The concept of how we'll dress in the far-off future has long fascinated fashion designers, with sci-fi and modernism becoming defining trends of the 20th century. If the likes of Pierre Cardin and Paco Rabanne were designing for a future they imagined in the mid-century, then that future has long since arrived.

A sense of this futurism is emerging in the wardrobes of Florence Pugh and Zendaya, who are in the midst of promoting their latest movie, Dune: Part Two. Their shared decision to push through looks that riff on this long-fleshed-out idea of futurism speaks, of course, to the movie itself and its expansive dystopian universe set 20,000 years from now.

Together, they've taken on those sorts of design details that resonated in the 1960s (coincidentally the exact same decade in which the Dune book was written, amidst the world's fascination for all-things out-of-space) like silver paillettes and striking voluminous sleeves, to send this shared message.

Consider first Zendaya's brown custom Bottega Veneta look for the Mexico City premiere. The shape of the cropped top, together with the contrast in textures coming from the leather corset and dropped-waist skirt, spoke of a progressive take on silhouette. Or then Pugh's equally out-of-this-world ensemble at another Mexico City photocall, that saw an ab-baring two-piece, custom-made by Galvan, entirely covered in supersized silver sequins.

mexico city, mexico february 6 florence pugh and zendaya attend the red carpet for the movie dune part two at auditorio nacional on february 6, 2024 in mexico city, mexico photo by angel delgadogetty images
Angel Delgado



The pair's look to the future has also been executed more literally in wearing designs from emerging designers. Pugh gave a nod to British talent in choosing an off-white gown by Fashion East graduate Standing Ground, while Zendaya's conceptual gown came from rising star to know now Torishéju.

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For a visit to Jimmy Kimmel's late night show Florence turned to Galvan once more, this time looking like a modern bride in a white bodycon dress, while Zendaya was something straight out of another imagined dystopian future, The Matrix, in a leather two-piece from The Attico.

The future's bright. The future is Zendaya and Florence.

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