Zendaya, Chanel, A$AP Rocky: how superheroes became fashion’s new biggest stars

Superheroes are now fashion’s biggest stars. From Zendaya to Matthieu Blazy, by way of Jeremy Scott, these pop culture icons are inspiring designers and celebrities far beyond the cinema screen. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day now showing in French theatres, the trend is asserting itself with renewed force.

Zendaya and method dressing, reinvented through merch

Zendaya, who plays MJ in the film alongside Tom Holland, is one of the most committed practitioners of method dressing, the art of echoing, on the red carpet, the character you’re playing on screen. Working with her stylist Law Roach, she has already delivered some of the most memorable looks of recent years.

Think of the vintage Mugler robotic bodysuit worn during the Dune press tour, or the 1997 Givenchy silhouette she wore in Paris for the premiere of L’Odyssée. For Spider-Man, the actress took a more understated approach, while still nodding to the iconic superhero. In doing so, she has revived a trend that seemed all but forgotten: merch.

During her visit to the French capital, despite sweltering heat, Zendaya stepped out in a Marvel T-shirt from the early 2000s. Law Roach had tracked it down on eBay for the bargain price of $34.99. The screen-printed Spider-Man tee perfectly captures her philosophy of style.

“Style doesn’t always have to cost a fortune.”

Michael B. Jordan, a self-confessed Spider-Man fan

Zendaya isn’t the only celebrity to have brought the vintage T-shirt back into the spotlight. At the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles for the film’s premiere, Michael B. Jordan, despite not being in the cast, also paid tribute to Spider-Man, wearing a T-shirt that evokes comic book covers from the 1980s.

The actor, who this year took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his dual role in Sinners, wears his fan status with pride. Far from worrying about being labelled a geek, he leans into it wholeheartedly. Fashion’s new biggest stars, it seems, have no qualms about showing their love for superheroes.

• Zendaya wears a 2000s Marvel T-shirt bought for $34.99 on eBay.
• Michael B. Jordan sports a Spider-Man T-shirt inspired by 1980s comics.
• Jeremy Scott reimagines Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman as early as his autumn-winter 2011-2012 show.
• Matthieu Blazy incorporates red and white Wonder Woman-style boots into Chanel Métiers d’art 2026.
• A$AP Rocky is already wearing the Superman-Chanel jumper just days after the show.

Superheroes as a source of inspiration for designers

Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, for decades, these characters have served as metaphors for the human experience. They explore universal themes: identity, difference, the pursuit of justice. It’s no surprise, then, that so many fashion designers openly claim their passion for these iconic figures.

Perhaps they see something of themselves in their heroes’ sense of duty and resilience in the face of doubt. Like their favourite characters, they are constantly pushing their own limits. Fashion’s new biggest stars share with superheroes an unwavering commitment to their creative vision.

Flashback: on the runway of his autumn-winter 2011-2012 show, Jeremy Scott reimagined superhero costumes through a lens of humour, colour and anti-conformism. He sent out metallic tank tops emblazoned with Superman’s insignia, the S replaced by a question mark, alongside Batman references. The finale featured a long blue sequinned gown bearing Superman’s red and yellow logo, complete with a billowing cape-like train.

He also revisited Wonder Woman with a white dress dotted with small blue stars. Superheroes have been a rich source of inspiration for designers for decades, shaping both runways and red carpets alike.

Wonder Woman arrives at Chanel Métiers d’art 2026

Pop culture’s original feminist superhero, Wonder Woman, inspired Matthieu Blazy for the Chanel Métiers d’art show, presented in New York. Several models wore red and white boots, an unmistakable reference to those worn by Lynda Carter in the cult 1975 TV series. For this collection, the designer drew on the raw energy of New York and the heroes of his childhood.

One of the most talked-about looks features a bright blue jumper emblazoned with Superman’s shield, with the iconic “S” reimagined in Chanel’s colours. Just days after the show, A$AP Rocky was already wearing it ahead of its official release. Fashion’s new biggest stars, it turns out, adopt these symbols with effortless ease.

Why superheroes are dominating in 2026

Superheroes are so prominent right now partly because the films dedicated to them keep coming. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, reimagined by a new generation of blockbuster directors, is proof of that. But there’s something else going on, too.

In the current climate, defined by crises and uncertainty, we perhaps need to dream of heroes larger than life. Their appeal is less about simple childhood nostalgia than about conjuring an ideal: the belief that it is still possible to change things, which remains a powerful driving force.

These characters may be flawed, but they are determined to protect others and to make justice prevail. The fashion stars who wear them on their clothes are sending a clear message. As Wonder Woman herself puts it: “I will fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

Superhero imagery now represents far more than a graphic print on a garment. It reflects an era searching for meaning and ideals. Fashion’s new biggest stars understand this, and they wear these symbols with conviction.