Serving Style and Drama: Zendaya’s Paris Fashion Week Appearance and ‘Challengers’ Tease

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BY Anne De Guia
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All eyes were on Zendaya as she graced the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 front row during Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, the same day that the first trailer for her upcoming movie, Challengers, was released.

The 26-year-old actress sported yet another daring look as she went braless underneath her striking co-ords from the French luxury fashion house, no less.

No stranger to menswear-inspired suits, the Euphoria star wowed in another perfectly tailored look, featuring an oversized collared shirt and a pair of matching trousers.

Louis Vuitton's women's creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere and actress Zendaya at the Paris Fashion Week for Pharrell Williams' debut Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 collection for Louis Vuitton held at Paris’ Pont Neuf on June 20, 2023Louis Vuitton’s women’s creative director Nicolas Ghesquiere and actress Zendaya at the Paris Fashion Week for Pharrell Williams’ debut Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 collection for Louis Vuitton held at Paris’ Pont Neuf on June 20, 2023 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Zendaya Turns Heads at Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer 2024 Show

The shimmering set was embellished with multicolored sequins, meticulously arranged in artistic, architectural graphics that showcased some of Louis Vuitton’s signatures and famous landmarks.

Her loose shirt was unbuttoned down to her navel, while her coordinating pants flared at the bottom, partially concealing her brown Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pumps.

The now-retired Law Roach, who attended the show with Zendaya, curated the Dune star’s latest stunning look. He accessorized her with Bulgari jewelry, including a $43,600 Serpenti Viper necklace and a $22,200 Serpenti rose gold pendant necklace.

Tom Holland‘s girlfriend also wore a Serpenti Viper bracelet and adorned her pastel blue-manicured hands with a selection of statement rings, including the $10,000 B.Zero1 Rock four-band ring and the $9,250 B.Zero1 Rock two-band ring.

Zendaya looks stunning in a Louis Vuitton co-ord set that features intricately embellished sequins arranged in architectural graphicsZendaya looks stunning in a Louis Vuitton co-ord set that features intricately embellished sequins arranged in architectural graphics (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Zendaya, the newest Louis Vuitton ambassador and face of the house’s famous Capucines bag, carried a $6,750 black Capucines BB top handle bag.

As for her glam, the Spider-Man actress opted for a subtle beauty look with a sweep of peachy blush and eyeshadow, pink lipstick, and fluttery eyelashes. She then wore her long tresses down in beautiful center-parted curls, framing her exquisite features.

The Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 collection marks Pharrell Williams’ highly anticipated debut with the Parisian fashion house, following his appointment as the brand’s new menswear creative director in February.

Zendaya wears her long tresses in voluminous curls and highlights her features with peachy blush and eyeshadow, pink lipstick, and fluttery eyelashesZendaya wears her long tresses in voluminous curls and highlights her features with peachy blush and eyeshadow, pink lipstick, and fluttery eyelashes (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Before arriving at Paris’ Pont Neuf, Zendaya caused quite a stir as she indulged in a raunchy threesome with her castmates Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist in the first teaser for her upcoming romantic sports comedy-drama, Challengers.

Challengers Movie Plot: Love, Tennis, and Betrayal

The sports drama follows a Grand Slam tennis champion who registers in a challenger event to take on his wife and his coach’s former lover.

The teaser for Luca Guadagnino’s new film starts with Zendaya’s character, tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan, in the early days of her career.

At one point, she’s seen engaging in a steamy threesome with Patrick (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) in a hotel room after a tournament.

Years later, Tashi gets married to Art, and Patrick is no longer part of their circle. Following an injury that ended her career, Tashi becomes her husband’s tennis coach and transforms him into a Grand Slam champion.

However, after hitting a losing streak, Tashi forces Art to enter into a challenger event, where he finds himself competing against his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend, Patrick.

The trailer for Zendaya's highly-anticipated film, Challengers, showcases her character in a threesome with her hunky male co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O'ConnorThe trailer for Zendaya’s highly-anticipated film, Challengers, showcases her character in a threesome with her hunky male co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor (Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

The official synopsis reads: “Tennis player turned coach Tashi (Zendaya) has taken her husband, Art (Mike Faist), and transformed him into a world-famous grand slam champion. To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, she makes him play a “Challenger” event — close to the lowest level of pro tournament — where he finds himself standing across the net from his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend (Josh O’Connor).”

Is Challengers Based on a True Story?

No, Challengers is believed to be entirely fictional and is based on a screenplay by American playwright and novelist Justin Kuritzkes.

The film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, has said it is a fictional story inspired by people he knows and loves. While Challengers is not based on a true story, the athleticism in the film is very much real. Zendaya trained with pro tennis coach and former player Brad Gilbert for three months before taking on the role.

Before Zendaya's casting, other notable actresses such as Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, and Sydney Sweeney were also considered for the role of TashiBefore Zendaya’s casting, other notable actresses such as Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, and Sydney Sweeney were also considered for the role of Tashi (Credit: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures)

Guadagnino said that he almost didn’t use Zendaya’s doubles in the film because she was so good. Before Zendaya was cast as Tashi, several talented actors and actresses were considered for the role. Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, and Sydney Sweeney were among the contenders, showcasing the level of talent considered for the part.

Similarly, when it came to casting Patrick, several actors were in the running before Josh O’Connor landed the role. Austin Abrams, Jacob Elordi, and Dominic Fike were all considered for the character.

Challengers was released in theaters on September 15, 2023, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Serving Looks: Zendaya’s Fashion Aces During the ‘Challengers’ Press Tour

Throughout the promotional tour for Challengers, Zendaya captivated audiences with a series of tennis-inspired ensembles, each reflecting her character’s athletic elegance and her own fashion-forward sensibility. Here are some of her most memorable looks:

1. Sparkling in Loewe’s Tennis Dress and Ball-Heeled Pumps

2. Retro Chic in Vivienne Westwood’s Feathered Ensemble

3. Preppy Elegance in Longchamp’s Tennis Skirt

4. Floral Grace in Erdem’s Retro Dress

  • Event: Good Morning America Appearance
  • Outfit: A green and yellow floral dress from Erdem’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection, modified to tea length and layered with a tulle petticoat for a 1950s-inspired silhouette.
  • Accessories: Bulgari jewelry and white Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pumps.
  • Explore her style: Floral Erdem Dress and a Flipped Hairstyle

5. Glamorous in Vera Wang’s Blazer Dress

Zendaya’s fashion choices during the Challengers press tour not only paid homage to the film’s tennis theme but also showcased her versatility and commitment to method dressing, solidifying her status as a contemporary style icon.