I remember watching the 2018 red carpet for Heavenly Bodies, a Met Gala that, compared to more recent years, brought some of the most stunning pieces of celebrity fashion we’ve seen in the past decade. But while the entire night was a spectacle of stained glass motifs and pope’s robes, I remember seeing Zendaya dressed as Joan of Arc. Now, we’ve seen this done before, musicians like Fiona Apple and Kate Bush have brought Jean D’Arc couture to popular culture, but this felt different. Law Roach, the stylist behind the look, awakened the spirit of a modern Joan of Arc in custom Versace, a young girl unafraid of the fire and trial that stands before her.
The Joan of Arc look was far from the first time Roach and Zendaya have collaborated. Their work together is coveted on red carpets as a contemporary cornerstone of iconic fashion moments. They’ve been working together for the better part of a decade, and as they both mature and grow with each other, the looks just keep getting better. Let’s break down some more of these iconic moments as a tribute to her Venice Film Festival appearances and in preparation for this year’s Met Gala, where we may just see another collaboration.
In custom Balmain for the Venice Film Festival, because why wouldn’t we include this.
And of course, in Paris at the Dune premiere wearing Maison Alaïa.
The 2018 Met Gala and their very own Tommy Hilfiger-Cinderella story.
Let’s all be real for a minute here, the 2019 Camp: Notes On Fashion Met Gala brought with it a lot of hits and misses (looking camp right in the eye), but Zendaya and Roach’s collaboration for the theme delivered not only a fashion statement, but a spectacle complete with an exaggerated narrative and performance, on par with the commandments of camp. This dress literally glowed, Roach’s wand expelled magical mist and to leave no stone unturned, Zendaya subtly left behind a glass slipper on the pink carpet. Everything was considered for this ensemble, and it was truly one of the best moments of the night.
The 2019 Emmy Awards, meet a Poison Ivy and Jessica Rabbit hybrid in Vera Wang.
Let’s just call it like it is, this look alone should have won awards at the 2019 Emmy Awards. The best part about this night was the fact that even though Euphoria wasn’t even up for any nominations, Zendaya just decided to show up and steal the show with her fashion anyway, walking the carpet solo in Vera Wang and green heels by Brian Atwood.
Let’s not forget the pink Tom Ford dress from the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards.
Or when she made GQ’s 2018 Men of the Year Awards the ‘Zendaya Dress of the Year Awards.’
And lest we not forget the monarch butterfly dress from the 2017 premiere of The Greatest Showman.
