The Look
Serena took a hands-on approach to the design process, and the result was an outfit packed with both symbolism and style.
The dress featured a unique silhouette borrowed from figure skating competition apparel, with the bodice incorporating crystals in the shape of stars—a reference to the night sky of the tournament’s famous evening sessions.
Serena, who played under the lights in each of her matches, also wore a six-layer tutu-style skirt, one layer for each of her previous US Open titles (1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014)—though once the competition started, function quickly took priority.
“I had six layers to represent the six wins, but I took four out because it was too heavy,” Serena told Gayle King after her first-round match.
To complete the outfit, the American stepped out in a removable cape, matching warm-up jacket and custom NikeCourt Flare 2 shoes. Her solid gold shoelace tags alone featured 400 hand-set diamonds, and a diamond-laden “Swoosh” logo.