Serena Williams‘s equal brilliance in tennis and fashion has shown why she deserves to be called a legend. However, like the rest of us, this former world’s number-one WTA star also needed some fashion guidance and she received it from a legend in the field, Vogue’s Anna Wintour. Williams, who has mesmerized her fans with her iconic presence at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts‘s special event since 2011, brought a storm on social media channelling her inner fashionista athlete on the red carpet in 2019. From Anna Wintour’s latest revelations, fans hear the story behind that iconic look pulled off by the tennis legend.

In an exclusive interview with Today’s Jenna Bush, Vogue’s Global Editorial Head spoke about how she helped the 23-time Grand Slam winner with her Met Gala outfit in 2019. When Bush asked her “Do you help anybody pick their outfit?” Wintour’s response not only delighted fans’ hearts but brought a great surprise to their faces. Anna Wintour said, referring to Williams’s Met Gala look in 2019: “I suggested to Serena Williams that she wear sneakers. She’s the only one that could get away with it.”

Adhering to the theme camp, the Olympic gold medalist wore Versace’s electric yellow colored chartreuse gown highlighted by glittery autumn leaves. She uplifted the event’s theme with her bright yellow sneakers that stole the show. Her spectacular de Grisogono jewelry was also too beautiful for fans to miss. From Wintour’s interview, Williams’s fans got to know that Vogue’s fashion marvel partly suggested Williams’s iconic Met Gala 2019 look that brought her so many compliments.

“Williams took to the stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in a highlighter-yellow Atelier Versace gown adorned with pink 3-D butterflies. It’s a bold look that few could pull off, but Williams looked perfectly at ease—especially as she revealed bright yellow Off-White x Nike sneakers under her gown,” Hapers Bazaar wrote about her look at the time.

On the other hand, for Serena Williams sneakers are an accessory that she often showcases with extraordinary elegance. She donned a pair of white bedazzled sneakers highlighted with white and yellow stone works on her wedding that represented the marvelous styling game of this former tennis legend. Williams’s love for sneakers was also revealed when she attended her close friend Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding wearing sneakers. Sharing her look on Instagram, Williams captioned it, “Little known fact: I often wear sneakers under my evening gown.”

While Serena Williams and her sneakers stole the limelight always, this time the legend chose to ditch the comfy and unleash her glamorous look on the red carpet.

Serena Williams channeled her gilded golden look at Met Gala 2024

The world’s former number-one tennis star’s recent fashion craze showcases her love for metallic gowns as Williams surprised her fans with a bedazzling one-shouldered golden gown at this year’s Met Gala. Following balance with this year’s theme Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion – picked by Anna Wintour, Williams appeared as a golden diva and her look was highlighted further by black gloves and diamond jewels. This Olympic gold-medalist former WTA star also donned a jewel head ornament that looks like a barrette with her look.

Learning from the GOAT of fashion herself, Williams expressed her gratefulness to Wintour for showing her how her fashion picks could volumes about her humble and grounded personality.