Spider-Web Inspired Gown
Zendaya traded gothic glamour for shimmering spider-webs as she arrived at the London premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The actress wore a couture ivory Tamara Ralph gown, featuring a sculpted bodice and mermaid tail draped in delicate crystal threads to mimic the gossamer strands of a spider’s web. A golden spider brooch sat at the base of her spine and mirrored a similar piece of jewellery that clung to the knot of husband Tom Holland’s tie.
Rather than relying on the superhero’s signature red-and-blue palette or gothic all-black looks she has sported at earlier premieres, Wednesday’s ensemble wove the film’s central motif more subtly into the construction of the dress. Zendaya’s hair and beauty choices were a noticeable departure from the styling at the Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday night. Gone were the dramatic wet-look “spider bangs” that mimicked spiders’ legs. Instead, Zendaya wore her hair in loose, voluminous natural waves.
Coordinating Looks
Holland, who plays Spider-Man, wore a burgundy Louis Vuitton suit with a matching tie and statement spider brooch. The couple have harmonised their red carpet looks throughout this press tour, following the announcement by Holland during an interview with Esquire in June that they had married.
The couple were joined on the red carpet by Black Widow star Florence Pugh, who matched Zendaya in a similarly shimmering Tamara Ralph gown. Pugh wore a heavily beaded silver dress in a form-fitting silhouette, a dramatic, deep V and statement shoulders. Fringing featured along the neckline and hem of the dress, with the Marvel star pairing it with slicked back hair and statement earrings. Meanwhile, Marisa Tomei – who plays Aunt May in the Spider-Man franchise – walked the red carpet in a sleek, black strapless gown with a sculptural neckline and statement leg slit.
Method Dressing Across Premieres
Zendaya has become known for ‘method dressing’ – walking the red carpet in outfits that reflect the film she’s starring in. For the Los Angeles premiere on July 27, Zendaya embraced the darker side of the universe in a black satin corset dress by Ashi Studio, complete with antennae and surrounded by sweeping pleats and an imposing architectural train. Celebrity hairstylist Ursula Stephen extended the theme through Zendaya’s beauty look, styling her fringe into wet-look “spider bangs” that tapered across her forehead to resemble spindly legs.
In Berlin, she wore a custom black Louis Vuitton leather two-piece made up of a cropped vest and low-slung skirt. She channelled Spider-Man references with her accessories: oversized Lydia Courteille spider-web earrings, set with sapphires, aquamarines and tanzanites, were paired with a co-ordinating ring, while make-up artist Ernesto Casillas revealed he created deliberately “spidery” lashes to echo the jewellery. In Rome, Zendaya also had spider-webs woven throughout her dress while dipping into the archives in a sheer black Giorgio Armani gown from the designer’s spring 1990 collection. Silver cobweb-like beading stretched across the sheer fabric and nude underlay, making the connection with Spider-Man rather less subtle.
In Mexico City, the arachnid dressing continued with a more gothic approach when Zendaya wore an asymmetric black Ashi Studio couture gown combining smooth black fabric with intricate web-like detailing across one side of the body. Long strands of fringe fell towards the floor like trailing webs, while Jacob & Co spider earrings cemented the motif. Her towering bouffant hairstyle, reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, brought a touch of the swinging Sixties to the otherwise dark and moody look.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day follows a solitary Peter Parker four years after the events of No Way Home. As Spider-Man (Holland) struggles with loneliness and a visceral physical mutation, he must stop a mind-controlling threat alongside The Punisher and The Hulk. The film is released in UK cinemas on July 31.
