Alongside in tennis history, Serena Williams has etched her name in fashion, too, from her first match. Whether on-court or off-court, the American put equal interest in choosing every thread of her outfit. It has been nearly three decades since the former World No.1 played her first tennis match. Serena has attracted appreciation, awe, and controversy with her outfits but never shied away from experimenting. With a degree in fashion design, Serena even designed some of her own outfits along with launching a line of her own, ‘S by Serena’.
Momma Smash has adorned countless beautiful dresses in collaboration with ace designers like Alexander McQueen and Gucci. Picking the best fashion ensembles donned by Serena is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It is impossible to snub an outfit for another, but to feature every iconic costume of the tennis legend probably takes a book. Yet, a challenging attempt has been made to honor her CFDA Fashion Icon Award by handpicking some of the best on and off-court designs.
Tennis outfits are often rigorously scrutinized and require approval before stepping on the court. Though Serena’s outfits passed primary checks, she received flak from authorities and love from fans for introducing world-class fashion to tennis courts. From her pathbreaking denim outfit to her last US Open dress, Serena aced the fashion game.
In the US Open in 2004, Serena rocked two Nike denim outfits. She donned a performance-friendly denim tank and pleated mini skirt. The denims were paired with drop earrings, a silver ring, a watch, and black leather boots. Momma Smash sported another denim look that combined a tank top and shirt with a pleating finish in the same tournament. It was paired with boots on the outer with a zip closure, but Serena played in her comfort shoes inside. The fashionista herself rated this outfit as her Top-3 in a video released by Vogue in 2022. Momma Smash could play tennis in the morning in her denim outfit and could go out partying in the same in the evening.
The 2015 US Open witnessed one of Nike’s best series of outfits from ‘The Greatness’ collection. The 6-time Flushing Meadows champion blended various colors with black and paired matching sneakers for every custom design. Every snake print dress has its own style, like tank straps and a cutout at the back.
In the 2018 French Open, the 41-year-old donned a blank-panther-inspired catsuit with a simple silver chain and hoops, a black watch paired with grey and black shoes. Since it was after the near-death pregnancy and the birth of Olympia, the outfit was designed to prevent blood clots. But the French tennis federation was taken aback and banned body suits on the court.
In the 2019 French Open, Queen Williams responded to the catsuit ban by wearing an abstract-printed black and white sports bra and skirt. But the icing on the cake was that she wore a custom-made jacket with the words ‘Queen,’ ‘Champion,’ ‘Mother,’ and ‘Goddess,’ written in French and English. She paired the outfit with a minimal gold chain, tear-drop gold earrings, a bracelet, a black watch, and white sneakers.
In the 2021 Australian Open, the 23-time Grand Slam winner stunned in a one-legged catsuit. The outfit was inspired by track and field athlete Florence Griffith Joyner, who frequently donned one-legged catsuits for competitions. The idea originated from the Nike team, and Serena went on to wear a black, red, and pink asymmetric color-blocked catsuit. She paired it with a silver chain from her jewelry line and styled a royal blue headband with matching sneakers.
Serena started with a bang and ended with a tribute to the sport that made her a legend. Her 2022 US Open outfit was one of the most fashion-forward creations in tennis. The black dress was studded with diamonds and had six layers to honor her six US Open titles. ‘Mama’ and ‘Queen’ were engraved on her two sneakers. Her embellished bodice with a tutu skirt was a tribute to the night sky at Flushing Meadows.
Serena started with a bang and ended with a tribute to the sport that made her a legend. Her 2022 US Open outfit was one of the most fashion-forward creations in tennis. The black dress was studded with diamonds and had six layers to honor her six US Open titles. ‘Mama’ and ‘Queen’ were engraved on her two sneakers. Her embellished bodice with a tutu skirt was a tribute to the night sky at Flushing Meadows.
