Serena Shines at the 2023 CFDA Awards
Last night at the Museum of Natural History in New York, the iconic Serena Williams lit up the red carpet at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards. The tennis legend and fashion icon glittered in a show-stopping Thom Browne gown, marking a historic moment as the first athlete ever to receive the Fashion Icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Serena was resplendent in her Thom Browne creation, a figure-hugging black gown covered in countless shimmering black sequins. The dress featured a modern sweetheart neckline and ruching around the hips that drew the eye to Serena’s famous curves before cascading into a dramatic train. Serena’s enviable shoulders were highlighted through voluminous black puff sleeves accented with dangling crystals for an added touch of drama and sparkle.
Ever the accessories maven, Serena complemented her Thom Browne with glittering jewels by David Yurman, including diamond floral earrings and a diamond and pearl necklace that added extra wattage. Her hair was swept back into a low braid wrapped with red, white and blue ribbon in a subtle nod to her athletic achievements. Though she officially retired from professional tennis in September 2022, Serena remains the greatest of all time, with 23 Grand Slam singles titles under her belt.
While she glowed on the red carpet, Serena took a moment to reflect on her groundbreaking career and status as a sports pioneer. “I never thought I would be nominated for fashion anything,” she told reporters. “For me, it was just about trying to do the best that I could do.”
Beyond her incredible tennis skills and medals, Serena has always had an innate sense of personal style that she’s parlayed into successful fashion ventures. In 2018, she launched her own clothing line, S by Serena, offering chic dresses, bodysuits and other stylish comfort wear for women. She’s also collaborated with Nike and HSN on various capsules over the years.
Though she is now retired from professional tennis, Serena is clearly just getting started in her fashion industry takeover. The CFDA honor cements her status as not just an all-time great athlete, but a true fashion icon. She joins Previous Fashion Icon award winners Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams and Johnny Depp.
At last night’s ceremony, Serena brought along her darling daughter Olympia, 6, who also loves dressing up in Mom’s designs. It surely won’t be long before we see Olympia following in her mother’s footsteps with her own stylish looks.
For now, Serena continues to inspire women everywhere to embrace their power and potential – both on and off the court. She glittered like the true champion she is last night, looking confident, glamorous and ready to keep making history.
