Zendaya's Style Transformation Is Jaw Dropping

Zendaya has proved herself a fashion icon since the start of her long-running career, with the actor's style undergoing a notable transformation after her days as a Disney Channel star. Longtime fans know that the California native has a wide-ranging, eclectic fashion sense, nailing trends while still staying true to her personal style. Zendaya opened up about her perspective on fashion back in 2021, when she accepted the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). 

"Every time we get dressed we treat it like a film, right?" Zendaya said during her acceptance speech. "We bring to life a new protagonist, one with their own narrative, their own backstory, their own personality, so that the shy little girl in me can live out all the things I dream through them. And the more I do it, the more it seems I'm just actively discovering all the different facets of the woman I already am." 

Any conversation about the "Euphoria" star's fashion would be remiss without mentioning Law Roach, Zendaya's long-time stylist who's reimagined the role of Hollywood outfitters, referring to himself as "an image architect" in an interview with The New Yorker. Zendaya praised Roach during her speech, saying, "When I was 14, I found my co-director of sorts ... My fashion soulmate, historian, and constant inspiration—thank you for pushing me to see all of myself and teaching me how to do so fearlessly."

Zendaya launched her acting career on the Disney Channel, starring alongside Bella Thorne in the series "Shake It Up" from 2010 to 2013, before going on to headline "K.C. Undercover" in 2015. Her style during early public appearances was characteristic of many young Disney stars, often combining lots of colors and patterns and typically including several layers and accessories. The young star also began working with Law Roach around this time, with her look at the 2011 premiere of the "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" marking one of the famed duo's earliest collaborations.

Zendaya wore a metallic blazer over a plain white shirt with a faux leather skirt and dark tights for the event. Several layers of silver necklaces, a watch, and a dark headband accessorized the outfit. While it felt very in line with the style of other Disney child actors at the time, it also served as a precursor to Roach and Zendaya's experimental collaborations. "I remember we thought, wow, we were really going for it," Zendaya told The New Yorker. "Metallic and patent at the same time."

Zendaya's first-ever appearance at the Oscars in 2015 marked a major moment in both her style transformation and in her career. Law Roach revealed in his interview with The New Yorker that luxury brands were initially reluctant to work with Zendaya, as many fashion houses didn't see the benefit of collaborating with a young Disney star. Still, Roach was unrelenting in his attempts. While the Vivienne Westwood gown Zendaya wore to the Oscars was not her first luxury collaboration, it marked a distinct departure from her Disney star casual wear and into the world of elegant, designer fashion.

The rising star stunned in a white gown which featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and column silhouette, accessorized with a peach-colored clutch and pearl-drop earrings. The moment also marked one of Zendaya's most gorgeous (and statement-making) hair looks ever, with the California native sporting dreadlocks pulled into a half updo for the star-studded event. 

"I had stayed up quite late the night before, having my hair done," Zendaya told Vogue. "I didn't have any kind of credentials or anything, kind of snuck onto the red carpet 'cause I was like, 'Listen, I have been up all night getting my hair done. We have this amazing Vivienne Westwood dress, like, I'm getting on this red carpet.' And so I kind of, kind of shimmied on there even though I wasn't really supposed to."

As Zendaya expanded her career into movie stardom, debuting on the big screen in 2017 with "Spider-Man: Homecoming," method dressing became an important part of her fashion. This form of styling, which was popularized by Law Roach, takes fashion inspiration from an actor's on-screen work. Think Margot Robbie wearing pink, feminine, retro ensembles during the "Barbie" press tour, or Jenna Ortega channeling Lydia Deetz during the "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" campaign.

While not an entirely new phenomenon, method dressing is something Roach and Zendaya have become known for – and the butterfly dress Zendaya wore for the premiere of "The Greatest Showman" in 2017 is a great example. The bodice of the dress was shaped like a monarch butterfly's wing, starting at Zendaya's side and stretching across her body to her opposite shoulder. Underneath the wing, a slitted skirt of red and blue hung down to the floor, and Zendaya styled the look with simple heels, finger waves, and yellow eyeshadow. 

"With Law and I, we always find inspiration from films that I'm doing," Zendaya told Vogue, specifically referencing the Moschino butterfly dress. "A butterfly isn't the theme per se, but it is this idea of being costumey. You're the greatest showman, everything is drama and so that's what this dress was to me, it's like being literal, being dramatic, being entertaining."

Outside of her eye-catching method outfits and dramatic Met Gala ensembles, Zendaya also knows how to rock a more casual look — everything from streetwear to tenniscore. Menswear, specifically, has been a staple for the "Euphoria" star, first appearing in the form of patterned blazers and bottoms in her Disney channel days and transforming into stunning designer suits. Zendaya's affinity for gender-bending outfits seems to stretch back to her youth. "When I was growing up, I loved playing dress-up and, the funny thing is, I was a major tomboy," she told Yahoo in 2016. "Literally all of my clothes came from, like, Target's boys department."

The monochrome pink suit from Valentino that Zendaya wore to the brand's Fall/Winter show during 2022 Paris Fashion Week is a great example of how the actor likes to mix traditionally feminine and masculine clothing elements. The brightly-colored ensemble consisted of a revealing, V-neck blouse paired with a slouchy suit with a double breasted jacket and trousers featuring flower appliques. Zendaya styled the look with platform heels, silver necklaces, and a dramatic eyeliner look. Overall, this outfit definitely embodies the confidence that has come to define Zendaya's style.

One of Zendaya's biggest fashion moments came in 2024 at the world premiere of "Dune: Part Two." For the London event, Zendaya donned two different outfits, the first of which was an archival, full body armor suit from the 1995 fall/winter collection of Thierry Mugler. The futuristic ensemble featured metallic plating paired with provocatively placed plexiglass panels. Instead of a replica of the vintage ensemble, Zendaya sported the original runway suit, which hinged on the full-body piece fitting properly.

"One of the men who originally made it was with us and he was like, you know, 'We can try it, but there's also a world where certain parts won't fit. Like, our proportions might be very different,'" Zendaya told Vogue. "But we tried it on and I was like, 'Guys, I think it's fitting.' It fit like a glove, and I was like, 'This is so crazy.'" 

Even so, the reality of wearing the suit was less than ideal, with the former Disney star revealing that the metal ensemble quickly made her lightheaded. This might be, in part, why she changed into a sleek, black Mugler gown later at the event. Though the floor-length piece wasn't as show-stopping as her unconventional robot suit, the duality of Zendaya's two "Dune: Part Two" looks shows the actor's capacity for both unconventional costuming and classic elegance.