Tommy X Zendaya Fall 2019 show was on another level

By Amelia Jaxon, Style and Beauty Writer

The first collaboration between the two icons was held in Paris in March 2019. The runway was turned into a ’70s roller rink, complete with a light up floor. Drenched in red disco lights at the start of the show, models wore roller skates while showcasing the eclectic new collection. Basically, the launch of Tommy x Zendaya was a literal party.

It was also important to Zendaya and Hilfiger to cast models who have inspired them. The world’s first black supermodel, Pat Cleveland, was joined on the runway by a plethora of legendary models including Beverly Peele, Beverly Johnson, Veronica Webb, Debra Shaw, and Chrystèle Saint Louis Augustin. Winnie Harlow and Jourdan Dunn also walked, and icon Grace Jones closed her first show.

As far as runways go, it’s pretty hard to top having Grace Jones as your closer. But actress-turned-singer-turned-designer Zendaya is hardly one to shy away from ambition, so her Zendaya x Tommy Hilfiger 2019 , at New York City’s famous Apollo Theater, she tried to one-up the barn-burning fashion show she staged with Tommy Hilfiger in Paris just last season.

The main theme behind the second collaboration between Zendaya and Tommy Hilfiger was to recreate the iconic era of the 70’s and 80’s while also incorporating the African American community in it. The creators of the show were successful in pulling off this theme by not only diversifying the casting of models like Candice Swanepoel, Winnie Harlow, Halima Aden, Ebonee Davis, and a pregnant Ashley Graham, but also creating a runway/dance floor vibe for the models and guests both to strut on.

And strut they did, wearing Zendaya’s designs for Tommy Hilfiger, the collection gave off a very ambitious and free vibe as personally designed and co-created by Zendaya which included pleated skirts with black button-downs, and leopard printed coats on top of black dresses to give off the sexy, smoldering. It was a callback to another time; as the soundtrack and the platform heels clarified, it was circa the ’70s, but everything felt so fresh.

What was even more astonishing to witness in this runway was the carefree vibe that the models were giving. The models were all cast from different age groups, races and ethnicities, irrespective of their body types and were not seen walking the runway in a robotic manner. Instead, the models were seen strutting the runway in a very confident way; some even shaking a leg and dancing away to the full choir and saxophone player set up in the background.

Sadly, the collection marks the finale of Zendaya and Hilfiger’s design collaboration. The designer reflected on the experience in the show notes.

“This evening also marks the end of my two-season collaboration with Zendaya and image architect, Law Roach. With redefined power dressing at its core, the collection’s bold tailored pieces are infused with a modern twist that celebrate the strength that comes from fearlessly being your true self. We didn’t want to hold anything back tonight, with Zendaya’s vision, dedication and strong voice bringing a unique edge to our collaboration. She has an important message to tell, and sharing our platform to express her creativity has been an honor.”

Tommy Hilfiger