Why Zendaya's Simple-Looking 2025 Met Gala Suit Is So Much Cooler Than It Looks

Every year Zendaya shows up to the Met Gala, the rest of the red carpet knows, thanks to the loud cheering from fans standing outside the event. The internet knows shortly enough too, as her looks, styled by Law Roach, tend to go viral, etching themselves into the books of fashion history. Her ensemble for the 2025 Met Gala sparked a similar fanfare. At first glance, it's seemingly simple: an off-white suit, which some fans thought was a reference to weddings, as she's newly engaged to Tom Holland. However, the look had a deeper story to it, thanks to its reference to cinema.

Zendaya's ensemble was a reference to the white suit Diana Ross' Tracy character wears in the 1975 classic movie Mahogany, directed by Berry Gordy. On the carpet, the Dune actor perfectly captured its essence while wearing her custom Louis Vuitton suit, embellished with a brooch at the back, and matching cream-hued hat. This look should come as no surprise: after all, Roach has been inspired by films time and time again, whether he's styling Zendaya or not. On top of that, Mahogany is an all-time favorite fashion movie from which designers and stylists alike continue to pull inspiration from.

Zendaya's custom Louis Vuitton suit was a carefully considered homage to this year's Met Gala theme, "Superfine," which was an ode to Black dandyism. The dress code, "Tailored for You," welcomed a swell of, well, just that, tailored looks. However, the best ones of the night took it a step further, using the carpet to flex sartorial intertextuality. Rather than just a suit, Zendaya and Roach leaned on references to riff on the old to create something new. She topped it off with a '90s-inspired lip by Ernesto Casillas using Charlotte Tilbury.

The look also made for a full circle. Diana Ross also joined Monday night's carpet, wearing an aptly flamboyant gown that turned heads for its 18-foot gown that required six helpers to carry and place it for photos.