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The Film
Luca Guadagnino’s 2024 film, Challengers, follows the intertwined lives of three fictional tennis players — Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), and Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) — from their youth into adulthood. After a career-ending injury, Tashi goes from a tennis prodigy admired by best friends Art and Patrick to training Art, whom she eventually marries, all while managing a tumultuous relationship with Patrick. Tashi is the central figure around whom Art and Patrick revolve. Throughout the film, she is consistently a winner, getting what she wants when she wants it, and her fashion reflects this. The film’s costumes were designed by the founder of J.W. Anderson and creative director of LOEWE, Jonathan Anderson.
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Description: Polished, Crisp, and Clean
Tashi’s style on and off the court can be described as polished, crisp, and clean. Throughout the film, she gravitates toward sleek, solid neutrals and blues. Her neck and wrists are adorned with gold pieces, including a gold cross necklace that she wears from youth into adulthood.
In her younger years, she competes in a striking white Adidas tennis dress, crisp white sneakers and her hair pulled back into a slicked-back, long braided ponytail. Her look pays homage to classic tennis whites but with a modern twist. The contrast between her and the blues and greens of the tennis court makes her pop on the screen, reinforcing her role as the central character in the story and the object of both Art’s and Patrick’s interest.
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As an adult, Tashi is often seen in silk pajamas, white robes, and minimalist sweaters. One of her standout looks is worn during a pivotal scene where Art and Patrick face off after years apart. She sits in the stands wearing a blue and white Jonathan Anderson long-sleeved collared dress styled with Chanel espadrilles, Ray-Ban oversized sunglasses, and Cartier jewelry. Throughout their match, the camera repeatedly focuses on Tashi in several close-up shots, reminding the audience that although she’s not in the match, she still holds the power and remains the dominant character.
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Analysis: Dressed like a Winner
Designer Jonathan Anderson uses fashion to portray Tashi Duncan as a figure of power and authority. Both he and director Luca Guadagnio agree that costume design is essential and provides insight into a character before any scene truly begins. Here is more on Anderson and Guadagnio’s collaboration.
In the case of Tashi Duncan, her fashion portrays her status, wealth, and serves as a symbol of her success and dominance in her relationships with tennis, Art, and Patrick.
As a young tennis player, Tashi’s outfits show that she is at the top of the game and that she has the financial backing to look the part. Her expensive, timeless style makes her appear confident and attractive, signaling success even before she hits the ball.
As she transitions into the roles of Art’s coach and wife, her wardrobe further emphasizes her wealth and control. She almost always looks incredibly put together, embodying “quiet luxury” and maturity. Her style signals that she’s not only successful, but also firmly in charge — both in her marriage and in managing Art’s career.
When it comes to being a professional in any space, especially as a Black woman, it is important to look the part in order to be taken seriously. Tashi's wardrobe is sucessful in making herself appear — sucessful.
Source: Wmagazine.com
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Conclusion: More Than a Tennis Movie
While Challengers definitely sparked a “tennis core” fashion trend, the styling goes so much further than just typical tennis attire, just as the dynamic between the three main characters extends beyond the tennis court. Challengers is visually, sonically, and emotionally captivating. I loved how the film wasn’t just a “tennis movie”; it uses tennis as an avenue to explore the themes of desire, dominance, and connection.
Source: Film-grab.com