Zendaya has become one of the most exciting style icons of our time, not just because she stuns on the red carpet but because her everyday outfits manage to feel both aspirational and attainable. Whether she’s stepping out in an oversized blazer, a perfectly tailored pair of trousers, or a playful matching set, Zendaya always strikes a balance between polish, ease, and personality.
The secret to her style isn’t an unlimited designer budget — it’s knowing how to take one great piece and build an outfit around it. With the right supporting items, even your most basic wardrobe staples can channel her effortless chic. Here’s how to do it, with Mae Threads pieces as your building blocks.
1. Start with: A Blouse
Zendaya leans heavily into menswear-inspired tailoring, but she always adds a feminine twist. A crisp blouse is the perfect place to start.
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Add: wide-leg trousers to create a dramatic yet wearable silhouette.
- Finish with: sleek heels and minimal jewelry for polish.
This formula works because the blouse brings structure while the trousers elongate the leg line. The end result? A confident look that transitions seamlessly from office hours to dinner out. Try pairing the Fienna blouse with the Tina Bow Denim Pants for a Zendaya-inspired vibe that’s equal parts strong and chic.
2. Start with: A Midi Skirt
One of Zendaya’s signature moves is mixing high and low, feminine and casual. The midi skirt gives you that graceful base, but it’s the styling that makes it fresh.
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Add: a simple fitted tee tucked in.
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Finish with: sneakers or loafers for the perfect balance of elegant and unexpected.
This styling trick takes the “precious” factor out of skirts and makes them everyday wearable. For example, pair the Lizeth Button-Up Floral Midi Skirt with the Gael Ribbed Tee. Swap in sneakers for errands, or dress it up with loafers and statement earrings for dinner.
3. Start with: A Matching Set
Zendaya is the queen of monochrome. She often leans into bold, head-to-toe color that does the styling work for her. A matching set is the simplest way to capture this energy without having to overthink it.
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Add: minimal sandals or clean white sneakers.
- Finish with: bold earrings or a slicked-back hairstyle to elevate the look.
Mae Threads’ Norea Lounge Set in Pool Blue gives you that same statement vibe, proving that comfort and style don’t have to be opposites. It’s equal parts effortless and eye-catching — very Zendaya.
4. Start with: Wide-Leg Pants
If there’s one piece that shows up again and again in Zendaya’s style, it’s wide-leg trousers. She uses them as the anchor for everything from red-carpet suiting to off-duty casual.
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Add: a fitted top or cropped blouse to balance the volume.
- Finish with: pointed flats or heels to elongate your frame.
The drama of wide-leg pants works because of proportion play — pairing volume on the bottom with sleekness on top creates an instantly stylish silhouette. Mae Threads’ Marcie Wide Leg Cropped Pant plus our Contessa Boxy Cut Tank embody that drama while staying easy to wear.
5. Start with: A Statement Dress
Sometimes Zendaya skips the separates and lets a single standout dress do all the talking. The trick is to keep the styling minimal so the dress can shine.
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Add: simple, neutral heels.
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Finish with: sleek hair and one statement accessory, whether that’s bold earrings, a belt, or a red lip.
The dress-centered look is the ultimate shortcut to feeling glamorous without effort. Whatever Mae Threads statement dress is in rotation — whether it’s a floral midi or a chic solid — you can take cues from Zendaya by keeping the rest of the look restrained and confident. Check out the Dennis Patterned Midi Dress or the Tibby Floral Dress.
The Zendaya Formula: Start, Add, Finish
Zendaya’s style works because it’s not random. Every look has a clear focal piece, thoughtful supporting items, and just one or two finishing details that tie it all together. You can follow the same formula with pieces you already own — or with timeless staples from Mae Threads that are designed to be versatile building blocks.
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So the next time you’re standing in front of your closet wondering what to wear, try thinking like Zendaya:
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Start with one great piece.
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Add the complementary basics.
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Finish with a signature touch.
That’s how to create outfits that feel intentional, stylish, and totally you — Hollywood stylist not required.