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Luca Guadagnino’s latest film, Challengers, is the story of an obsessive love triangle, ping ponging between past and present to explain the ferocious dynamics between a trio of sweaty tennis pros. Tashi (Zendaya) is Art (Mike Faist)’s wife and coach, but both husband and wife can’t seem to get over their former best friend/boyfriend Patrick (Josh O’Connor). Half of the film is set in the early 2000s, and fashion designer Jonathan Anderson (of Loewe and JW Anderson fame) dresses the competitors accordingly: the film is replete with Juicy Couture hoodies, polos, and even a riff on an evening dress that may or may not have the exact same silhouette as one of our editor’s 2000s prom dresses…
Challengers is an absolute romp, full of sex and side eye and, of course, tennis. It has also benefited from a post-SAG-strike globe trotting press tour with the three stars and director in tow, which worked the fashion world into a lather a month before the movie even came out. Between the covetable nouveau-prep clothes and the instant-classic, pounding house score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Challengers looks like it’s going to own both the look and the song of summer 2024.
From the now-iconic I TOLD YA t-shirt, to Zendaya’s take on stealth wealth, read on for our essential Challengers style guide.
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First, the iconic t-shirt. Supposedly inspired by a JFK Jr. shirt from the 90s, Jonathan Anderson’s “I TOLD YA” shirt appears multiple times in the film, and has become something of a viral sensation. Loewe is releasing a limited run of the unisex grey tee, which apparently has made it onto some die hard fans already – three people in the crowd at an LA screening this weekend were wearing them.
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Early in the film, Zendaya wears a cobalt blue strapless dress to the launch of her new Adidas collection. Jonathan Anderson clearly had fun with the early 2000s silhouette. While the strapless shape may feel dated, the color is hard to beat. This cobalt COS midi dress has a more contemporary silhouette, but still rocks the bold color of Z’s costume.
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One of the most iconic looks in the film was Z’s period-appropriate hot pink Juicy track top, paired with a sporty short. Somehow she manages to look more put together than the boys even when she’s in athleisure. Consider this the perfect excuse to finally indulge in an OG Y2K Juicy track set…
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It seems like everyone is inspired to hit the gym after seeing this movie. Take a page out of Tashi’s book and rock these barely there Adidas running shorts while you blast “Yeahx10” x10.
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Zendaya rocks the ultimate stealth wealth shades in the film’s climactic challenger match – Persol 3287s.
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Z and Mike Faist both luxuriate in plush hotel robes – we love this hotel-at-home dupe from Brooklinen. If only it came with five star room service.
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Modern tennis is all about branding, and Jonathan Anderson nails the difference between the polish, sponsored Art (in Uniqlo tennis whites) and the down on his luck Patrick (wearing a mismatched athletic set that still somehow manages to be chic). JW Anderson recently launched a collaboration with Uniqlo featuring some tennis-appropriate polos. We love the classic navy and cream colorway.
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The Uniqlo collab also features Anderson’s signature mismatched stripe button downs, which double as a smart update on the Y2K classic preppy button down look. Snag one before they sell out – an amazing way to get some JW Anderson in your wardrobe without breaking the bank.
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Tashi trades in athleisure for stealth wealth classics, including this gorgeous brown sweater that we assume costs more than most people’s mortgages. Jenni Kaye makes a beautiful relaxed fit taupe sweater that’s perfect for stomping away from your lover in ultra slo-mo.
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Zendaya is the master of character dressing on the red carpet, and the Challengers press tour was no exception. She and stylist Law Roach took the tennis theme on the road for the globe-trotting promo tour, including this gorgeous vintage Louis Vuitton set. Pajamas? Maybe. Chic? Absolutely.
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Throughout the press tour, Z rocked chartreuse looks, echoing the color of – of course – a tennis ball. We love this chartreuse pant and cami set by Favorite Daughter which echoes Z’s color of choice.
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If you want to dupe Z’s signature unbuttoned look in a matching chartreuse color, we love this sexy chartreuse knit from must-have Aussie brand, Third Form.
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Whether you left Challengers determined to hit the gym or eager to dust off your sexiest Y2K fits, The Quality Edit’s got you covered. The sexiest movie of the summer has some of the best on-screen fashion of the year, rounded up in our essential Challengers Style Guide edit.
