Zendaya’s Beaded Backless Dress Is More Wearable (and Attainable) Than You Think

Zendaya doesn’t get enough credit for her red-carpet looks. Sure, every fashion expert and social media stan account raves about her unbeatable approach to method dressing with longtime stylist Law Roach, but not enough people seem to appreciate how wearable the 29-year-old superstar’s couture looks can be. Okay, maybe not the 1995 Mugler robot suit she wore during the Dune press tour, but hear me out!

When it comes to promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, MJ’s low-key, down-to-Earth energy has seeped its way into Zendaya’s red-carpet style. A sporty raglan T-shirt and a silky plaid skirt—all straight from the Coach SS26 runway—couldn’t be more on trend right now. Take away the red-and-blue color scheme, and Z’s sparkling ’97 Versace set is the standard New Year’s Eve uniform. A vintage Spider-man T-shirt as a dress in 100-degree Paris heat? Possibly her most adoptable look yet (and one of the coolest).

So far, Zendaya and Roach have been approaching the Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour with a fun and functional energy that’s far more accessible than expected, while still pulling from the fashion archives. The same can be said for the jaw-dropping web dress Roach pulled from John Galliano’s spring-summer ’97 ready-to-wear collection.

On June 25, Zendaya attended a photo-call in London wearing the slinky blue dress dripping in beads and charms, including a large spiderweb cascading down her back. Trust me, photos don’t do this dress justice, so here’s some video:

From the back.

Klára Šimonová/Getty Images

But while this particular dress is likely out of reach for anyone other than Zendaya, you can easily score a backless beaded dress of your own this summer. Just a few days ago, I personally mourned the fact that this Ba&sh slip dress featuring fine strings of colorful beads was completely sold out in my size. Luckily, the same French brand also offers a more dramatic maxi version.

In fact, many brands—from Mango to Aqua to ASOS to Reformation—are offering up surprisingly affordable beaded numbers that are sure to turn heads once you turn around.