Zendaya Pulls Off an Elegant Crop Top at the CFDA Awards

 

The entirety of New York’s fashion community headed to the Upper East Side on Wednesday evening for the CFDA Awards, but across town at the Intrepid Museum, a style moment was already in progress. The Salute To Freedom Gala received a jolt of star power thanks to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who made a grand arrival in coordinated eveningwear. With the palace dress code no longer a factor, the couple were free to embrace all-American glamour. As such, Harry went for a streamlined tuxedo and bow tie, while Meghan dazzled in a custom Carolina Herrera design by Wes Gordon.Daring by royal standards, the red silk faille gown featured a plunging neckline and fitted bodice that accentuated Meghan’s waist. A leg-revealing slit added to the look’s sultry side, but the gown’s full skirt and train were classic. As usual, Markle stuck to her minimalist tastes, wearing her hair slicked back and restricting her jewelry to her wedding ring, bracelets, and subtle diamond drop earrings.While the Herrera look wasn’t as wild as, say, anything the inimitable Miley Cyrus has worn in the past year, the combination of fiery crimson, satin Guiseppe Zanotti heels, and rock star-worthy black winged liner was worlds away from the subdued fashion Markle favored before she and Harry stepped back from their official royal duties. Beaming as they walked the carpet hand in hand, the couple gave the event a jolt of star power and a fresh take on royal style.

 

 

At tonight’s CFDA Awards in New York, Zendaya is accepting one of the biggest trophies of the night: the Fashion Icon Award. Every year, the accolade goes to a red carpet star who takes risks, experiments with different aesthetics, and somehow always gets it right. Zendaya—with the skilled assistance of her powerhouse stylist, Law Roach—is very deserving of the honor. She’s been known to wear colorful, vintage Versace one minute and a more sleek, minimal Alaïa dress the next. She’s also the youngest recipient to ever earn the title, no big deal!On the red carpet for the ceremony tonight, the star certainly lived up to her name as a fashion icon. She wore a custom Vera Wang design that was, quite literally, red hot. She pulled off an elegant crop top, pairing the ab-revealing piece with a tiered, peplum-style skirt that grazed the floor. Now, crop tops may be synonymous with Y2K style, when stars like Britney Spears or J.Lo would pair them with low-rise jeans or Juicy Couture sweats, but on Zendaya, the skin-bearing bandeau top looking evening-ready (and, dare we say, elegant). Of course, it helps when you’re dripping in diamonds: She wore a statement necklace and bracelet by Bulgari that shimmered against the paparazzi flashbulbs. The look commanded attention and turned heads like a fashion icon’s outfit should. As Wendy Williams would say: She’s an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. Now c’mon, now!

 

 

 

For the uninitiated, the icy girl look is all about freedom, crafting a head-to-toe look that is at once luxurious and unexpected. “As an icy girl, I’ve always considered my style unique,” says Saweetie. “I love playing with colors and expressing myself by coordinating, either my hairstyle, nails, or both into my outfits. I like to be comfortable and feel sexy, [that] makes me feel powerful.” Adding on a Hermès or Balenciaga purse doesn’t hurt either. “I love a good accessory, especially handbags,” she says. “It’s a real problem!”Over the last year, Saweetie has hit a few fashion milestones, from dazzling at the Met Gala in a Christian Cowan gown detailed with 10 million hand-placed crystals, to making her presence felt in the front row at shows like Tom Ford and Prada. Immersing herself in the industry—in addition to her work with Calvin Klein, she became a global brand ambassador for MAC Cosmetics this August—has allowed her tastes to evolve. “I’ve learned to have more fun expressing myself this year,” says Saweetie. “Your look elevates your performance [and] I feel like I’ve taken things to a whole new level creatively. I’m finding myself gravitating towards choices that are way bolder than what I would’ve tried a few years back.”That boldness is reflected in the special, which was, in a way, conceived as a gift to her fans. “The whole show is iced out,” says Saweetie. “The sets are all inspired by the holidays and my music. We did new renditions of my favorite tracks, all new choreography with my icy girls, and introduced “Icy Chain” to the world too. The last two years have been hard for everybody, so I just wanted people to tune in, get to ask me questions live, and most importantly, have a good time.”