✨ Let’s get into it ✨
💡 TLDR
POV: you just discovered Zendaya’s dress is a love letter to Whitney Houston (via Carrie Bradshaw). The actress showed up to the 2026 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards in a vintage Caché mini dr…
POV: you just discovered Zendaya’s dress is a love letter to Whitney Houston (via Carrie Bradshaw). The actress showed up to the 2026 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards in a vintage Caché mini dress that’s basically a timeline of 90s fashion, drama, and a very specific kind of romance. Rumors say she and Tom Holland tied the knot, and this outfit? It’s basically a metaphor for their relationship—flirty, nostalgic, and dripping with subtext.
The dress itself is a throwback to Whitney Houston’s 1986 promo shoot for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” which later became the cover of a Life magazine tribute to her legacy. Caché, the 90s mall chain that imported big-name designers, made a version of the dress with hibiscus flowers, gold leaf, and ruching—think: the exact same look Sarah Jessica Parker wore as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City: The Movie. But here’s the wild part: the original design was by Eugene Alexander, the same guy who made Whitney’s iconic look. So Zendaya’s dress is basically a triple homage—Whitney, SATC, and Caché’s flashy 90s heyday.
The styling team even pulled it from Amacord Vintage, a place where fashion nerds go to find relics of the past. It’s like Zendaya’s saying, “I’m not just here for the red carpet—I’m here to honor the OGs who made this stuff iconic.” And if the rumors about her and Holland are true, this dress is basically a metaphor for their relationship: vintage, heartfelt, and totally over-the-top.
KEY POINTS: – Zendaya’s dress is a triple homage to Whitney Houston, Sex and the City, and 90s fashion. – The design originated from Whitney’s 1986 promo shoot and was later reimagined for SATC. – Vintage shopping is still the ultimate way to make a statement (and maybe a love story).
💫 Drop your pick below—let’s talk about how to dress like a drama queen.
CLOSE: So if you could wear one vintage dress to symbolize your love story, what would it be? Drop your pick below—let’s talk about how to dress like a drama queen.
❓ People Also Ask
Which designer made Zendaya’s Whitney Houston tribute dress?
Zendaya’s dress was designed by Michael Kors. The look was inspired by Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic Whitney Houston homage from *Sex and the City*.
What event did Zendaya wear the dress to?
Zendaya wore the dress to the 2023 Met Gala. The outfit paid tribute to Carrie Bradshaw’s 1990s fashion and Whitney Houston’s legacy in pop culture.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇