Zendaya Refines the Equestrian Boot Trend With a Vintage Dior Sweater

Plus a touch of her 'Challengers' wardrobe.

Zendaya poses with Jeremy O Harris at an event wearing a vintage sweater and tall boots
(Image credit: Getty Images)

You can take Zendaya off the Challengers press tour, but you can't take the Challengers press tour palette out of Zendaya's wardrobe. You also can't keep Zendaya from throwing a few new sport-inspired style moves, like the equestrian boot trend, into the mix.

Zendaya made a surprise appearance at Slave Play's press night at the Noel Coward Theatre in London, England, on July 10. Hugging playwright Jeremy O. Harris at a reception following the show, the actress looked like she could have walked out of an interview for her tennis-themed film. Her sweater hit two Challengers-coded notes at once: It's chartreuse (like a tennis ball—and close to the brat green color trend) and it's vintage Dior (like many of the other archival pulls she wore on the tour).

Zendaya wearing a vintage sweater and riding boots to a slave play photocall with jeremy o harris

Zendaya posed with playwright Jeremy O. Harris at a reception for Slave Play's London production.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The second half of Zendaya's look leaned into New England prep, including a beige mini skirt and a pair of knee-high leather riding boots. In its way, this is also aligned with Z's Challengers wardrobe: her custom tennis sets from On, and some of her vintage pulls, had the country club energy her boots exude. In this case, Zendaya could have been dressed for an afternoon watching tennis instead of playing it. (Of course, we know she was actually spending the evening indoors to watch a Tony-nominated play's debut across the pond.)

Zendaya poses with playwright jeremy o harris wearing a green sweater and summer's tall boot trend

Zendaya's vintage Dior sweater called back to the themes of her Challengers press tour, where tennis ball-green reigned supreme.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's been a few months since Zendaya took over the global fashion circuit with her marathon of vintage Ralph Lauren blazers, remixed Wimbledon tennis white gowns by Louis Vuitton, and court-inspired Loewe, all in service of promoting Challengers. She and stylist Law Roach have still found ways to bring "method dressing," or styling that channels a character, into her post-premiere wardrobe. In May, Zendaya supported boyfriend Tom Holland at his Romeo + Juliet premiere in an Elizabethan-inspired gown by Vivienne Westwood. Between the corseted bodice and the dramatic necklace, she blended right in with the production—minus the fact that she's globally-known actress Zendaya.

Zendaya and Tom Holland leave the York Theatre where Zendaya wears a black corseted gown and a layered choker

Zendaya was last photographed in London with Tom Holland, when she wore Vivienne Westwood to his performance of Romeo and Juliet.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Zendaya's latest outfit for a night out in London is also one of her first to wink at broader trends. Equestrian boots are usually a fall staple, but adventurous guests at Couture Fashion Week have styled knee-high, leather shoes with longer shorts and mini skirts—never mind the soaring temperatures outside. Runway beyond heritage houses like Burberry have also toyed with equestrian codes in recent collections, bringing horse girl energy to the fore in the form of saddle bags and tall leather boots. If anyone can make the summer boot trend go beyond fashion week, Zendaya can. Shop pairs inspired by her ahead, then pair them with a little mini skirt and the lightweight knit of your choice. (Dior tags not required.)

Shop the Equestrian Boot Trend Inspired by Zendaya

TOPICS
Halie LeSavage
Senior News Editor (Fashion & Beauty)

Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders including stylist Alison Bornstein and J.Crew womenswear creative director Olympia Gayot, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what trends—like the rise of doll-like Mary Janes or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. Halie has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self-Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she was awarded the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.