Zendaya stuns in Whitney Houston's dress at Essence awards

Zendaya returned to the red carpet at the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards in a white, asymmetrical Eugene Alexander mini adapted from a dress Whitney Houston wore in a 1987 promotional photoshoot that later appeared on the cover of Life magazine. The design features an oversized, gilded hibiscus bloom on the shoulder.

She completed the look with Christian Louboutin pumps and Cartier jewelry. Houston’s original included two flowers and a longer hemline, while a later version with a single bloom and a shorter skirt appeared in the opening credits of the 2008 Sex and the City movie.

Stylist Law Roach posted images of both Houston and Sarah Jessica Parker to X before the event and shared a red‑carpet video with the caption, “An ICONIC piece of fashion history at Essence Women in Hollywood today.” Roach has placed other vintage pieces on A‑list clients — he recently styled Ariana Grande in a gown first worn by Carol Burnett and has dressed Zendaya in archival looks before.

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