Zendaya has her longtime collaborator, image architect Law Roach, to thank for her reputation as a style icon. The actress and stylist have worked together for over a decade, with Roach behind some of Zendaya’s most whimsical looks to date, specifically those at the Met Gala.
“When I first started styling Zendaya, no one would loan us clothes,” Roach told WWD in 2024, reminiscing on the beginning of his partnership with the actress. “Out of necessity, we had to find emerging designers and younger brands. We always did that and we keep doing it today.”
In 2024, Zendaya joined the Met Gala as one of the event’s co-chairs and wore two different looks on the red carpet.
“Because Zendaya was a co-chair, she was in a receiving line,” Roach said. “Then we snuck away to change the look. We have practice doing this kind of thing already, so we know exactly how much time it would take to change the makeup and everything. We did a run-through and the staff from the Met was so generous and kind to be a part of our storytelling.”
As the 2025 Met Gala, see a detailed timeline of Zendaya’s Met Gala looks.
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2015 Met Gala
Image Credit: Getty Images - Theme: China: Through The Looking Glass
- Dress: Zendaya arrived to the Met Gala in a truck due to her dress’ long train. Fausto Puglisi designed the high-low frock, which was embroidered with sun motifs and a black and white velour pattern. Matching arm cuffs and a crown completed the actress’ look.
- Jewelry: Jack Vartanian earrings, Lydia Courteille and Pasquale Bruni rings
- Shoes: Jimmy Choo
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2016 Met Gala
Image Credit: Getty Images - Theme: Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
- Dress: At her second Met Gala, Zendaya sported a sequined one-shoulder gown by Michael Kors. It took artisans a month to embroider the piece, which Kors said resembled “a glamorous android.”
- Jewelry: Jorge Adeler rings
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2017 Met Gala
Image Credit: Getty Images - Theme: Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between
- Dress: Kawakubo’s love of florals translated into Zendaya’s Dolce & Gabbana ballgown at the 2017 Met Gala. Her patterned off-the-shoulder frock came from the fashion house’s fall 2015 couture collection.
- Jewelry: Forevermark rings and earrings
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2018 Met Gala
Image Credit: Karwai Tang/Getty Images - Theme: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
- Dress: Zendaya’s glamorous suit of armor at the 2018 Met Gala was custom-made by Atelier Versace. “I started thinking about strong women who had a connection to religion,” Roach told WWD of his vision for the look. “I dreamt of Joan of Arc one night and called Versace and was like, ‘What if we did something to reference Joan of Arc?’ They came back with really, really great sketches.”
- Jewelry: Tiffany & Co.
- Shoes: Jimmy Choo
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2019 Met Gala
Image Credit: Getty Images for THR - Theme: Camp: Notes on Fashion
- Dress: Zendaya brought a bit of magic to the pink carpet at the 2019 Met Gala. Dressed as Cinderella, she walked the carpet with Roach, who acted as her fairy godfather. The actress accessorized her light-up gown, crafted by Tommy Hilfiger and Hussein Chalayan, with a custom crystallized clutch shaped like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage. To top it all off, Zendaya even left a “glass slipper” behind. According to Roach, Zendaya’s look was symbolic of her career shift from Disney star to serious actress.
- Clutch: Judith Leiber
- Jewelry: Stefere Jewelry earrings, rings and choker
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2024 Met Gala
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/WWD - Theme: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
- Dress: Zendaya wore two looks for the 2024 Met Gala, which she joined as a cochair. Her first look was a custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano gown, which paid homage to Dior’s spring 1999 couture collection, also designed by Galliano. The actress wore dramatic makeup inspired by Margiela’s couture 2024 runway show, where models walked the runway in viral beauty looks created by Pat McGrath.
- Jewelry: Bulgari
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2024 Met Gala
Image Credit: Getty Images - Theme: Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
- Dress: For her second look, Zendaya wore a dramatic dress from Givenchy’s spring 1996 couture collection. It featured a Victorian-inspired corset top and a larger-than-life train that covered the Met Gala red carpet. Zendaya also donned a bouquet headpiece, adding to the theme
- Jewelry: Bulgari