At the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards at The Forum in Los Angeles on March 12, Zendaya stepped onto the orange carpet in an Ulyana Sergeenko Fall 2015 Couture dress and crystal-covered Charlotte Olympia “Precious” platform sandals.
Zendaya shows the full effect of her Law Roach–styled Kids’ Choice Awards look, pairing Ulyana Sergeenko couture with crystal-covered Charlotte Olympia platform sandals (Credit: WENN / Brian To)
Styled by her longtime image architect, Law Roach, the look mixed references from different decades without reading like a costume.
The dress paired a 1950s-inspired fit-and-flare silhouette with a pale pink base, black tulle, and intricate geometric and floral embellishment, while Zendaya’s finger-wave faux bob and black choker introduced a distinctly 1920s note. At her feet, the substantial jeweled platforms gave the delicate midi dress a heavier, more dramatic finish.
A close-up highlights Zendaya’s black silk choker, sculpted finger-wave bob, bronzed eye makeup, and the ornate beadwork of her pale pink Ulyana Sergeenko dress (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
The appearance also drew attention for reasons unrelated to the clothes after “Difficult People” actress Julie Klausner criticized Zendaya’s slim figure on Twitter. Zendaya responded publicly and encouraged people to accept different body types.
Julie Klausner’s tweets criticizing Zendaya’s slim figure sparked the body-shaming controversy that followed the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards
Klausner’s posts criticized Zendaya’s weight and referenced the earlier controversy involving Giuliana Rancic. Zendaya, who had also launched her Sole of Daya footwear line, responded the following morning.
Zendaya pushed back publicly, defending different body types and telling followers to appreciate their bodies rather than police someone else’s appearance
“Do you find this funny? I will write another paragraph to educate you as well #youreallywannabenext?” Zendaya wrote.
Julie Klausner continued addressing the backlash on Twitter after Zendaya and her fans challenged the comments about her weight
She followed with a broader message about respecting different body types. The exchange overshadowed some of the fashion coverage at the time, but Zendaya and Law Roach’s styling is worth revisiting on its own: the outfit combined vintage-inspired proportions, intricate couture detailing, and an unusually bold pair of jeweled platform sandals.
Zendaya’s side-swept faux bob and black choker brought a 1920s-inspired edge to the intricately embellished couture dress for the 2016 Kids’ Choice Awards held on March 12, 2016, at The Forum in Los Angeles (Credit: WENN / Brian To)
The Ulyana Sergeenko Fall 2015 Couture dress featured a pale baby-pink silk base beneath semi-sheer black tulle, with black, silver, and floral embellishments arranged in geometric patterns across the bodice and skirt.
Its deep V-neckline and exaggerated fit-and-flare shape created a tea-length silhouette with a distinctly mid-century feel.
From the low-cut back to the jeweled platforms, the side and front views show how Law Roach balanced a delicate tea-length silhouette with much heavier footwear
Law Roach kept the styling from feeling tied to a single decade. Zendaya’s sculpted finger-wave faux bob softened the structured dress, while the black choker created a sharp visual break at the neckline.
The K.C. Undercover actress completed the styling with a black silk choker by Natalie Chapman and diamond jewelry by Anne Sisteron, including bangles, a cuff, a bar-latch bracelet, and geometric stackable rings. A pale pink manicure echoed the base of the dress, while bronzed smoky eyes and a nude lip kept the beauty palette understated.
Zendaya’s pale pink manicure, stacked diamond rings, and Anne Sisteron jewelry echoed the sparkle woven throughout the Ulyana Sergeenko design
The strongest contrast came at Zendaya’s feet. She wore Charlotte Olympia’s “Precious” sandals, a $1,895 black suede style built on the designer’s signature island platform.
Oversized, multifaceted crystals decorated the strappy toe and ankle panels, while a slender stiletto heel balanced the substantial platform. The combination gave the shoes enough visual weight to match the elaborate couture dress.
Rather than disappearing beneath the midi-length skirt, the black suede picked up the dress’s dark tulle and embroidery, while the crystals echoed the sparkle of Zendaya’s diamond jewelry. The result made the shoes part of Law Roach’s broader styling story, not just a finishing accessory.
A close-up reveals the Charlotte Olympia “Precious” sandals’ black suede straps, elevated island platform, and oversized crystal medallions
Zendaya’s towering Charlotte Olympia heels combined a thick forefoot platform with slender stilettos and jeweled ankle detailing
Zendaya’s Charlotte Olympia “Precious” Platform Sandals
Zendaya’s Charlotte Olympia “Precious” platform sandals originally retailed for $1,895. The crystal-encrusted style is now best treated as an archival Charlotte Olympia design rather than a reliably available current-season shoe.
The same statement sandals also appeared on Paula Abdul at the 2016 GLAAD Media Awards, where she paired their towering black suede platforms and crystals with a lilac pussy-bow blouse, a thigh-grazing black skirt, and a black clutch.
The Charlotte Olympia “Precious” sandals featured clustered circular crystals across the toe and ankle panels, contrasting with their sleek black suede construction
Originally retailing for $1,895, Charlotte Olympia’s “Precious” sandals paired dramatic stiletto heels and platform soles with ornate crystal embellishment
Beyond Charlotte Olympia: Zendaya’s Signature Louboutin Heels
The crystal-covered Charlotte Olympia platforms were a striking choice for Zendaya, but they are an exception within a red-carpet shoe wardrobe closely associated with Christian Louboutin. Over the years, Zendaya and Law Roach have repeatedly returned to the designer’s sharply pointed pumps — particularly the So Kate — while occasionally switching to other silhouettes when the outfit calls for something different.
👠 Explore Zendaya’s Signature Shoe Moments:
- 🖤 Zendaya’s black patent Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps have become one of her most recognizable footwear signatures, including the pair she wore with a sculptural Christopher Esber dress at the 2019 People’s Choice Awards.
- 🏜️ Her Dune: Part Two wardrobe showed how Zendaya and Law Roach use Christian Louboutin heels alongside more experimental fashion, including looks by Torishéju Dumi and Bottega Veneta.
- 🤍 White Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps gave Zendaya’s Vivienne Westwood gown a clean, pointed finish, letting the dramatic dress remain the focus.
- ✨ Gold Christian Louboutin So Kate and Miss Z pumps offered two variations on her familiar Louboutin formula, paired with sculpted Jitrois leather and an archival Zuhair Murad skirt suit.
- 🐰 Zendaya’s white-pump wardrobe also extends to Jimmy Choo, showing how she sometimes trades her familiar Louboutins for another streamlined pointed-toe heel.
- 💚 At the 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, green Le Silla over-the-knee boots offered a very different alternative, adding color and texture to her burnt-orange Daya by Zendaya slip dress.
From towering So Kate stilettos to jeweled platforms and over-the-knee boots, the common thread is less a single shoe than how Zendaya and Law Roach use footwear to complete each look’s proportions. Christian Louboutin remains the recurring favorite, which makes departures like her Charlotte Olympia “Precious” platforms all the more distinctive.