Zendaya’s Style Evolution: Power Suits, Romantic Dresses & the Heels That Shaped Her Rise

Zendaya’s fashion timeline is filled with eras, not just outfits—and few stars shift between them as effortlessly. Whether she’s embracing sharp tailoring or romantic silhouettes, her shoe choices consistently anchor the look.

This edit revisits three standout moments across two chapters of her style evolution: one modern, power-suiting triumph from 2021 and two early fashion breakthroughs from 2017 that helped define her rise.

As her style continues to evolve, these snapshots still feel unmistakably Zendaya. Before rewinding to her formative 2017 fashion moments, we start with one of her most polished looks from the Spider-Man: No Way Home press cycle—an outfit that showcased her growing embrace of bold tailoring.

Power-Suited Perfection: Zendaya’s Pink Alexander McQueen Suit & Black Louboutin Pumps (2021)

During the Spider-Man: No Way Home promo trail in December 2021, Zendaya turned a busy press day into a masterclass in modern power suiting.

The actress stepped out in a sharp pink Alexander McQueen Spring 2022 suit for an early-morning Good Morning America appearance before heading to a SiriusXM Town Hall panel.

The Euphoria star was joined by her co-stars Jacob Batalon and Tom Holland, proving once again that her red-carpet chemistry and off-duty style presence are equally compelling.

Zendaya arrives in a pink suit for her appearance on Good Morning America to promote Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 10, 2021, in New York City (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

Instead of a contrasting shoe, the American actress grounded her double-breasted tailored jacket and high-waisted pants with sleek black Christian Louboutin pumps, letting the saturated suit color and precise cut take center stage.

She completed the look with a Bvlgari Magnifica ring and Maeve hoop earrings from American jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, adding a polished, jewelry-lover-approved finish to the tailored moment.

Zendaya styled her oversized double-breasted blazer with hoop earrings named after celebrity stylist Maeve Reilly (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

“My mom is taller than my dad. My mom is taller than everyone,” Zendaya told host Jessica Shaw about her mother Claire Stoermer during the SiriusXM Town Hall panel discussion.

Her boyfriend, Tom Holland, also talked about being shorter than his girlfriend.

“Not that much taller. Let’s just, let’s put this out there,” he said. “Maybe like an inch or two at best. It’s not like, people say like, like ‘how did you guys kiss? It must have been so difficult.’”

The red lacquer on Zendaya’s coveted red bottom soles has noticeably worn away—a completely normal sign of use rather than a manufacturing flaw, according to the brand. With a quick visit to a skilled cobbler, the iconic crimson finish can be fully restored.

The red lacquer on Zendaya’s iconic Louboutin soles shows noticeable wear, a telltale sign of how often she turns to these classic pumps (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

“I honestly never thought of it as a thing,” Zendaya said about their height difference. She’s as tall as her Dune co-star Timothée Chalamet.

“Because my parents were always that way. So I, I didn’t know that people cared until life, you know, but before that I had, no, I have no construct of it.”

Before her pink-suit power moment, Zendaya was already shaping a reputation for bold, sculptural style—and occasionally stepping outside her usual Louboutin rotation. One of the most striking early examples came a few years earlier at the New York Film Festival, where she reached for standout Casadei heels instead.

Zendaya has come a long way since her K.C. Undercover days. The former Disney star has transformed from style rookie to fashion maven, all thanks to her talented stylist, Law Roach.

Some may consider repeating fashion pieces a risky move, but Zendaya proves otherwise. With her recent streak of standout looks cementing her status as a bona fide style icon, she’s earned the freedom to rewear—and reinterpret—anything she pleases.

In October 2017, Zendaya wore two looks with the same pair of shoes and hairstyle as she went about New York to promote “Without A Net: The Digital Divide in America.”

Blush-Toned Tailoring: Dundas Suit Sharpened by White Casadei “Blade” Pumps (2017)

Zendaya first stepped out in a pale pink tuxedo jacket and matching pants by Dundas. The actress kept her accessories minimal with a pair of stud earrings.

Zendaya steps out for Good Morning America in a blush Dundas Resort 2018 suit, punctuated by sleek white Casadei pumps that sharpen the entire look on October 3, 2017 (Credit: Media Punch / INSTARimages)

Romantic Elegance: Elie Saab Midi Dress & Sculptural White Casadei Heels (2017)

The iconic actress later slipped into a salmon-colored Elie Saab dress, a romantic design defined by its fitted bodice and soft, flared midi skirt.

Zendaya at the premiere of “Without A Net: The Digital Divide in America” at the 55th New York Film Festival in New York on October 3, 2017 (Credit: LK / WENN)

She kept the styling refined with drop earrings, stacked rings, and a gleaming Chopard watch, letting the feminine silhouette take center stage.

Zendaya glows at the Without a Net premiere in a blush embroidered dress paired with crisp white Casadei pumps (Credit: LK / WENN)

Throughout the day, the brunette beauty stuck to her Casadei “Blade” pumps in white reptile leather.

A closer look at Zendaya’s white Casadei pumps reveals their sleek pointed toe and clean, sculptural finish (Credit: LK / WENN)

From the side, the slim stiletto silhouette of Zendaya’s Casadei heels sharpens the soft, romantic lines of her dress (Credit: LK / WENN)

The actress did not bother to change her high ponytail for either look.

Zendaya completes her sequined, tiered dress with polished white Casadei pumps and a high-volumed ponytail for a fresh, feminine red-carpet moment (Credit: LK / WENN)

“Without A Net: The Digital Divide in America” is a documentary on the disparity of schools that have digital resources. The “Spider-Man: Homecoming” star used her voice to call for student access to technology.

Zendaya opened up about her parents’ school experiences, especially since both of them are educators. If you’re looking to pick up a pair of pumps with a twist, you can shop the Casadei “Blade” pumps at Farfetch.

Zendaya steps aside after the photocall for an interview (Credit: LK / WENN)

Inside Zendaya’s Shoe Evolution: From Early Red-Carpet Risks to Modern Style Icon

After revisiting Zendaya’s early red-carpet experiments and her unexpected Casadei moments, it’s clear her footwear choices have long played a defining role in her style journey. To close, here’s a curated look at the shoes that shaped that rise.