Zendaya’s Robot Body Armor Explained: ‘Dune’ Actress Embraces ‘Metropolis,’ ‘Barbarella’ & Cinema History At ‘Part Two’ World Premiere

Zendaya’s seemingly futuristic body armor actually has a long history steeped in cinema and pop culture.

At the root of it all is the likeness to the female robot, often called “Maria,” in Fritz Lang’s masterwork of futurism, Metropolis. Maria has inspired countless cultural references including the images of Lang’s robot used in David Bowie and Queen’s video for “Under Pressure”; a profound influence on Ralph McQuarrie’s designs for C-3PO in Star Wars; inspiring looks worn by Beyoncé, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga; providing the concept of Janelle Monáe’s Metropolis: The Chase Suite album; and serving as a background for Whitney Houston’s music video for “Queen of the Night” as well references in the The Bodyguard.

The actual suit that Zendaya wore to the world premiere is an archival creation from fashion designer Thierry Mugler’s fall/winter 1995 couture collection. Per WWD: “This particular catsuit is known as the “Machinenmensch,” or Machine Human, and was designed over the course of six months in tandem with longtime Mugler collaborator and artist, Jean-Jacques Urcun. The pair were inspired by the fictional character Futura from Thea von Harbou’s dystopian novel Metropolis.” Of course, Lang’s 1927 film was the visualization of that novel, with Futura (who is also called Machinenmensch in the book) coming to be called Maria by the film’s fans.

Mugler’s creation also incorporates plastic chest cutouts reminiscent of Jane Fonda’s costume in Barbarella (1968).

Zendaya recently told Vogue that the suit, while built for someone else, “fit like a glove” when she wore it. But, she said, after wearing the look for 10 minutes, the actress got lightheaded because “metal conducts and holds onto heat and traps heat in.” Additionally, she was wearing a bodysuit underneath, which added to the swampiness.

See 13 photos of Zendaya’s red carpet look as well as reference images in the gallery below.