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At the Rome premiere of A24’s The Drama, Zendaya made headlines not for a new gown but for wearing one with an established pedigree — a couture Armani Privé column dress that once belonged to Cate Blanchett. The choice underscored a deliberate press‑tour strategy that blends fashion storytelling, sustainability and a playful nod to the film’s wedding-week plot.
A dress that’s been around the block
Zendaya stepped onto the red carpet in a black silk Giorgio Armani Privé gown featuring an architectural silhouette and a plunging neckline set with onyx stones. The dress was not a fresh commission: according to her stylist, Law Roach, it was borrowed from Cate Blanchett’s personal archive.
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Blanchett has a long history with Armani and previously wore the same couture piece at both the SAG Awards in 2022 and at the Venice Film Festival opening night in August 2025. Roach thanked Blanchett publicly, saying she lent the dress for Zendaya’s appearance — a detail he shared on social platforms while promoting the look as part of the actress’s tour.
Fashion as publicity—and a theme
The wardrobe choices for Zendaya’s press tour have been intentionally thematic. The campaign leans on the old wedding rhyme — something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue — which doubles as a visual parallel to The Drama, in which an engaged couple’s wedding week descends into chaos after an unexpected revelation.
That linkage gives the outfits more than surface glamour: they function as storytelling devices that extend the film’s narrative into public appearances. The approach also taps into current industry interest in sustainability and responsible consumption, especially when designers and stars reuse archival pieces.
- Something borrowed: Giorgio Armani Privé black silk column gown, loaned from Cate Blanchett’s archive (worn previously by Blanchett in 2022 and 2025).
- Something new: A custom Louis Vuitton dress with a sculptural bow and back cut-out debuted at the Paris premiere.
- Something old: A Vivienne Westwood gown resurfaced at the L.A. premiere; Zendaya first wore that piece to the Academy Awards in 2015.
- Something blue: A24’s promotional posts invoked the final element of the rhyme to complete the motif across publicity images and social posts.
Why this matters now
Beyond celebrity spectacle, the tactic illustrates how modern film promotion uses costume choices to create a sustained narrative across markets. Re‑wearing and borrowing high‑end pieces reduces the demand for new couture while keeping press coverage flowing — a practical win for studios, stylists and the designers involved.
Cate Blanchett’s known practice of revisiting looks from her closet — often with stylist Elizabeth Stewart — adds an extra sustainability angle. For Zendaya, who recently made headlines for her marriage to Tom Holland, the wedding‑themed styling offers an extra layer of public resonance without straying into tabloid territory.
For readers, the takeaway is twofold: these red‑carpet moments remain culturally consequential because they shape how films are marketed, and they reflect a quieter industry shift toward re‑use and curated storytelling in celebrity fashion.
