The 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood event will be available to stream on ESSENCE’s YouTube starting Saturday, March 14: Watch Here.
“And just like that…. I found it!!” read the latest Instagram caption of Zendaya’s stylist and Image Architect Law Roach. Earlier this month, Zendaya attended the 19th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards “wearing on the most iconic dresses in movie history.” He’s referencing the version of a dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City: The Movie (2008): a white one-shouldered mini dress from Caché.
But, the dress goes far deeper than that. While her Carrie Bradshaw moment dates back to 2008, it’s a replica of an original Eugene Alexander dress famously seen over 20 years prior—on Whitney Houston. In March 1987, the late singer first wore the piece for a promotional photoshoot, then again on the cover of a Life magazine book (2012) commemorating her legacy.
As recent rumors swirl that Zendaya privately tied the knot with her fiancé Tom Holland, wearing a dress adorned with white and gold orchids makes sense. After all, she’s been leaning into the gossip all week, from her bridal white high-low skirt at Louis Vuitton and even a new hair cut, which often comes with big life changes. But, while her marriage-method-dressing via Whitney Houston, and even more recently, Prince, at The Drama after-party, were her most recent fashion statements, it wasn’t the first time she referenced Black style icons.
Ahead, take a look at 6 times Zendaya—by way of Law Roach—used archival fashion to pay tribute to Black icons.
2026, The Drama After-Party
Most recently, Zendaya popped out for The Drama after-party in a white lace Harris Reed Fluid Bridal piece. The outfit was, according to the designer, directly inspired by Prince’s white, lace performance outfit in 1985. Reed wrote in an Instagram caption, “An image that has reimagined one of my greatest inspirations of all time.”
2026, ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood
Zendaya rocked the famous Sex and the City Movie Caché dress that Carrie wore. Originally, the dress was a replica of Whitney Houston’s dress from her cover of Life Magazine in 1987.
2025, Golden Globe Awards
“In honour of Diahann, Eartha, Dorthy and Joyce,” read Law Roach’s Instagram caption as the inspiration behind her orange Louis Vuitton gown at last year’s Golden Globes. The gown, which was form fitting with a bouffant train, specifically referenced the work of Zelda Wynn Valdes, an African American costume designer known for dressing Joyce Bryant, on the cover of Bryant’s 1954 album, Runnin’ Wild.
2025, The Met Gala
For the last Met Gala, which had the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” Zendaya wore a custom Louis Vuitton three-piece suit, along with a matching large brimmed hat. The look was an homage to Diana Ross’ role as Tracy Chambers in the classic film Mahogany.
2021, ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood
At ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood in 2021, Law Roach put Zendaya in a Yves Saint Laurent couture look from his personal archive. The puff-sleeved top originally belonged to Black businesswoman Eunice W Johnson, the creator of Ebony Fashion Fair, dating back to 1982.
2021, BET Awards
Beyoncé’s first-ever solo performance at the BET Awards was in 2003. She wore a short spring/summer 2003 Versace gown and a pair of green pumps. So, naturally, when Zendaya attended in 2021, she honored the icon with a longer version of that same gown.
