At the 93rd Academy Awards, who designed Zendaya’s bright-yellow Valentino gown?

Pierpaolo Piccioli designed Zendaya’s bright-yellow Valentino gown for the 93rd Academy Awards.

Zendaya wore the vivid, custom Valentino Haute Couture gown at the 2021 Oscars. Its intense yellow color, flowing chiffon construction and midriff cutout created a deliberately simple but highly visible silhouette on the red carpet. She paired it with Bulgari jewelry and a short, structured hairstyle.

Piccioli was Valentino’s sole creative director when the gown was made. The dress reflected his approach to couture, which frequently emphasizes bold color, elongated shapes and elegant volume. Zendaya’s appearance was especially memorable because the saturated yellow contrasted strongly with the dark outdoor setting used for much of that year’s ceremony.

A common mix-up involves Valentino’s earlier creative structure. Piccioli had previously co-led the house with Maria Grazia Chiuri, but Chiuri had left Valentino for Dior in 2016. Therefore, Piccioli is the specific designer associated with Zendaya’s 2021 Oscars gown.