Hold onto your handbags, fashion fans. The ultimate wardrobe resurrection has officially happened. If you think we left the 2010s aesthetic behind in our old Tumblr archives, Zendaya has stepped out and resurrected a forgotten footwear trend.
That's right, gladiator sandals are cool again, and it is all thanks to the undisputed queen of method dressing. Zendaya was fresh off the back of her Spider-Man: Brand New Day promo tour in London. The 29-year-old star arrived in New York City on 1 July to kickstart the press tour for Christopher Nolan's blockbuster, The Odyssey.
While co-star Anne Hathaway has also been turning heads, it was Zendaya's dramatic shift in style that had everyone talking. Swapping her superhero-themed Christian Louboutin pumps for something a little more mythical, the Emmy winner proved that she is transitioning into her ancient Grecian goddess era.
Grecian Goddess
Photographed on the streets of NYC, Zendaya looked chic in a dreamy Khaite Resort 2027 dress. It was her footwear that truly stole the spotlight: a pair of metallic gold, python-effect Christian Louboutin 'Millennium' sandals.
The coveted shoes retail at a cool £1,000 ($1,295). Featuring glossy, lizard-effect leather and a cascade of tiny straps buckled from the ankle all the way down to the toe, the shoes gave a nod to the ancient Roman arena.
For the Gen Z crowd, gladiator sandals might feel like a relic of the mid-2010s Coachella era, but Zendaya's history with the shoe actually goes way back. True fans will remember that she rocked a knee-high, pinstriped version on the red carpet back in 2015 during her Disney Channel days.
She even designed her own chestnut-brown suede pair for her former clothing line, Daya by Zendaya, back in 2017.
While many of us vowed never to lace up a pair of multi-strapped sandals ever again, the high-fashion world has been plotting their comeback. Runways for the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, including J Salinas, Regina Dondé, and Roberto Cavalli have all heavily featured strappy, knee-high silhouettes.
Is the Trend Back?
It is safe to say that the trend is back in style. What makes Zendaya's look work so well is that it completely avoids looking like a historical costume.
Law Roach is the mastermind behind the oufit. The Grecian outfit manages to feel modern, sleek, and high-fashion rather than tacky. By pairing the statement footwear with a minimal, free-flowing dress, she managed to balance the drama perfectly in true Zendaya style.
With The Odyssey hitting cinemas in two weeks, this is only the beginning of what promises to be an epic fashion press tour.
Expect to see plenty more toga-inspired silhouettes, high-fashion armour, and strappy footwear over the coming weeks.
Does this mean that the Grecian goddess look is here to stay? We are excited to see light and flowy dresses paired with Grecian jewelry to take over the fashion world in the coming weeks.
If Zendaya has her way, we will all be digging our old gladiators out of the back of the wardrobe before the summer is over.
