Serena Williams, in a new Nike outfit, is set to make a U.S. Open fashion statement when the prestigious tournament begins Aug. 27, according to Vogue.com.
Williams will wear a black, one-shoulder dress with Nike's logo designed by Virgil Abloh, the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection, according to Vogue.com. Abloh's signature quotation will accompany the outfit, the website said.
"Since her debut in 1998, Serena Williams has easily remained one of the best dressed players on the tennis circuit," Vogue.com said. "But this year, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is really upping her game with a special U.S. Open ensemble designed by Virgil Abloh for Nike."
A limited edition of Williams's dress, jacket, and two Nike The Ten sneaker styles inspired by her look will be available at select Nike locations in the United States later in the month.
Williams gave a first look of the new outfit on Instagram for her 9 million followers.
"When I first tried on the dress, I felt very strong and feminine at the same time," Williams said, according to Vogue.com. "It has all the really strong elements, from the leather to that really cool stretchy material. I felt so feminine in the tutu, which is probably my favorite part of it. It really embodies what I always say: that you can be strong and beautiful at the same time."
Abloh told Vogue.com that in creating the tennis outfit, he tried to revisit some of Williams's other on-court looks over the years, including her 2002 U.S. Open catsuit and her 2018 French Open look.
"When I was thinking about outfits for Serena, I was thinking about her playing the game and her aesthetic while she is," Abloh told Vogue.com. "Also about the confidence that's needed while playing at the top level of tennis. This is very far from a design-by-numbers project.
"As you can tell by her personality in her play, she's very much involved in her aesthetic. She has a level of creativity with how she expresses herself in terms of clothing in any event, so I made everything with her logic in mind," he continued.
Nike said in its official statement that the design was created for optimal performance during her matches more so than fashion statement. Nike said the tulled dress flares out to accommodate her athletic moves on the court "while the supportive-mesh fit hugs her body and simultaneously keeps her cool for the hot New York City evenings."
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