The Architectural Heel: How Venus Williams’ Lacoste Footwear Defies Conventional Shoe Categories
In a season where footwear innovation has reached fever pitch, tennis icon Venus Williams delivered a masterclass in boundary-defying accessorizing at the Lacoste Fall Ready-To-Wear 2025 presentation during Paris Fashion Week. Williams arrived at the historic Roland Garros Stadium on March 9th in a head-to-toe green ensemble that demonstrated precisely why athletic-inspired luxury continues to dominate high fashion—but it was her extraordinary footwear that truly commanded attention.
The architectural marvels adorning Williams’ feet represented a radical reimagining of what constitutes a luxury shoe in 2025. Positioned somewhere in the previously unexplored territory between athletic trainer, elegant pump, and avant-garde bootie, these Lacoste creations echo the groundbreaking hybrid aesthetic pioneered by Sara Blakely’s Sneex launch last year, yet push the concept into fresh territory.
Constructed on a daringly slanted stiletto heel—a structural feat that footwear enthusiasts will immediately recognize as technically ambitious—the shoes feature meticulous ruching along the ankle opening that creates a gathered, sculptural effect. This textural detailing juxtaposes brilliantly against the dual-finish leather treatment: a high-gloss patent in deep forest green enveloping the toe box, transitioning seamlessly into a sophisticated matte leather along the vamp.
Most revolutionary is the subtle rubber trimming along the sole—a technical element that signals the shoe’s sport-luxury heritage while offering the practical advantage of improved traction compared to traditional stilettos. The brand’s iconic crocodile emblem appears with understated prominence on the lateral side above the heel—a signature detail that was mirrored on runway models during the presentation.
Williams styled these transformative heels with a knit forest green midi dress featuring a distinctive keyhole cutout at the bodice—the perfect canvas against which to showcase both the footwear and her shimmering green socks. A complementary emerald coat with sharp lapels and sinuous collar added architectural weight to the ensemble, worn with practiced nonchalance draped across her shoulders.
In a nostalgic yet thoroughly modern styling choice, Williams crowned the look with a silk Lacoste headscarf tied beneath her chin—channeling the timeless elegance of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn while simultaneously establishing the headscarf as 2025’s must-have accessory. Her coordinated green Lacoste handbag from the new Fall collection completed this study in monochromatic sophistication.
The presentation, aptly named “An Invitation,” marked creative director Pelagia Kolotouros’ third runway outing since her February 2023 appointment. Kolotouros’ vision—deeply rooted in the sporting legacy of cofounder René Lacoste while boldly reimagining luxury athleticism for contemporary audiences—found perfect embodiment in Williams’ carefully curated appearance.
The star-studded event, staged at the spiritual home of French tennis, attracted luminaries including musician Sampha, actors Claire Danes, Adrien Brody, and Taylor Zakhar Perez—though none made quite the impact of Williams, whose presence seamlessly bridged the worlds of athletic achievement and high fashion authority.
With this singular appearance, Williams has not only cemented her status as a style oracle but has potentially triggered what may become 2025’s most significant footwear revolution: the sport-stiletto hybrid that promises to reshape how we conceptualize both comfort and glamour in luxury footwear.
