Serena Williams: Fashion Statement or Disaster – Tennis Special
If Serena William’s has a fashion sense, it is definitely unorthodox. Her choice of apparel is so bold and offensive, one cannot decide whether to hate her for it, or admire her courage for setting a trend and wearing a tag that shouts ‘originality’. The 13-time Grand Slam champion returned to court earlier this year wearing a hot pink body suit, looking right out of a ‘cat woman’ comic named fashion blunder, the colour was completely contrasting with her warm skin tone. I can’t help thinking of getting a pair of sunglasses whenever I envision her.
Clearly her serves are just as punishing to the opponent as her choice of colours to the eyes. Yet it was all the rage, and her fans absolutely admired her audacious return. There was much chatter, in 2002 when she wore a black, Puma lycra cat-suit at the US Open, revealing most of her figure and powerful taut muscles, matched or rather unmatched with neon pink wrist and head band. Williams has a true art of bringing ‘pretty’ to athletic wear, unique to her style.
In June 2010 she played the French Open in a sky blue fitted tennis dress edged with box pleats, something one never sees at a tennis court. During the AEGON International in 2011, England, Serena wore a melon pink tennis dress layered at the bottom inviting a touch of feminism. In 2011, at the Centre Court, Wimbledon, Williams wore a white tennis dress, having a long V-neck, with two black stripes running along the edges of the V, giving it a formal athletic look, yet the skirt was pleated at the waist, giving the dress an overall effeminate appearance. While talking to the media in June, 2011, at Wimbledon, she wore a sporty purple T-shirt that read ‘Nike’ in pink, but it was a one sided off shouldered T-shirt, with her hair let down it added the right amount of femininity to change raw athletic power to diva.
Whether it is sports or formal wear, Serena with her bizarre sense of fashion has a way of getting herself noticed. This year in May at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York City she wore a white feathery puffed princess dress, fitted around the bodice, flowing to the ground, together with a feathery hat. Perhaps someone needed to remind Serena Williams the Met Gala was not, in fact, her royal wedding! Yet the extravagance and feathered fun of the athlete's choice of dress was much appreciated.
Serena Williams is a long time fan of Burberry. At a pre-Wimbledon fete in London, 2011, Serena showed off her athletic curves in a striking custom-made Burberry shining emerald halter cocktail dress, contrasting with her skin tone. Then again, while attending the Burberry show at London Fashion Week, 2010, she wore a dull gold Burberry cocktail dress looking rather disheveled than tasteful this time.
Serena occasionally has managed to look extremely elegant, for example at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, 2011 in Hollywood. The tennis star looked ultra-elegant in a strapless coral evening gown with a sweet heart neckline highlighting it with a gold decorative collar necklace. Williams pulled it off again at the Burberry Beauty garden tea in 2010 in Beverly Hills by opting for a satin, deep purple skirt suit with ruffled detailing, another Burberry.
Serena Williams proved her interest and desire for fashion when she took her style from the tennis courts to the Home Shopping Network with the debut of her accessories and clothing collection, called Signature Statement. "One of my dreams has always been to share gorgeous gifts of fashion and luxury with the world. Off the court, my passion is fashion. Signature Statement is my own line of accessories and fashion, complete from jewellery to dresses."
Serena likes to top her apparel with obvious yet beautiful bangles, bracelets and rings. She arrived at the 19th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar viewing party in a black dress and paired her chic look with a wrist full of diamond bracelets. And again at the at the Vanity Fair Oscar party with dull gold bangles and necklace to complement her coral coloured dress.
The American has always taken to the court with loud outfits. Some are delightful in their colour, depicting life and sunshine others are a bit off putting for the tackiness. However, one cannot deny rather has to respect that she has a style of her own.
Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in the article are the writer’s own personal views and have nothing to do with bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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