From Zendaya to John F. Kennedy Jr.: anatomy of a T-shirt that went viral

If around Challengersthe new film by Luca Guadagninoa certain amount of attention has been created, great credit goes to Zendaya and his looks, with more or less veiled references to the tennis world in which the film is set. Among the outfits that refer to the tenniscore, however, the actress presents herself with a different look, but only apparently, compared to those shown so far.

On the streets of New York, that's it Zendaya with a ensemble more “relaxed” on neutral tones. A long trench coat left open and soft dark baggy trousers paired with fishnet ballet flats. So far nothing special, one might say, but pay attention to the T-shirt.

Zendaya.

Gotham

A gray t-shirt characterized by the writing in block capitals and dark letters: «I Told Ya» (translated: I told you). A sentence like any other, usually pronounced with a hint of satisfaction – almost to underline the fact of being right – but which, at the same time, is a reference to the film. Indeed, the same garment is seen worn by the actress' characterthe former champion and now coach Tashi.

Zendaya and Mike in a scene from the movie Challengers.

Zendaya and Mike in a scene from the film Challengers.

Supplied by LMK / ipa-agency.net

Yet this is only the tip of the iceberg because the protagonist of the film is the last (at least for the moment) to show it off. She did it Josh O'Connor which, during the premiere a Londonproposes something similar under his dark suit: a white tuxedo shirt with the infamous writing.

Josh O'Connor at the London Premiere of Challengers.

Josh O'Connor at the London Premiere of Challengers.

Mike Marsland

In short, curiosity grows, also thanks to the film's costume designer Jonathan Anderson, the first to show off the T-shirt during the film premiere in Rome: sunglasses, dark blazer and short-sleeved t-shirt underneath.

Luca Guadagnino and Jonathan Anderson at the premiere in Rome.

Luca Guadagnino and Jonathan Anderson at the premiere in Rome.

Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images

It is clear that it is a strategy to increase interest in the film. There is a lot of talk about it, just as the chatter fuels the search to find out if the creative director of Loewe has planned the sale of an item that is already highly desired. But is this enough to make the T-shirt go viral?

The constant reference to the cinematographic work helps to make the t-shirt viral, of course, but a certain historicity also gives a further boost to an object that – we are sure – will become cult (indeed, it already is). Before Zendayabefore Jonathan Anderson to wear the T-shirt in the 90s is nothing less than John F. Jennedy Jr.the youngest son of the American president John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

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Many times John John he was immortalized in the park wearing the t-shirt while exercising or playing frisbee with his dog, with the only difference being the nuance, in fact that of the lawyer and journalist was white. And to add a bit of panache, that phrase, in its most colloquial form, is a reference to his father's 1961 election campaign, the same one that led him to become the 35th president of the United States and whose slogan was: «I Told You So».

Here, then, is the recipe for making a simple garment go viral. An almost obsessive repetition, supported by a valid reasonto be found in the promotion of the film, mixed with a clear reference to the pastin this case to a family that is inextricably linked to American history.


Source: Vanity Fair

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