Law Roach breaks down Zendaya's tennis-inspired 'Challengers' looks and 'method dressing'

On camera or off, Zendaya stays in character.

From her wet-look Balmain gown at the 2021 Venice Film Festival to her recent jaw-dropping futuristic Mugler bodysuit at the "Dune: Part Two" world premiere, the young star has built quite a reputation for bold, method fashions.

The 27-year-old actor, who will co-chair the Met Gala in May, has graduated from a Disney Channel heroine to a blockbuster star and budding fashion icon over her nearly 15 years in the spotlight.

Much of this transformation is thanks to the work of Law Roach. Roach, who opts for his trademarked title image architect, as opposed to stylist, has worked with the actor since she was on Disney Channel's "Shake It Up" in 2011.

Roach calls the duo's thematic approach to red carpets method dressing — a nod to the acting technique — and it's a hallmark of the pair's collaboration.

On the press tour for "Challengers," which hits theaters Friday, the duo gleaned inspiration from Zendaya's tennis champion character, Tashi Duncan, who's at the top of her game — with the talent and intensity of a Williams sister — when an injury stunts her career.

Throughout the film's international premieres and the cast's promotional appearances, Zendaya has served up looks with tennis whites, collars and pleats, sportswear fabrics like mesh and even actual tennis balls.

These sporty yet chic silhouettes dominated her promotional appearances and photo calls, including an April 14 stop in Milan, where the star sported a 1992 Ralph Lauren dress that Cindy Crawford had originally modeled.

Some of her other get-ups were more on the nose, featuring actual tennis balls. During a visit in Rome, Zendaya wore a glitzy custom Loewe dress with a pleated skirt — a prime example of the elevated tenniscore looks she and Roach have crafted. The main attraction of the ensemble, though, were stilettos with tennis balls at the bottom of the heels.

Another tennis ball popped up as the centerpiece of a custom bright green gown at the after-party for the Los Angeles premiere. The bold look came hours after Zendaya stepped onto the red carpet in a black and pink corset ball gown, prompting fans to think it marked the end of her method dressing on the press tour.

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