
These Zendaya Throwback Looks Will Take You Back
Aug 08, 2019
Now that the shocking season finale of Euphoria has come and gone, and season two is still a ways off in pre-production land, the world is in need of all the Zendaya it can get. The star, who plays Rue — a recovering teen drug addict navigating the tumult of Gen Z life — is seeing a spike in interest in her past endeavors now that we're in HBO limbo leading up to the announcement of the new season. Most are remembering her iconic Disney Channel roots and critically-acclaimed performance in 2017's The Greatest Showman, but others are throwing it back to an era so familiar that it's got Stan Twitter "sksksk-ing" all over the place.
Enter, stage left: Mindless Behavior-playing, Valencia filter-using, snapback-wearing, Frappuccino-sipping era Zendaya. Imagine, it's 2012, you're changing your duck-lip profile photo on Facebook while playing "TTYLXOX" on your iPod Touch, preparing for a night out. That's right, strap on your Osiris shoes and get ready to go back. We've put together a collection of some of Zendaya's best looks from the YOLO era of yesteryear just for your #TBT enjoyment — you can thank us later.
Seeing Triple
Before the 2015 Adidas track pant boom, Zendaya was already in her "zone," rocking a head-to-toe triple stripe look for the 'gram. A dash of spon con is also present, with a #beatsbydre shot making an appearance in the collage. The only thing missing from this look is a snapback and a song recommendation. "Swag It Out," perhaps?
Swagging It Out
The "Swag It Out" era deserved a merch collection — there, I said it! The music video for Zendaya's mid-Shake It Up single, filmed in her hometown of Oakland, had looks on looks, in addition to more #BeatsByDre spon con. It's a reach, but I'm officially advocating for an official Z-Swag cropped bomber jacket merch drop.
Friends Who "Shake It Up" Together, Stay Together
Who could forget the pinnacle of early 2010s style, Zendaya and Bella Thorne's Disney Channel show, Shake It Up? The show was truly a gift, launching Zendaya into the mainstream, but also showing us all how to make Limited Too runway-ready. It's evident at this point that Zendaya truly had a thing for cropped varsity jackets, but didn't we all? This particular fashion moment has the dynamic dancing duo in offsetting pink and blue dress-jacket combos, and it's everything. Look at Zendaya, she knows it. Giving you proud cheerleader realness.
Studs on Sneakers
Zendaya's August 12, 2012 OOTD has amassed nearly 50,000 likes on Instagram, and rightfully so. The fit of the day was a studded-sneaker, tie-dye vest combo with Hello Kitty drop-crotch pants to balance it all out. The studded-everything craze that swept through malls across America during the early 2010s is almost inconceivable in 2019, but trust and believe — this was the look. If you didn't buy studs and E6000 in bulk on Amazon so you could up your denim jacket game, did you even have a #PassionForFashion?
"No Such Thing As Too Much Pink"
Rounding out our list is possibly the most poignant look, encompassing and indulging in some of the hottest trends to ever grace your middle school halls. The lens-less pink "nerd" glasses, the Vitamin Water, the oversized Beats Studio headphones, the color-coordinated backpack, the candid pose. You love to see it, you really do.
Photo courtesy of Instagram
From Your Site Articles
MORE ON PAPER
Music
Yungblud Reclaims Rock Stardom
Story by Georgia Evans / Photography by Ellen von Unwerth / Styling by Mike Adler / Grooming by Luca Tullio / Set design by Caylah Jean
Story by Georgia Evans / Photography by Ellen von Unwerth / Styling by Mike Adler / Grooming by Luca Tullio / Set design by Caylah Jean
02 July
Music
Reneé Rapp Trusts Herself
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Yasmine Diba / Styling by Valeria Semushina / Makeup by Loren Canby / Hair by Marissa Marino / Nails by Anna Wesolowska / Set design by Kelly Infield
26 June
Film/TV
'Overcompensating' Hits Where It Heals
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Kenyon Anderson / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Set design by Liz Mydlowski / Makeup by Rommy Najor, Mollie Gloss / Hair by Akihisa Yamaguchi, Sergio Estrada / Grooming by Kennedy Trisler
05 June
Entertainment
The 2025 Tonys: 'Give It Everything Or Die Trying'
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
Story by Michael Musto / Photography by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders / Jewelry by Alexis Bittar
05 June
Film/TV
Coolest Person in the Room: Stephanie Suganami
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
Story by Andrew Nguyen / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Stefano Greco / Makeup by STOJ
30 May