Zendaya wore a designer dress nearly 40 years after it was created

• Zendaya was honored at the 2021 Essence Black Women in Hollywood awards this week.
• She wore a nearly 40-year-old YSL ensemble for the event, and $1,995 Roger Vivier heels.
• Law Roach styled Zendaya, and said they were inspired by businesswoman Eunice Johnson.

Zendaya accepted her latest award in a designer outfit that's older than she is.

Essence's Black Women in Hollywood event was streamed this week, and honored "the resiliency of Black women in Hollywood through the years" and during the pandemic, according to Business Wire. Zendaya, one of the honorees, attended the event in a Yves Saint Laurent ensemble that was first created in 1982.

Her YSL dress had a shining blue bodice with long sleeves that ballooned at the shoulders, a low-cut V-shaped neckline, and peplum-style fabric at the bottom. Its skirt, on the other hand, was black with a short slit in the front.

Zendaya completed the look with Bulgari jewels and black pumps designed by Roger Vivier. The shoes, which had 3-inch heels and Swarovski crystal buckles, retail for $1,995.

Law Roach - a longtime collaborator of Zendaya's - styled the 24-year-old actor for the red carpet. He said they were inspired by businesswoman Eunice Johnson, who created the Ebony Fashion Fair event that ran until 2009.

"I've been waiting to share this look," he wrote on Instagram alongside videos of her wearing the outfit. "Zendaya wearing vintage @ysl Haute Couture from 1982 (my personal archive) originally owned by the trailblazer Eunice Johnson! We pay homage ."

Roach also shared a photo of the outfit taken during the fashion event nearly 40 years ago.

This isn't the first time Zendaya has experimented with vintage fashion.

In October 2020, she wore a brown Versace gown that was created the year she was born, 1996, for the Green Carpet Fashion Awards. The ankle-length dress was sleeveless and had a sparkling, semi-sheer bodice. It also looked slightly different in 2020 than it did 24 years ago.

Archive photos from Vogue show the gown originally being modeled by Anna Klevhag. Its skirt in particular seemed to reach the floor at the time and was more form-fitting than flowing.