The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Fashion & BeautyNews & Features

Serena Williams: Fashion icon and activist

Serena Williams: Fashion icon and activist
24 September 2018
The editorial unit
Avatar
The editorial unit
24 September 2018

Serena Williams, the most famous and best tennis player in the history, has recently made the headlines with her recent match at the US Open final. While some people criticised her attitude and called it a “meltdown”, the majority of the crowd stood up by her side. She has always been seen as a strong powerful woman who fights for female rights and equality, both inside and outside the tennis courts, and due to that, an inspiration for women all over.

Embed from Getty Images

Far from being the stereotype of what’s considered to be a beautiful woman – white, skinny, delicate – she has been dealing with criticism, racism and misogyny since day one but never backed down or felt intimidated. Body shaming and racist comments have regularly been addressed to her in over 20 years of her professional career as a tennis player. Despite having won 39 Grand Slam titles and being an Olympic gold medallist four times, it doesn’t seem to be enough for critics who usually find the smallest and silliest reasons to criticise her – as though she still needed to prove anything to anyone.  

Serena’s strong personality and attitude are well reflected in her outfit choices: from an edgy leopard print dress to a black tank top and denim skirt. Her versatile style has changed quite a lot over the years but it has kept its originality and boldness – fashion is well-known to be one of her biggest passions, which is not difficult to guess, right?

One of her last fashion statement looks in court was her glamorous Black Panther-inspired catsuit. It was prohibited for the next French Open 2019, even though it was a functional and medical choice. After giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia last November, she has been having blood clot problems and this outfit was designed to help her. While some claim the rules need to be respected, some believe she is being singled out, as she has been several times before.

Embed from Getty Images

Her fashion background has led her to collaborate with giants such as Nike, a brand she has been collaborating with for over 14 years. Her latest collection was in partnership with Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton, and it was debuted during the US Open. Entitled Queen, the line comprises of one-shoulder tutu dresses, a leather bomber jacket, a bag, and three different models of shoes, designed from existing styles. Unfortunately, it will be sold only in NY – anyone fancy a tripsere?

Embed from Getty Images

Stepping up her game into the fashion world, she launched her own label this year. Called Serena, the brand has a range of athleisure pieces and stunning evening wear: from stretch jersey midi dresses to sexy leopard print ones. You can definitely picture her wearing all the pieces! The line has a reasonable price point varying from $30 for a T-shirt and $205 for a metallic parka.

From tennis player to fashion designer and businesswoman, Serena Williams represents every woman trying to balance personal and professional life, whilst also being an activist advocating for female empowerment and fighting racism and misogyny. No surprise she is one of the most powerful female icons and admired not only by a generation of young women but for her legion of fans all over the world. We can’t wait for her next venture.

Manuela Rio Tinto

Related Items

More in Fashion & Lifestyle

Ladies’ fashion: Seven wardrobe staples for summer

Rosie Davis
Read More

Kensington’s newest hair salon: Jamie Stevens Hair

Rosie Davis
Read More

Spring beauty: The new beauty launches to try this spring

Rosie Davis
Read More

Unmissable Easter collections for 2022: Lush

Rosie Davis
Read More

Eight homeware pieces we’re obsessed with this spring

Sophie Cook
Read More

Seven fun activities for a memorable Mother’s Day

Sophie Cook
Read More

Mother’s Day gift guide 2022

Rosie Davis
Read More

London Fashion Week autumn/winter 2022 roundup

Sophie Cook
Read More

Trends to expect from the autumn/winter fashion weeks 2022

Sally Wijers
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • The Five Devils (Les Cinq Diables)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Stephen Fry enters the Radio Times Hall of Fame in conversation with Alan Yentob at the BFI Imax
    Cinema & Tv
  • Roma Bar Show returns for a second edition in Rome next week
    Food & Drinks
  • “It was a really precious process”: An interview with Maksym Nakonechnyi on Butterfly Vision
    Cannes
  • Stranger Things: Season Four
    ★★★★★
    netflix
  • Henry VIII at Shakespeare’s Globe
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Stars at Noon
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Nostalgia
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Nostalgia
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Fiend in Notting Hill: “Risks that pay off”
    Food & Drinks
  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Michael Kiwanuka at Alexandra Palace
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Innocent (L’Innocent)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Must-see fashion exhibitions
Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand Goop opens pop-up store in London