There’s last-minute, and then there’s “days before the Met Gala 2024, which you happen to be co-chairing, and your dress hasn’t even been made yet.” Zendaya, apparently, falls into that incredibly specific second category.
In an interview with the New York Times published Thursday, self-proclaimed “image architect” and “most unretired retired person” Law Roach said that the 27-year-old’s dress “isn’t even made.”
“They won’t fit until Saturday,” he continued.
It’s a nail-bitingly tight timeline for the biggest fashion event of the year—this year’s dress code is “The Garden of Time” to salute the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit Costume Institute opening—but to be fair, Zendaya and Roach have been busy.
“We’ve been on two press tours—Dune 2 and Challengers—and doing two Vogue covers,” Roach said. Indeed, the press tours for both films also served as tours de force of thematically-aligned fashion, with Zendaya playing with the former’s sci-fi ideas and sporting athletic-inspired tenniscore looks for the latter via her red carpet ensembles.
Roach, who announced his retirement from styling in March 2023, said he’s “been saying no to a lot of unhappy people. Except Zendaya. I can’t say no to her.” He said that he and the actor are “fashion soulmates” who collaborate frequently.
“I write the script, and she does the rewrites,” he said of their partnership.
This year, Zendaya is a co-chair of the Met Gala alongside Chris Hemsworth, Bad Bunny, and Jennifer Lopez. The event takes place Monday, May 6 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Be sure to follow along with Vanity Fair’s live coverage of the 2024 Met Gala as fashion’s biggest night approaches.
