Zendaya made her return to the Met Gala after an extended hiatus in Christian Louboutin for Maison Margiela Tabi heels.
“It’s a celebration of John Galliano past and present,” Zendaya’s longtime collaborator, image architect Law Roach tells FN of the look.
The actress, who is a co-chair for the event, was not the only one to wear the shoes. Gwendoline Christie, who was one of the hosts for Vogue’s livestream of the red carpet, also wore the style in a different color way. Zendaya’s heels were hardly perceptible underneath the fabric of her custom Maison Margiela gown which was a recreation of a design from Galliano’s spring 1999 couture collection for Christian Dior.
About the Shoe
Zendaya’s shoes were first seen at the Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024 collection in January. The show went viral on social media for its fantastical production. They are a collaboration between Margiela creative director John Galliano and Christian Louboutin. Thus, they feature Louboutin’s trademark red sole as well as the cloven toe that is indicative of Margiela’s popular Tabi style.
“John and I met about 40 years ago when he moved to Paris,” Louboutin said in a statement on his site about the collaboration. “Working with someone you love and respect was really the nice part of the collaboration. Moreover, Maison Margiela has such precise and strong codes that you can refer to, which are very well preserved.”
The shoe is a D’Orsay pump with the counter made intentionally bulbous and done in a faux lizard. This design draws inspiration from an undergarment popular among women in the late 18th century, designed to accentuate the lower back’s curves. It is mounted on a stiletto heel, standing at 4.7 inches in height.
The Met Gala raises funds for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and celebrates the Costume Institute’s annual exhibits. This year’s theme, “The Garden of Time,” celebrates the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” exhibit. The 2024 event is notably co-chaired by Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Chris Hemsworth and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
