“Fashion gave me the confidence to step on the court and own who I was, and where I knew I was going.” It’s impossible to talk about Serena Williams’ legacy without mentioning her influence on fashion. Each time she stepped on the court, she made bold statements with her unique attire and changed the whole face of women’s tennis wear. She bagged numerous fashion endorsements and has consolidated herself as a style icon over the years. But little did the WTA Queen who is now a mother of two children, know the magnitude of her impact in all this while.

The former World No.1’s passion for fashion is now being rewarded. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is all set to be making a bit of fashion history too as she is to be honored with the Fashion Icon award at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards presented by Amazon Fashion. She will be given this award on 6th November in the presence of several previous recipients & style icons like Beyonce, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell Williams & Rihanna. The ceremony will be hosted by the multi-talented and award-winning actor, producer, designer, and businesswoman – Sarah Jessica Parker.

Serena Williams creating fashion history

From the initial stages of her career, besides her game, the former world No.1 oozed her confidence through her styling on courts. Williams, who studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale from 2000-2003, also launched her own clothing line, S by Serena, in 2018 and started the Serena Williams Design Crew, a design apprenticeship program for designers of color. A year later, she expanded into jewelry by creating her eponymous line. Along with her sister Venus Williams, she introduced the traditional braids to tennis, proudly flaunting their African-American culture and celebrating her identity.

According to Vogue, the 42-year-old’s official statement read, “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve used fashion as an outlet to express myself. I have had so much fun learning my style and allowing it to change as my life has evolved.” In every phase of life, the tennis legend relied on one thing. The Olympic Gold medallist added, “…but I’ve always held one thing true—fashion is for everyone, no matter your size, race, or income.”

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Ever since she stepped into the courts, she has been catching the attention of the world and breaking stereotypes. Be it when Williams won her first US Open at 17 years old in 1999, wearing a bright yellow Puma dress with black-and-white accents. She paired the simple and chic ensemble with gold hoops and white and topped the look off with white and yellow beads in her hair or taking the tie-dye look for a spin, patterns at the 2000 US Open.

And then the most unforgettable last tennis competition of her illustrious career. She took to the court at the 2022 US Open in a figure skater-inspired look by Nike that included a crystal-embellished dress with sheer sleeves and diamond-encrusted NikeCourt Flare 2 sneakers with “SW” embossed on the side in gold, she nailed it.

Now, with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) bestowing the rarest honor on her, Serena’s legacy as a fashion queen will be officially cemented this year and she will be making a bit of fashion history too, as the first athlete to receive the prestigious distinction.

The previous recipients of this award include Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, Lenny Kravitz, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Franca Sozzani, Pharrell Williams and Rihanna.The CFDA declared Serena Williams the fashion icon, and the American legend shall receive the award in November at the American Museum of National History. “Serena is one of the most inspiring people in the world… A true individual,” said CFDA Chairman Thom Browne in a statement. “She is an icon of the sports world… representing greatness on the highest level… A perfect combination of our worlds… the ultimate example of individuality in everything she does…”

Retired Serena Williams Becomes the Only Athlete to Join Beyonce and Rihanna as She Gets Her Name Engraved in Prestigious Fashion Award

For the tennis G.O.A.T., the tennis court is as much a fashion stage as any event. When brands had limited options for tennis outfits, Serena’s Nike outfits became a sensation. The American had people wondering about her tennis dresses, similar to her game. Of course, she has been stealing the headlines for her outfits at several fashion events.

Times when The Queen of Tennis stole the show with her stunning outfits

Serena Williams has often been part of various events related to fashion & entertainment where she took everyone’s breath away with her outfits. The 2023 Met Gala was one such occasion – and the American legend was again at her A-game in fashion.

Pregnant at the time with her 2nd child, she had a wholesome “baby bump” moment in similar black outfits with Karlie Kloss, just oozing her inherent confident self as usual.

Similarly, the 2022 Paris Fashion Week also saw a similar vibe when Williams turned up. Giving tribute to her friend – late designed Virgil Abloh, Serena wore a mesh, tight dress with leggings and a matching turtleneck.

Be it Nike, Gucci, or Versace, the American has flaunted several brands’ designs at such appearances over the years at various marquee events.

The tennis legend has experimented with different looks on various carpets. She never failed. Are you excited to watch Serena’s outfit for the D-day for getting her Fashion Icon award on November 6th?

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