By GRAZIA INTERNATIONAL

Zendaya Might Have the Best Style Evolution in Hollywood History

The actress is truly in a league of her own.
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VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Zendaya attends the red carpet of the movie “Dune” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 03, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

The rise of Zendaya from Disney child star to Golden Globe winner has seen her evolve as an actress. Notably, what has also gotten better and better with age is her style. While the Euphoria star has always loved fashion, even as a teenager, her long-time partnership with stylist Law Roach saw her soar to the top of best-dressed lists over the last few years.

Whether it’s looks freshly plucked from the runways or unique vintage pieces dug up from the archives of designer houses, we can always count on her to bring the most to an event.

With plenty of demand for the 27-year-old—both for her acting prowess and fashion knack—we’re positive this isn’t the highest of heights for Zendaya just yet—she’s definitely got some more sartorial home runs up her sleeve.

To celebrate another great year of iconic red carpet moments, we’re looking back at some of Zendaya’s best fashion looks throughout her career.

2012

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 06: Zendaya Coleman attends the “Make Your Mark: Shake It Up Dance Off 2012” at LA Center Studios on October 6, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jonathan Leibson/WireImage)

Firmly in her Disney years, Zendaya went to a few red carpet events in her teens and while the fashion has (erm) definitely dated, back in 2012 this was pretty stylish for a Disney red carpet.

2013

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Singer Zendaya attends the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Even really early in her career (and at a young age), Zendaya was stealing the spotlight at Hollywood events. Her extra-long hair, 70s asymmetrical gown and silver accessories saw the singer and actress stand out at the American Music Awards, even though she wasn’t a household name yet.

2014

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 29: Actress Zendaya attends the BET AWARDS ’14 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on June 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/BET/Getty Images for BET)

For the BET Awards, Zendaya once again proved she was on the cusp of a style evolution in this blue set with platform heels. This was very much her music career era, and her fashion choices really reflected it as she went for edgy style over designer threads.

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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 23: Recording artist Zendaya attends the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/AMA2014/Getty Images for DCP)

Again attending the American Music Awards, Zendaya was inching onto best dressed lists by late 2014 thanks to some great fashion, hair and makeup choices that worked seamlessly together to shift the star away from her Disney name and toward a more serious singer and actor status.

2015

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 08: Actress/singer Zendaya attends The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

At this point Zendaya was just 18, but her style evolution was firmly underway. For the Grammy Awards in 2015, the star wore Vivienne Westwood paired with one of the most sleek and memorable pixie cuts in modern memory.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Actress Zendaya attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

While most fashion aficionados adored this look from Zendaya, comments from Guiliana Rancic about her hair, which Rancic jokingly referred to as smelling like “patchouli oil” and “weed”, led to Zendaya penning a Instagram post highlighting the racism these jokes carried. “There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair,” she said at the time.

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 04: Zendaya attends the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

For her first Met Gala, Zendaya chose Fausto Puglisi, in a gown with a velvet bodice and hand-embroidered crystal skirt with train. It was a stand-out look on the red carpet, and a major fashion moment for the actress.

2016

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 02: Zendaya attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Returning to the Met Gala for the Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology theme, Zendaya wore Michael Kors and a glossy, sleek bowl cut.

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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 22: Actress/singer Zendaya arrives at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Zendaya has always flipped between minimalism and maximalism, and for the 2016 Billboard Music Awards she embodied low-key Californian style in a Calvin Klein bra top and fishtail skirt.

2017

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 01: Zendaya attends the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

By 2017 Zendaya was a Met Gala staple, arriving at the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between event in maximalist Dolce & Gabbana, which was easily one of the best fashion looks at the event.

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HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 28: Zendaya attends the premiere of Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Homecoming” at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 28, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

For the premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Zendaya did Barbiecore before Barbiecore, teaming a Ralph & Russo pink gown with hot pink pumps.

2018

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 03: Zendaya attends the Tiffany & Co. Paper Flowers event and Believe In Dreams campaign launch on May 3, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.)

The Euphoria star is also a fan of a 60s moment, like this one at a Tiffany & Co event in 2018. Wearing Dice Kayek Couture from 2014 and polkadot pumps, she was completely on brand (Holly Golightly would approve).

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Zendaya attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Continuing her reign as queen of the Met Gala, Zendaya wore custom Versace, channelling Joan of Arc for the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination theme.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 05: Zendaya attends the GQ Men of the Year Awards at Tate Modern on September 5, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

At the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in London, the star wore favourite label Ralph & Russo, but did her own hair and makeup (very well, we might add).

2019

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Zendaya attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

The star was unforgettable in this illuminated Cinderella gown by Tommy Hilfiger, chosen by Law Roach. While it polarised the fashion set (was it too thematic? Or just enough?), it remains one of the most memorable red carpet outfits in the event’s history.

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PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 02: Zendaya, the face of the Lancôme Idôle fragrance, attends the launch at Palais D’Iena on July 02, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Lancome,)

For the launch of her newly appointed role as face of Lancôme Idôle, Zendaya wore Georges Hobeika, a ballerina-inspired column dress with a thigh high split and deep plunge.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 06: Zendaya attends the 2019 Harper’s Bazaar ICONS on September 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

One minute, Zendaya was dressing hyper-feminine in 2019. The next, she leaned into masculinity such as this suit by Berluti. Does she ever miss?

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Zendaya attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

Giving Poison Ivy from Batman in this Vera Wang corset dress (or is it Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Zendaya dominated the red carpet at the 2019 Emmy Awards.

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: 2019 E! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS — Pictured: Zendaya arrives to the 2019 E! People’s Choice Awards held at the Barker Hangar on November 10, 2019. — NUP_188992 (Photo by Christopher Polk/E! Entertainment/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Zendaya in Australian designer Christopher Esber at the E! People’s Choice Awards was a moment, not just for local fashion but in her style evolution – this is one of the star’s best red carpet looks of all time.

2020

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SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Zendaya attends the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

2020 might have been a brief year for red carpet events and Hollywood fashion, but for Zendaya it was a formative time when it came to her personal style. Law Roach catapulted the actress into the big leagues sartorially, and this moulded Tom Ford crop and slinky skirt look was a pivotal moment.

2021

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 25: Zendaya attends the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station on April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images)

The pandemic (and its impact on Hollywood fashion events) did not slow down the actress at all – here at the 2021 Academy Awards in Valentino, the star shone.

VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Zendaya attends the red carpet of the movie “Dune” during the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 03, 2021 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Is this Zendaya’s best fashion look in history? We think maybe – the wet-look Balmain gown was a showstopper in 2021, and remains one to this day. The way it was perfectly moulded to her body so it literally looked painted on? The Bulgari necklace? We’re still not over it.

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PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 06: Zendaya attends the “Dune” photocall At Le Grand Rex on September 06, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)

Wearing a Maison Alaïa two-piece for the Dune photo call in Paris, Zendaya proved she was very much a fashion legend of modern times.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 06: Zendaya attends Women in Film’s Annual Award Ceremony at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

Zendaya chose avant garde drama in this Loewe gold breastplate dress straight off the fashion house’s 2021 runway, worn to the Women In Film Annual Award Ceremony.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Tom Holland and Zendaya attend Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Los Angeles Premiere on December 13, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Walking the red carpet with boyfriend Tom Holland for the Spider-Man: No Way Home LA premiere, Zendaya wore a clingy, custom-made Valentino gown with – yes – spider web embellishments.

2022

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PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 06:Zendaya attends the Valentino Womenswear Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 06, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

At Valentino’s Womenswear Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show in Paris, Zendaya once again went for complete Barbiecore in a head-to-toe hot pink suit by the fashion house (along with their coveted platforms).

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Zendaya attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

Some loved this twist on businesswear and red carpet glamour, others hated it. Regardless, Zendaya’s custom Valentino set by creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli was very much talked about (and we adored it).

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 18: Zendaya attends Euphoria FYC at Paramount Theatre on December 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO)

Even away from the red carpet, Zendaya was proving herself as a fashion icon. Here, she attends a Euphoria event in a 50s-inspired pencil skirt and button-up knit blouse. This was also the debut of her chic bob haircut.

2023

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Zendaya attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage)

For the 54th NAACP Awards, Zendaya had a costume change, and both outfits stood out. For the red carpet, the actress wore a vintage Versace gown from the fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2002 collection, once again the work of Law Roach.

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 25: Zendaya attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)

Later in the evening, the star changed into another vintage moment. This time, she wore a set by Prada from the Spring/Summer 1993 collection.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 26: Zendaya attends the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

In complete contrast to her NAACP Image Awards looks, Zendaya chose a dramatic pink floral gown by one of her favourite designers, Valentino, looking every bit like an Old Hollywood star.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 25: Zendaya poses for photos as she promotes the upcoming film “Dune: Part Two” during the Warner Bros. Pictures presentation at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 25, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

To promote her film, Dune: Part Two, the actress opted for a vintage-inspired business-casual look by Louis Vuitton, consisting of a backless waistcoat and tweed barrel-legged trousers.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 27: Zendaya, recipient of the Star of the Year Award, attends the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards at Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 27, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Greg Doherty/FilmMagic)

Not everything she wears is fresh off the runway. This bronze goddess moment was courtesy of a vintage Versace dress from the brand’s Fall 2001 collection.

VENICE, ITALY – MAY 16: Zendaya attends the “Bulgari Mediterranea High Jewelry” event at Palazzo Ducale on May 16, 2023 in Venice. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images for Bulgari)

Zendaya stole the spotlight at a Bulgari jewellery party in Venice in May when she arrived in a dramatic black velvet off-the-shoulder gown by Richard Quinn, accessorised with a stunning Serpenti necklace.

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 20: Zendaya attends the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 20, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton)

Supporting Pharell Williams at his first show as creative director, Zendaya attended the Louis Vuitton menswear Spring/Summer 2024 show in Paris dressed in a sequined co-ord set.

PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 02:  Zendaya attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 02, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)

Then, at the womenswear show, she stopped traffic with this white plunging gown with gold hardware detailing—the same dress she modelled in her first campaign as the face of Louis Vuitton.

Here’s hoping for plenty more fashion-forward appearances ahead.

This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.