Zendaya’s Atelier Versace Rewear Proves Why First Doesn’t Always Matter

Between Legendary Lade’s tweet on Friday and Christopher Teoh Jing Xiangs’ comment, they both reminded us that the Atelier Versace gown Zendaya wore to the Spider-Man: Brand New Day Shanghai premiere wasn’t making its first appearance.

That honour belongs to Amy Adams, who debuted the gown at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, wearing it simply because it was a beautiful Atelier Versace design.

Nearly a decade later, Zendaya gave the same gown an entirely different context, proving how styling, presentation and occasion can completely reshape the story of a dress.

This is exactly what I love to see from a rewear: a celebrity making the dress entirely their own.

Let’s play spot the difference.

Amy wore the shoulder strap twisted, whereas Zendaya flattened it. Amy’s hair covered much of the black embellished detailing on the bodice, while Zendaya left it fully visible. The most notable difference, however, was the skirt. Zendaya restored the dramatic thigh-high slit seen on the runway, giving the gown a bolder finish.

Zendaya has built her reputation on being first. Law Roach has made a career out of securing runway looks within hours of their debut, and he recently revealed that her Matières Fécales gown for The Odyssey New York premiere had been reserved for three years. Then there was the pre-runway Roksanda look for the Dune: Part Two photocall in 2024.

Yet this year tells a different story. This Atelier Versace gown marks her third notable rewear.

Daniele Venturelli/WireImage / Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

First came the unforgettable “something borrowed” Armani Privé moment previously worn by Cate Blanchett. Then, in New York, she wore a Louis Vuitton leather look after Hoyeon had already worn the jacket. Now comes this Atelier Versace gown.

Raymond Hall/GC Images / Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton

Looking back, the whole “Who Wore It Better?” era feels less like coincidence and more like a publicity strategy. Pairing two celebrities in the same story guaranteed conversation, kept the dress in circulation and gave the second wearer just as much visibility as the first. The comparison wasn’t always about crowning a winner; it was about creating another headline and extending the life of the fashion moment. Today, we’re far less concerned with who wore it first and far more interested in how each person interpreted the look.

That wasn’t always the case. Sarah Jessica Parker famously wanted to be the first person to wear a Nina Ricci by Olivier Theyskens dress to the Sex and the City premiere because it represented an important fashion moment for her. When she discovered it had already been worn by Lauren Santo Domingo, she was devastated.

Personally, I’m not at all opposed to Zendaya embracing rewears. Every one of these looks has served a clear purpose within the story she and Law Roach have been telling throughout these press tours. I’m sure they could have sourced an alternative, but in the case of this Atelier Versace gown, it more than served its purpose for the Spider-Man: Brand New Day theme, while proving that a great dress can tell more than one story.

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