Zendaya's Challengers Press Tour Outfits Are Serving Tenniscore Realness

A classic LBD or hot blazer will get any star pretty far, but with the recent rash of head-turning press tours, we might be entering a new era of thematic fashion around big movie premieres. For instance, it was impossible to miss all of Margot Robbie's Barbiecore outfits in the run-up to 2023's smash-hit "Barbie" film. Robbie seemed to embody her character both on and off the screen, which only added to the movie's hype. Now, actor and it-girl Zendaya is consistently wowing onlookers with a similar strategy.

Fans and fashionistas will recall Zendaya's unapologetically sci-fi look at the "Dune: Part Two" premiere, not to mention the other avant-garde styles she rocked throughout the film's press tour. On the heels of that movie's success, the actor is already promoting her next project: "Challengers," a tennis-centric romantic drama slated for an April 26 release. In the film, Zendaya plays Tashi, a former tennis star turned professional coach who pits her husband against her ex-boyfriend both on the court and in the bedroom. Reflecting this storyline in the real world, Zendaya has shifted like a chameleon from cutting-edge sci-fi fashions to a sleek, preppy tenniscore theme that perfectly captures all the film's sportiness, glamor, and artistry.

When it comes to aesthetics, Zendaya's new film couldn't get much farther from the space-age sensibility of "Dune: Part Two." So, it's no surprise that the actor switched up both her wardrobe and hairstyle for a total vibe reset before embarking on the "Challengers" press tour. For starters, Zendaya's gorgeous new honey-blond hair color is perfect for spring — and, coincidentally or not, looks incredible with her tenniscore aesthetic's color palette, which embraces a lot of clean white and fresh chartreuse.

Simultaneously embodying and reimagining the heart of tenniscore style, Zendaya's approach to the look brings refinement and drama by incorporating everything from minidresses to full-length gowns. For example, Zendaya kicked off the "Challengers" tour in Australia on March 26 with a chic statement piece. Her custom Loewe gown served up a silhouette of a tennis player in motion against a green, court-inspired backdrop. While hardly a traditional tenniscore ensemble, this dress channeled the sport's spirit and was a perfect hit on the red carpet.

As the PR around "Challengers" gains steam, Zendaya isn't afraid to mix the playful and unexpected with more classic tennis styles. There was her '60s mod ensemble at the movie's Paris carpet on April 6, with its checkered white-and-green Louis Vuitton coatdress — a look that would have been perfectly at home in the spectator section of a vintage tennis match. Or take her outfit at the movie's Rome photocall, where she elegantly juxtaposed a timeless, tennis-dress silhouette with luxury fabrics and cheeky pumps.

Her Rome dress, another Loewe piece, from April 8 featured a pleated skirt and contrast stripes along the collar and hips, all in line with the wardrobe of a traditional tennis prepster. But the look was elevated to haute couture with a plunging neckline and subtle sparkle, which gave Zendaya's Loewe dress a chic and expensive edge. The actor's footwear added another fun twist to the look. Her white pumps had tennis balls speared onto their stiletto heels, introducing whimsy and an extra nod to the sport without detracting from the outfit's overall elegance.

In short, Zendaya's flawless 'fits never disappoint. On the contrary, this style maven is making new space for tenniscore in the 2024 trend landscape. And with so many strong outings already, we can anticipate even more incredible tenniscore fashion from Zendaya and beyond as "Challengers" takes to the big screen later this month.