The Greatest of All Time Says Goodbye

The greatest athlete of all time literally sparkled as she said goodbye this past week. 

Serena Williams stepped into the US Open 2022 tennis court to a standing ovation. The crowd was mesmerized by the G.O.A.T’s presence and by her shimmering black figure skating dress. 

For what could be her final game, Serena alongside her Nike family designed the perfect outfit worthy of this supernova. The little long-sleeved black dress was adorned with star shaped crystals and a 6 layer skirt, representing every US Open title she has won. 

What was more iconic than her outfit was her hairstyle. Serena wore her beautiful curls in a simple slicked back ponytail. But we are talking about Serena, her looks are never simple or boring. Look closer and admire the tiny Swarovski jewels woven into her hair by hair stylist Nikki Nelms, absolutely breathtaking. 

Since 1995 Venus and her have revolutionized the sport of tennis. The Williams sisters, as you know, are one of the greatest athletes. Not only have they changed the standards women can reach playing tennis, won over 70 titles and participated in over 90 finals. They did all that by always striving for excellence and defying all odds against them, racism, sexism and discrimination. Not an easy task, much less for two young Black women making them even more admirable and deserving of everything they’ve achieved. 

The Williams sisters entered the tennis scene at a time where everything was clearly gendered and ran by traditional rules. Norms that only favored the archetype of a blonde white woman. A field previously challenged by Althea Gibson, Arthur Ashe, Zina Garrison and Yannick Noah, opening the path for the Williams sisters and other Black players to play at the highest of levels. 

The Williams sisters changed the game forever, with their powerful and aggressive play the set new standards of achievement. They also showed the world that no matter who you are you too can dare to dream big. 

Athletes like the late Flo Jo, the fastest women in the world, have incorporated fashion into their sports participation. Daring to bring in femininity and their personal beauty into a field that mocks it. Who says you can't run with 6 inch acrylic nails, a full face of makeup and in style? 

“Dress well to look good. Look good to feel good and feel good to run fast!”

Black women succeeding is rare and being respected is even more difficult. Serena knows this well as she took all criticism and neglect and smashed it, literally. 

Let’s talk about tennis and fashion. Historically tennis has always been a very conservative sport, one that represents perfectly how white supremacy is embedded in our culture. Enter Serena, a black young woman with a spectacular muscular physique who made her first triumphant win wearing beads and braids, not everyone approved. Media has scrutinized Serena, her body, her background, her family and style. As every eye was on her and everyone was judging, why not use it to your favor? Serena’s image has always been planned and executed with intention, her style is a reflection of her energy, her enthusiasm, what she likes and values. Through her fashion choices she demonstrates everything women can do and be. 

Serena said it best; “I’m going to be the subject of attention, rather than an object”.

When we think about fashion icons and groundbreakers we don’t pay much attention to athletes. Not only was she the first black athlete to make the cover of Vogue she has also been the host at the prestigious Met Gala. Fashion is meant to express, communicate and express which is all Serena has ever done despite the many critics being uncomfortable with her so-called “excess”. NYU professor Fleetwood, said it best; Williams style is perceived as being too much as in too much Black, "specifically the Black female body as excess."

Her legacy is more than being Serena, the G.O.A.T, but the millions of women and girls that she inspires.  

Her fashion is a statement, one that causes controversy and has even angered some. That’s how you know she is doing something right. 

Okay, so let's start. Sernas long-lasting relationship with Nike started in 2004 and since then they have slayed every single time. Serena's outfit choices are statements that have been thought out, nothing is a coincidence. Nike's first design with Serena was at the Miami masters in 2004, where she literally started her on court fashion legacy by reinventing the white dress. She opted for one with a silver corset. 

During the US Open in 2004 Williams brought streetwear into the court with her pleated mini sheer skirt with studs paired with slick boots. She then changed into a sheer black studs shirt and paired it with a denim micro skirt. Maybe an ode to what Nike had previously done with Agassi, her denim skirt paired perfectly with the studs of the top and even matched with the wristband. 

Bringing fashion trends into the court, Serena looked amazing in this pink and red leopard number. 

One of her favorites, as she mentioned in her Vogue interview, was the asymmetrical one-legged unitard she wore for the Australian Open in 2021. An ode to the great Flo-Jo and her revolutionizing style.

Talk about fashion forward, before Yeezy made minimalistic futuristic footwear a thing Serena was adding knee high boots to her looks. An addition that was designed to help with her knees and calves but done in a fashionable way obviously. 

Thirteen years later, she wore another outfit designed to help her deal with the aftermath of what was a traumatic childbirth, yes, she had just given birth and was back at the court, if that sent strength and power you don’t know anything. She wore a Nike black unitard to help prevent blood clots which started a scandal as the French Association deemed it as a violation to their codes. 

In response, Serena wore a one-sleeve tutu at her next match designed by Mr. Abloh. A fashionable responsible to all those who deemed her catsuit as not being “femenine”. The catsuit controversy speaks past the dress code scandal, it shows how little respect, knowledge and respect people have for women's maternal health. Serena proved to them she can dominate in a catsuit and a tutu. 

Fashion is intrinsically part of her power and cultural impact that speaks to her magnitude and greatness. 

“By changing nothing, she changed everything”. - Zendaya for Nike’s film on Serena’s impact. 

She has used her power for good, opening up community centers at her howtown with the help of Venus. Pending up about almost dying at childbirth which is something that many women face and isn’t spoken about. An important and impactful conversation as black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth, not because of complications but from neglect. 

Women in general are neglected and not taken seriously when it comes to their bodies due to pervasive sexism. 

Serena is a champion on and off the court.