to the GREATS @venuswilliams @serenawilliams,” wrote Roach alongside the photos. “We thank you for all you have done!”

Venus swiftly responded to the throwback in the comments with, “Wow. No words! So much love for you.”

Los Angeles, California – Custom Jacquemus

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BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 20: Zendaya seen at the “Challengers” Tour in Los Angeles on April 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios)
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 20: Zendaya seen at the “Challengers” Tour in Los Angeles on April 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios)

The Los Angeles leg of the Challengers press tour has been the gift that keeps giving. At a photo call at Amazon MGM Studios, Zendaya once again served in a custom, bubblegum pink look by Jacquemus.

The set consisted of a fitted cropped polo shirt connected to a low-rise A-line skirt. With a tie and carabiner reminiscent of a tennis net’s ropes, the actress left her toned torso in full view.

She extended the retro-inspired feel to her glam with a voluminous blow-out that curled at the ends and a coordinating headband with a sweet bow on it to match her pointed slingback pumps.

New York, New York – Custom Erdem and vintage Mugler

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 23: Zendaya is seen arriving at ‘Good Morning America’ on April 23, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)

We’ve come to the final set of the Challengers press tour—the match point, if you will. But just like Italian wunderkind Jannik Sinner came back to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the Men’s final of the Australian Open, Zendaya has proven there’s still energy in her yet. For her final volley, Zendaya donned two back-to-back tennis core looks for a slew of morning television appearances in New York.

The first interpretation was a sweet custom Erdem gown that riffed on the 1950s housewife aesthetic. The British designer took cues from the waist-cinching silhouette with a dainty bodice and tulle skirt adorned with an illustrated ornamental cabbage pattern. Her satin ‘So Kate’ Christian Louboutin heels completed the ‘ladies who luncheon’ ensemble. With this look, Zendaya could convince us to eat courtside at her local country club, anytime.

Hours later, Zendaya took style inspiration from a different decade in her vintage lime green Mugler suit.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 23: Zendaya is seen in Midtown on April 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Did someone order the businesswoman special? Because Zendaya is serving. The look featured a blazer cut on the bias and a crystal-encrusted arrow brooch that closed the jacket up.

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