5 Fashion Lessons We Learned from Zendaya

Zendaya is not only a fashion force to be reckoned with, but also a beautiful and kindhearted role model to young women everywhere. You would think a down to earth nature comes hand in hand with a down to earth fashion sense, but Zendaya shakes what that actually means. Growing up, we’re taught that fashion and everything that comes with it is vanity, yet Zendaya says otherwise. Here Zendaya redefines what it means to be fashionable, comfortable and ultimately your best self.

Be Bold

“I don’t mind if people look at me like I’m crazy. I’m just being me,” Zendaya.

Being bold is a terrifying idea for most of us. A lot of us like to use our close to blend in, hide our differences and show that we belong. But Zendaya teaches us that the fear of “standing out” is not a good enough reason to hide yourself. If there’s something bold about you embrace it and flaunt it. Be proud of what makes you stand out and try to stand out further if possible. Face a fear that is solely based on other people’s opinions and start listening to yours.

Be Comfortable

“I believe you should wear whatever you feel confident in.”

Comfortable can mean many things. It can mean sweatpants and a hoodie, or it can mean a cute dress and heals. Zendaya teaches us that you have to dress to your maximum comfort level, no matter what that is. If you feel comfortable with some on point makeup and a fancy jumpsuit you wear it. If you feel comfortable in baggy pants and oversized shirts you wear that too. You should be comfortable enough in your fashion choice to answer the question “Why are you wearing that?” with “Because I wanted to.”

Don’t Wait for Trends

“I’m one of those people who doesn’t follow trends. I set them.”

Zendaya is a trend setter, there’s no doubt about it. But she didn’t get that way by sticking to the styles of the past. No, she created the styles of the future. Combining pieces and colors that most people wouldn’t think of putting together, Zendaya set’s refreshing trends by just wearing things in her closet in a different way. With this tactic you’ll find a ton of extra outfits that, until now, you just never thought to wear.

Don’t define your style

“You can’t grow and gain confidence from wearing the same thing every day.”

A lot of life is people trying to box you into a type: the quiet type, the cool type, the girly type. But the thing is, no one is simple enough to place into that kind of box. You may even try to define yourself into a type and use your fashion choices to embrace that definition. However, people are so much more complicated than quiet, or girly or cool, and you my like styles that represent two or more of those types. That’s why Zendaya changes it up. She doesn’t stick to just one style, she tries and loves them all, not allowing anyone or herself to box her into one fashion category. Try going outside of your definition and embrace a completely complicated you.

Be You Embrace You

“The best thing is to realize that you are who you are and you gotta work with what you got.”

A lot of fashion is just trying to look good, and with the standards we see in media, this task becomes significantly harder. When clothes don’t fit like they do on the mannequin, you feel like there’s something wrong with you, rather than there’s something wrong with the clothes. Zendaya teaches us that you have to get clothes that fit you, not the other way around. You have to embrace everything about yourself and dress that to impress. As Zendaya says, “don’t try so hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different… just try hard to be you.”

Nour Ibrahim