Zendaya in Fausto Puglisi, "China: Through the Looking Glass," 2015
I am not sure this was on-theme, interestingly, given her proclivities now; she looks more like a really funky Tarot deck. But it was Zendaya's first Met Gala and she looks adorable and cool and FANCY, and she was only 18, so I think she hit the target enough. This is the outfit I think of EVERY time Puglisi's name comes up.
Zendaya in Michael Kors, "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology," 2016
I don't have any memory of why this fit the theme -- some didn't; some turned out to be machine-made in unusual ways; I have no record of what this was -- but it's SO cool. This wig was incredible on her, and is an EXTREMELY high degree of difficulty, which I suspect helped really ANNOUNCE her to the world.
Zendaya in Dolce & Gabbana, "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between," 2017
This predated people knowing about D&G being gross, I believe. If anyone is gonna do Dolce today, THIS is the kind of stuff of theirs to do -- those prints that look like Italian ceramics are really in their wheelhouse, and while I know they're arguably more famous for corsets and such, I think it's their unique strength. She looks incredible in this, and no, once again, I am not sure how this connects to Kawakubo, but I don't think anyone minded.
Let's give her a full stairs moment!
Zendaya in Versace, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala," 2018
Donatella Versace is often GREAT at the Met, and this was no exception. We had a few takes on Joan of Arc at this one, and Zendaya's was fantastic. She CARRIED this chain mail.
Zendaya in Tommy Hilfiger, "Camp: Notes On Fashion," 2019
This one was divisive! Doing a light-up dress after Claire Danes did one in 2016 didn't bother me; concepts get repeated in fashion all the time, and ideas (and technology) are built upon and expanded. My beefs: This didn't WORK as well as Claire's, electronically, and when the dress wasn't lit up, it looked dirty and dingy. Claire's was stunning even when turned off.
I'm also just not sure I think Cinderella as a concept was very campy, not even with Law there holding a wand. That was my least favorite part (I skipped it here). I appreciate the swing and I'm not as actively angry about it as some people, but she hasn't been back to the Met since and I'm looking forward to her taking a step forward again. And Tommy Hilfiger should certainly think twice the next time he tries to design in Zac Posen's shadow.