“The French Open was kind of upset about it,” tennis legend Serena Williams says of that instantly iconic —and controversial— black catsuit she wore at the 2018 French Open. Williams is certainly no stranger to sparking conversations with her fashion. The seven-time Wimbledon champ has spent nearly three decades dominating the court, wearing everything from denim-on-denim competition looks to Virgil Abloh-designed tutus. In a new video, Williams sits down with Vogue to revisit some of her most memorable looks on and off the court.
The first look in Williams’ trip down memory lane: A 1992 blue-and-white tennis dress her mother bought for her. The purchase was a special occasion. Williams’s mother, Oracene Price, typically sewed Serena’s outfits herself. “I should make this look again,” Williams jokes.
Only a few years later, Serena and her sister, Venus, would appear in a 1998 issue of Vogue. The siblings wore black-and-white gowns designed by Carolina Herrera and were photographed by the renowned Annie Leibovitz (who has captured Williams multiple times since). “We were really young,” Williams says looking back at the image. “We still had our beads and we still had our youth.”
Of course this Life in Looks touches on the bold, early-aughts fashion Williams became known for. One standout: A 2004 US Open look that featured a jean skirt and a calf-high sneaker-boot hybrid. Williams reveals the look was slightly inspired by jean shorts André Agassi donned not too long before. “I remember telling Nike if I’m switching to you guys, from Puma, I want more pizazz,” Williams says. “I said, ‘I love what André Agassi wore when he wore the jean shorts, I want to wear a jean skirt.’”
Williams has made a name for herself on the red carpet, too. The athlete reflects on her 2019 camp-themed Met Gala outfit. She boldly paired Nike x Virgil Abloh tennis shoes with a kaleidoscopic Versace gown. The unexpected move came per the advice of Anna Wintour, who warned Williams about how much standing co-hosts of the event have to do. “My finest garment happens to be Nike and Versace,” Williams says.
The final look in Williams’ retrospective? A Versace gown she wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party. Williams attended the lauded event in celebration of King Richard, the touching, Oscar-winning biopic dedicated to her father. “Wow, what a story,” Williams says. “This is where we started,” she says, flipping back to her 1992 tennis look. Then she flips back to present-day. “And this is where we end. For now.”
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