Zendaya Stuns The Met Gala in Powerful Zoot Suit
Zendaya has attended the Met Gala six times, and every time, her apparel makes a statement. This year is no different. The Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress arrived on the red carpet in a cream-tailored zoot suit to pay homage to Black power dressing in the 1970s and 1980s.
here she is. zendaya at the met gala pic.twitter.com/lOzDdfUGs4
— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) May 5, 2025
Designed by Pharrell Williams, Zendaya wore a tailored three-piece suit for Louis Vuitton. The white single-breasted tuxedo, waistcoat, silk shirt, tie, and flared trousers honored trailblazing Black women who wore suits in the 70s and 80s when more women entered the workforce. They wore suits as a form of empowerment to assert their authority in traditionally white male-dominated environments. Black singers Grace Jones and Gladys Bentley wore and embraced suits during their rise to fame.
Given the theme for the night was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Zendaya hit it right on the nose. The exhibit draws inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The book explores the history of Black dandyism, illuminating how fashion has been a tool for Black people to create their identities and assert power within the context of slavery and freedom.
Zendaya paired her all-white zoot suit with a wide-brim floppy white felt hat, a Louis Vuitton Speedy evening bag, and Bulgari jewels. She was showing off her white gold engagement ring from fiancé and iconic actor Tom Holland.
OH MY GOD ZENDAYA pic.twitter.com/zxP7hd9MU3
— DIDU (@muglare) May 5, 2025
As for the actress’s beauty look, celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas was inspired by ’90s supermodels. He used only Charlotte Tilbury products to create a flawless, natural appearance. Casillas added definition to her lips by lining them and emphasizing her eyes with smokey eyeshadow.
The Euphoria star was not the only woman to rock a suit at the Met Gala. Joining her were Teyana Taylor, Chappell Roan, Issa Rae, Rosé, Joey King, Madonna, Ego Nwodim, Coco Jones, and Lupita Nyong’o, among others. Each attendee had their own take on what “tailored for you” meant to them. The theme illuminates how fashion is both a form of self-expression and a source of empowerment, with every look displaying a unique explanation.
