Zendaya Reinvents Tennis Whites for the 'Challengers' Paris Premiere

The gown is her third Louis Vuitton look of the day.

Zendaya on the Challengers Paris premiere red carpet in a white custom Louis Vuitton gown
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zendaya hit the Challengers premiere red carpet in Paris, France, with a message: Three Louis Vuitton looks in a day are so much better than one.

For her third and final appearance on April 6, the actress arrived in tennis whites (Zendaya's Version). Her custom Louis Vuitton look consisted of a white, strapless drop-waist gown with a structured bodice that extended into a gauzy, floor-length skirt. A criss-crossing leather belt, also in bright white, was secured at her waist, while an asymmetric train flowed behind her.

Zendaya attends the Challengers Paris premiere in a white louis vuitton gown with a belted waist and strapless silhouette

Presenting Zendaya's third major look from a single day in Paris: a custom Louis Vuitton gown for the official Challengers premiere.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Working with stylist Law Roach, Zendaya accessorized her custom Louis Vuitton gown with a Bulgari diamond choker necklace and stud earrings. Her newly honey-blonde hair was curled in soft, Old Hollywood waves that cascaded down the low back of her dress.

Zendaya wears a white strapless gown at the 'Challengers' Paris premiere

Zendaya accentuated her dress's elegant lines with soft, Old Hollywood waves and diamond jewelry.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Shortly after the angelic look appeared on the red carpet, Law Roach posted behind-the-scenes photos of Zendaya's gown in the Louis Vuitton studio. "The DRESS," he captioned the image, before thanking Vuitton creative director Nicolas Ghesquière for the custom piece.

Zendaya's Challengers Paris premiere dress on a mannequin in the Louis Vuitton studio

Law Roach shared a behind-the-scenes image of Zendaya's custom Louis Vuitton gown before it arrived on the Paris red carpet.

(Image credit: @luxurylaw)

Of all the looks Zendaya has worn on her Challengers press tour so far, this was her most ethereal take on the film's tenniscore costuming. (White is a prevalent color in professional tennis outfits; at Wimbledon, one of tennis's most prestigious tournaments, it's the only shade players are allowed to wear.) The last time she opted for tennis whites, in Sydney, she wore a bedazzled Lacoste sports bra and deconstructed netted skirt.

Otherwise, her Challengers fashion has paid homage to her character, tennis phenomenon Tashi Duncan, with more on-the-nose details and silhouettes: pleated skirts and hoodies (by Louis Vuitton, for an appearance at a tennis match), a sequined player's shadow (by Loewe, at the Sydney, Australia, premiere), and a whole lot of tenniscore green (by sportswear brand K-Way, at a Sydney press conference).

Zendaya wears a white strapless gown to the 'Challengers' premiere in Paris with a stunning diamond choker

The Challengers star paired her white gown with a stunning diamond choker, set with a teardrop-shaped charm, and a pair of diamond stud earrings.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In fact, Zendaya had started her stop in Paris to promote the Luca Guadagnino film in back-to-back Louis Vuitton outfits splashed with court-coded green. The first, a checkerboard mini dress, came from Marc Jacobs' Spring/Summer 2013 collection for the house. Her second look consisted of a silky shirt and matching trousers from the Spring/Summer 1999 collection, both coated in tennis ball chartreuse. The designer is a savvy choice for a stay in Paris: Louis Vuitton is synonymous with French fashion. (And, Zendaya is one of its many brand ambassadors.)

Zendaya attends Challengers press in a vintage Marc jacobs dress and pointed toe heels

Hours before her white premiere gown moment, Zendaya appeared at a photocall wearing Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, from the Spring/Summer 2013 collection.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zendaya and Roach are masters of "method dressing," or coordinating red carpet looks with her on-screen characters. Throughout the Dune: Part Two press tour, Zendaya channeled the sci-fi warrior Chani in otherworldly vintage including a Mugler robot suit and tech-inspired Givenchy cyborg couture.

Challengers takes place on and around major tennis tournaments, so the press tour is a perfect opportunity for Zendaya to experiment with sport-inspired fashion through contemporary silhouettes and designers. Her back-to-back-to-back Paris looks are just the latest examples: The actress is expected to make a few more international stops on the promo tour, with custom and archival fashion flexes in tow.

Halie LeSavage
Senior News Editor (Fashion & Beauty)

Halie LeSavage is the senior news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes fashion and beauty stories. Her reporting has ranged from in-depth designer profiles to fashion week reviews and research-backed shopping guides. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held fashion writer and editor roles at Harper’s BazaarMorning Brew, and Glamour. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. You can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.