Zendaya's Red Carpet Looks Through the Years

While watching the Primetime Emmy Awards last night, I was struck once again by how phenomenal Zendaya always looks. She has definitely become one of the celebrities whose "look" I look forward to most on red carpets. She looks amazing in everything from old Hollywood glamour to haute couture to funky/punk. So I decided it could be fun to look back on how her style has evolved over time.

This look, circa 2010, worn to her first movie premiere, was purchased - according to her - at Target. She was 14 years old at the time, and I love that even at that young age, she created a look that was age-appropriate, flattering, and fun, and that suited her personality. She's simply adorable. 

In 2012, she attended the American Music Awards (AMAs) in this adorable pairing of a black tulle skirt and a leopard print scoop-neck top by alice + olivia. Simple but cute, especially with her full side-parted bob.

For the 2014 Teen Choice Awards, at age 17, she opted for a much more mature look with this form-fitting pink dress with keyhole slit, paired with pointy-toed pumps, a silver clutch, and diamond bangles. Youthful but clearly a young woman and not a girl any more.

At the 2014 AMAs, she opted for a design by Georgine with a much more cutting-edge gold suit with wide-legged pants, a long jacket thrown carelessly over her shoulders, over a silver bandeau, topped with voluminous curls. Definitely not a little girl any more.

One of the things I like most about Zendaya's style is how well she tailors her look to the occasion. This ensemble would have been a mess at the Oscar, but for the 2014 BET Awards, this Emanuel Ungaro design with long slit skirt and satin jacket with black accents and a black ballcap over long braids hit just the right note. 

Again, at the 2014 BMI R&B/Hip Hop Awards, she combined couture with the atmosphere of the event in a Rubin Singer flowing metallic skirt and bandeau topped with a military-style cap. Glamorous, but urban chic.  

For the 2014 Grammys, however, Zendaya upped the formality (but not too much) in another Emanuel Ungaro creation, an aqua chiffon skirt with black polka dots and edging, paired with a sheer black top with strategic opaque patches. Modestly sexy!

For the 2014 Radio Disney Music Awards, she opted for this structured (but still fun) two-piece outfit with cropped, wide-sleeved top and flared print skirt, with lovely little mint-colored pointy-toed pumps. Fabulous!

Again, for the 2015 Billboard Awards, she went for a more "street" look in this wonderful black-and-white animal print ensemble of fitted ankle paints, jacket tossed over her shoulders, and a spaghetti-strapped bandeau top. Did I mention that the pants and top were embellished with little orange 3-D spiders? The slicked-back hair and long aqua earrings and matching aqua shoes set off the look.

For her Met Gala debut in 2015, when the theme was "China: Through the Looking Glass," she wore a Fausto Puglisi gown with a Chinese red short skirt with a long train, trimmed with silver suns and triangular black-and-white details, with a simple plunging black bodice. Unusual without being too avant garde.

This 2015 Oscars look was when I first noticed Zendaya. I loved the simplicity of her perfectly-draped Vivienne Westwood white satin slip dress with drooping shoulders and a small side train, with a beautiful braided hairstyle. I knew then she was one to watch.

Going more casual for the 2015 Radio Disney Awards, I loved these black flared pants and cropped top trimmed with multicolored buttons by Peter Pilotto, paired with cute gold pumps. 

Clearly, I was not the only one impressed by Zendaya's fashion sense, because she wore this look by Michael Kors for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards in 2016. I love the off-the-shoulder silhouette, the combination of blue-and-white print with solid blue flared sleeves, and the cutouts at the waist. She had such elegance, even then.

Looking appropriately glamorous at the 2016 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in a white Reem Acra minidress with short sleeves and pale pink petal-covered gauntlets. She was clearly already aware of how a single detail can move a look from good to memorable. (Note: Many other fashion critics referred to this look as "the chicken dress," but I found it rather charming.) 

The 2016 Golden Globes again reminded us that Zendaya was becoming a lovely - and fashionable - young woman in this deep burgundy three-tiered dress with plunging neckline by Marchesa. And for added fun, the dress converted to a shorter version for their after-party simply by tucking up the second tier! 

At the 2016 Grammy Awards, Zendaya paid tribute to David Bowie (who had passed away earlier that year) in a stylish DSquared2 black suit with flared pants and double-breasted jacket, accessorized by a handful of bejeweled rings and a blonde mullet.

But at the after-party, she changed into this daring Fausto Puglisi black dress with a nearly waist-high slit revealing thigh-high buckled gladiator sandals and a plunging neckline revealing a tiny hint of sexy black bra. 

The theme of the 2016 Met Gala was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology," which I didn't particularly get from this look, but she rocked this body-hugging semi-sheer one-sleeved Michael Kors gown and a dark bowl cut wig anyway.

Once more tailoring her look to suit the occasion, she toned down the sex appeal but not the style or the glamour for the 2016 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards with this retro black-and-blush-pink Ulyana Sergeenko frock and wide black satin choker.

In 2017 the Glamour Woman of the Year Awards looking both glamorous and urban chic in this gorgeous pink strapless pantsuit from Viktor & Rolf with oversized bow, killer black pointy pumps, and a tiny choker, topped with voluminous natural hair.  

Her breakout role was arguably in The Greatest Showman, and her greatest look thus far (and to date, in my opinion) was in this absolutely breathtaking butterfly gown by Moschino, which she wore to the movie's premiere in 2017. 

The 2017 Met Gala theme honored Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo, titled "The Art of In-Between." Like the year before, Zendaya did not particularly tailor her look to the theme, but she did rock the red carpet in this sensational Dolce & Gabbana red and yellow parrot-print ballgown and natural hair. 

As usual at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, in 2017 she went more casual but still striking in a copper satin flared slip dress - a piece from her own design line, Daya, which retailed for $38 - with dark green suede slouchy boots and a wide diamond choker. 

This striking Ralph & Russo gold-and-purple satin gown with multiple back panels forming a train wowed on the red carpet of the 2018 GQ Men of the Year Awards. 

Finally working with the Met Gala theme of "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" in 2018, Zendaya channeled Joan of Arc in this chain mail-inspired Versace creation with bell sleeves, satin sash, and metallic collar. 

At the 2018 Academy Awards, she went all out in a draped black Giambattista Valli Couture gown with a single dramatic sleeve and a short train, topped by a sleek, tight chignon.

And for the after-party, she changed into an equally-stunning sparkling, champagne-colored gown with a gather tulle mermaid skirt. 

Reminding her audience once again that she has grown into a sexy adult woman, the 2019 Emmy Awards saw her walking the red carpet in an emerald green satin gown with a sheer corset, a lot of leg, and very Veronica Lake wavy hair. 

The 2019 Met Gala theme was "Camp: Notes on Fashion," but Zendaya channeled Cinderella in a Tommy Hilfiger ice-blue organza ballgown with a butterfly-shaped bodice and white fur shoulder details.

At the 2019 People's Choice Awards, Zendaya wore a mock two-piece, single-strap ankle-length Christopher Esber halter gown (the pieces were joined by rhinestone chains). Simple but striking.

Going sexy again at the 2020 Critics' Choice Awards, Zendaya wore a long deep pink chiffon skirt and a coordinating nearly-backless molded fitting crop top by Tom Ford, and sported ultra-long braids. If a hot pink breastplate and stiletto heels doesn't say "warrior princess," I don't know what does. 

Another of my favorite looks on this list, Zendaya wore this amazing teal-and-black braided-front vintage Bob Mackie gown (part of Mackie's 1998 fall collection) to the TIME 100 Gala in 2020.

For the 2021 Academy Awards, she wore this daring ab-baring, vivid yellow bandeau-topped chiffon gown custom made for her by Valentino. Oh, and she accessorized it with SIX MILLION DOLLARS WORTH of diamonds by Bulgari. And of course, a pair of Jimmy Choos (sadly, not visible in this photo).

Let's close with her wonderfully elegant yet relaxed look from the 2020 Academy Awards: a two-piece Valentino ensemble featured a soft, sparkly silver skirt with a long, draping train, and a cropped white satin collared shirt, accessorized with stacks of silver and diamond bangles and short necklace. Marvelous!

I love how she is able to wear pieces by a long list of different designers, and in so many styles from classic elegance to hip hop chic to sultry sexy to casual glamour. I look forward to many years of reviewing her red carpet style!