ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Challengers film sparks tennis-core fashion trend

other · 2026-04-26

Luca Guadagnino's film 'Challengers' has ignited a tennis-core aesthetic, blending sportswear with high fashion. Costume designer Jonathan Anderson, creative director of Loewe and JW Anderson, created outfits that reflect character evolution: Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) wears dynamic, controlled silhouettes; Patrick (Josh O'Connor) channels John F. Kennedy Jr. with a viral 'I told ya' t-shirt; Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) embodies a metaphor of identity. The press tour featured Zendaya in custom Loewe, Jacquemus, Thom Browne, and vintage Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood, and Louis Vuitton, styled by Law Roach. Tennis-core draws from 1970s-80s preppy style, with brands like Lacoste and Ralph Lauren, and includes polo shirts, pleated skirts, slim-fit pants, white sneakers, and 'clean girl' makeup. The aesthetic balances timeless elegance with sporty practicality.

Key facts

  • Film 'Challengers' directed by Luca Guadagnino
  • Costume designer Jonathan Anderson (Loewe, JW Anderson)
  • Cast: Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, Mike Faist as Art Donaldson, Josh O'Connor as Patrick
  • Tennis-core aesthetic inspired by 1970s-80s preppy style
  • Key brands: Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Loewe, Jacquemus, Thom Browne, Vivienne Westwood, Louis Vuitton
  • Zendaya's stylist Law Roach
  • Viral 'I told ya' t-shirt worn by Jonathan Anderson at Rome premiere and Josh O'Connor at London premiere
  • Tennis-core combines sportswear with clean silhouettes and functional details

Entities

Artists

  • Luca Guadagnino
  • Jonathan Anderson
  • Zendaya
  • Mike Faist
  • Josh O'Connor
  • Law Roach
  • John F. Kennedy Jr.

Institutions

  • Loewe
  • JW Anderson
  • Lacoste
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Jacquemus
  • Thom Browne
  • Vivienne Westwood
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Milan

Sources