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Now there is a star! Tonight, Zendaya turned heads (and dropped jaws) in a glamorous Louis Vuitton look at the 2025 Golden Globes. It’s not unusual, of course, for the A-lister to deliver a strong fashion moment on the red carpet: She and stylist Law Roach practically shut down every step and repeat they take on. But this evening, Zendaya—who is nominated for her role in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers—chose a glamorous Old Hollywood design that bore an extra special meaning. In fact, it served as a stylish tribute to Joyce Bryant.
Skyrocketing to fame in the 1940s and 1950s, Bryant was a prominent Black singer who broke barriers in the nightclub scenes of the time, also raising the hackles of radio censors. Ahead of tonight, Roach told the The New York Times that Zendaya’s glamorous look served an an homage to the figure, recreating the signature ballgown silhouette, diamond jewels (Zendaya’s were by Bulgari), and retro waves that Bryant often wore to perform on stage.
Of course, both Roach and Zendaya made the archival reference modern too, with Nicolas Ghesquière using a tangerine silk and flowing half-train shape. Her satin pumps were done up in the same fabric, too, for a current, monochromatic touch. After all, in a Zendaya fashion serve, every single detail matters. Her thoughtful tribute served as one of the night’s very best.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.
