At this point, Zendaya is a dab hand at the Met Gala. Over the years she’s ascended the museum steps dressed in Joan of Arc armour, as Cinderella in a magically expanding dress, and last year in both custom Margiela and archival Givenchy couture. While those looks were ostentatious and eye-catching, this year the actress has seemed to change tack, instead opting for a simple white suit from Louis Vuitton. On the 2025 carpet, the look was a welcome moment of calm in a sea of humongous trains, glittering jewels and bejewelled capes.

Designed by Pharrell and styled by her long time partner in crime Law Roach, the look consisted of flared trousers, a waistcoat and tie, a single breasted blazer and a wide brimmed, floppy hat. Keeping strictly to the theme, the outfit seemed to reference the power dressing of the 1970s and 80s. Studio 54 icon Bianca Jagger famously got married in a white YSL suit, and other Black icons of that period such as Grace Jones often sported sharply tailored eveningwear, so we suspect those kinds of women were on Law and Z’s moodboard for the night. As well as those, some eagle-eyed viewers on X have pointed out that Zendaya’s look bares a striking resemblance to one Diana Ross wore in the 1975 film Mahogany, which would make a lot of sense: as Zendaya ascended the Met steps, she bowed in homage towards Ross, who had just walked up before her.

This Met Gala is somewhat of a red carpet return for the 28-year old actor. The last time we saw her in front of the flashbulbs was at the 2025 Golden Globes, where she also opted for Louis Vuitton (she is a house ambassador after all) in a dramatic, burnt orange gown and 1950s movie star curls. In comparison, tonight’s look is the polar opposite to the ultra feminine gown, showing she can definitely masc it up for the menswear-focused theme.