Since the first trailer was released almost a year ago, Challengers has become one of the most talked-about films of the decade. With a dream cast comprising Zendaya, Josh O’Connor (a.k.a. young Prince Charles from The Crown), and Mike Faist (known for different musical roles on Broadway as well as Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story), everyone is eager to watch Challengers and the anticipation has only grown bigger thanks to the extensive press tours the three leads have been embarking on.
Luca Guadagnino’s film, beyond tennis and the relationships between its protagonists, is also giving much to talk about when it comes to fashion — not only because Zendaya has taken the spotlight on numerous occasions thanks to her show-stopping (and on-theme) looks, but because the film’s clothing has been designed by Jonathan W. Anderson, creative director of Loewe and his own eponymous brand.
Though Challengers has provided a lot of inspiration for fans of preppy and old-money styles, there is one piece that stands out above the rest, and it is one of the simplest: a gray graphic T-shirt with the message “I TOLD YA.” This is a piece that Zendaya wears in one of the film’s scenes but has also decided to include in a relaxed look on the streets of New York.
Josh O’Connor already teased how viral the sloganed tee would become when he opted for a shirt with the same message at the film’s London premiere. Jonathan Anderson also rocked the gray tee to the Rome premiere as well as the opening of Loewe’s new exhibition, Crafted World, in Shanghai, where he wore the slogan on a white sweatshirt. But where does the Challengers‘ “I TOLD YA” shirt originate from?
