We’ve all heard of method acting, where actors use their physical and mental self when creating the characters they’re portraying. They do this to completely embody the essence of their personality. Take for example Robert De Niro, who is well known for his method acting approach. Some of his most memorable projects where he adopted an immersive acting approach include ‘Taxi Driver,’ for which he reportedly worked for hours as a cab driver to observe their behaviour, losing 30 pounds in the process. 

So what is method dressing? Although not as physically and mentally draining as the acting approach, method dressing similarly embodies the concept of styling your wardrobe to capture the spirit of your character role. From Margot Robbie’s historically accurate ‘Barbie’ press tour looks to the shimmering, mermaid inspired looks of Halle Bailey while promoting ‘The Little Mermaid,’ premieres have become another skillful marketing opportunity.

Someone who recently kick-started this concept was Zendaya. The American singer and actress, famously known for her roles on HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ and the latest ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy, has been recently upping her game on the red carpet. 

Zendaya’s long-time stylist Law Roach told Vogue: “We adopted method dressing, the looks served as an extension of the wardrobe from the movie; it was intentional and purposeful.”  During the international premiere of ‘Dune’ in 2021 Zendaya graced the red carpet with a sand-coloured, wet-look in a leather Balmain gown. This look completely expressed the movie’s premise and captured its environment. Roach told CNN: “All her clothes (on the press tour) were inspired by the movie. When the collection walked, she just said ‘This is very Dune,’ and I reached out to Olivier and his team.” 

Earlier last month, Zendaya was seen in a custom gown at a couture show, with an arched satin train that from afar looked animalistic. The all-black ensemble was futuristic and sci-fi-esque. Black knots ran up and down her arms like the suckers of a cephalopod or spikes of armour. 

For the release of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ Zendaya honoured her role in the classic superhero trilogy by fashioning spidery outfits and even villain-inspired ones. For one premiere, she sported a nude dress featuring a deep V-neck cut, embroidered with spiderwebs all over, topping it off with a black feathered mask fit for the occasion. Another iconic look the actress wore for the ‘Spider-Man’ premiere featured a gold spine back piece that seemed to reference Doctor Octopus, a popular ‘Spider-Man’ villain known for having metal tentacles protruding from his back. 

Lastly, Zendaya contributed to the spider theme at a London photocall, during which she wore a blazer embellished with crystals and a pair of stockings by Alexander McQueen. She topped off the look with a pair of silver webbed earrings. 

The latest example of method dressing by Zendaya was for ‘Dune: Part Two,’ where the actress showcased red carpet outfits that drove the internet crazy. She hit it out of the park with an archival cyborg suit from Thierry Mugler’s fall/winter 1995 couture collection. This number was a full metallic armour set with silver panels and sheer plexiglass inserts. The suit had corset-style details that hugged the actress’s figure as well as built-in gloves and silver heels to match, expressing the vibes of ‘Dune’.

The internet’s fascination with this phase of method dressing is exciting. Now that red carpets are being flooded by TikTokers and influencers, everyone has been complaining that old Hollywood is long dead, the glamour and enticement of it all being replaced with trends and mediocre efforts in fashion. Method dressing creates that moment of enchantment, of dreaminess. It reminds us why we are fascinated by movie stars when they show us their effort and when they are passionate about their work. As an audience, it creates the kind of excitement that compels us to go out of our way to check out the movie they star in. These days, people are even dressing up just to go to the cinema. 

Method dressing works fantastically for both the movie and the audience. It keeps us updated on the movie’s promotion and its cast and sells us the story. To cut a long story short, it’s a win-win situation all around.

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