It's official: When given the choice between heels and flats, Zendaya will always go the stiletto-free route. Since the Louis Vuitton x Murakami campaign in March, the A-lister has stood strong in her pro-flats stance, swapping pumps for Maison Margiela Tabis, loafers, and the occasional sneaker.
On August 3, Zendaya debuted her newest Christian Louboutin So Kate substitute: ballet sneakers, one of summer's biggest footwear fads co-signed by Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Ana de Armas. While on a walk with fiancé Tom Holland, the Challengers star was photographed by The Sun wearing a prototype from Swiss athleisure label, On.
Only available to Zendaya, a devoted brand ambassador, the shoes feature the rugged rubber treads of your favorite chunky sneakers. The leather uppers, however, channel ballerina's pointe shoes with lace-up strings. Though not the same, they resembled a similar $250 option from Ecco, named the Biom C-Trail Lace-Up Sneakers. Zendaya paired the Copenhagen Fashion Week-approved sneakers with slouchy crew-length socks.
Zendaya debuted her newest So Kate swap: lace-up sneakerinas.
Zendaya swapped athleisure for elevated basics including a ballet slipper-pink sweater. Even though she's in London, the A-lister sourced a New Yorker-beloved brand, The Row, for a $3,590 crewneck. It's an anti-summer pick, sure, but one Marie Claire's London-based digital director, Jenny Hollander endorses. "You'd never know it was August," Hollander tells me over Slack. "It feels like October. Everyone's already starting to dress for fall."
Next, Zendaya sampled the Bermuda shorts trend with a pleated gray pair. The wide-leg hems stopped just below her knee, ensuring her Franken-shoes took center stage. Shockingly, she opted for minimal accessories—she didn't even carry a tote. Zendaya's only accessory? Her five-carat engagement ring (with a rumored $120,000 price tag).
If you keep tabs on Lyst's Index report, you know global searches for ballet sneakers rose 1,300% in Q1. Even now, in the thick of Q3, the hybrid shoes are still the talk of the town.
Zendaya and On have collaborated on multiple campaigns now, including a space age-ish short film. What are they up to now, you ask? That's still an industry secret, so stay tuned for updates.
Shop Shoes Inspired by Zendaya
