W Magazine’s cover and editorial, ‘Their Place in the Sun’, featuring Malcolm & Marie stars Zendaya and John David Washington has blown us away. accessFASHION‘s Lauren Alexander shares why this shoot is so special for her. This magical photoshoot is draped in Old Hollywood glamour and is inspired by the work of Slim Aarons, starring socialite C.Z. Guest standing by a grandeur pool. The cast overthrows the concept of a conventional white society with a modernized vision by appearing as a Black couple leading an elegant and extravagant lifestyle. Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach added “The visuals matter. The way change happens is when people can see wealth and grandeur in a way that they are not used to seeing it.”
THE FASHION
One of the most captivating elements of the images is certainly the wardrobe, the duo is seen in a variety of luxury brands, from Gucci, Valentino to Chanel, emphasizing the alluring sense of opulence. W Magazine shared that Zendaya’s vision for the photo shoot was for her co-star’s wardrobe to be colour coordinated with hers, bringing cohesion and power to the images. Roach also commented “The entire outfit—the jewels, the gorgeous gown, the stilettos—they don’t make the same statement without the blonde hair.” According to W Magazine, Zendaya was insistent on having a blonde, teased bouffant in order to fully become the character, whilst also making a ‘jab at traditional stereotypes of white women.
The editorial captures beauty and elegance with lively energy lasting throughout, whilst making us aware of the bigger message. These images challenge the viewer to re-evaluate the way we view Black people, as well as become aware of the social stereotypes that have become ingrained in our way of thinking. Zendaya asked, “How could I always have a lasting impact on what people saw and associated with people of color?”
You can read the full interview here: W Magazine