Tory BarronESPN Writer
CloseTory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try writing about people who play sports.
Serena Williams is no stranger to the runways, having modeled for her own fashion line’s shows in the past. But Monday marked the first time the 23-time Grand Slam champion had walked for a major luxury brand during fashion month.
On the first day of Paris Fashion Week, Williams paid tribute to his longtime fashion collaborator, the late designer and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh.
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Off-White, a Milan-based luxury brand, honored Abloh, who died in November 2021 at the age of 41 after a private battle with a rare cancer, by presenting its Fall 2022 collection, the final contribution of Abloh to the mark.
The star-studded show (Kendall Jenner, Joan Smalls, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford also walked the runway for the occasion) was split into two parts, with Serena wearing one part of the “ready-to-wear “. -wear collection” for the coming season in the first part.
Spot Serena Williams, modeling at the Off-White Virgil Abloh memorial show #PFW pic.twitter.com/lAfFQoE6w8
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) February 28, 2022
Serena Williams just walked in Virgil Abloh’s latest Off-White show at Paris Fashion Week pic.twitter.com/noXQXQmnel
— jessica testa (@jtes) February 28, 2022
After the show, Williams took to Instagram to express her gratitude for the opportunity to honor her friend.
Williams had long been Abloh’s muse, and the tennis star served as the inspiration for the designer’s first Nike collection in 2018. The collection, called “Queen” (naturally), included Abloh’s take on the classic tennis dress. with asymmetric color blocks, the classic Off-White text and tulle tutu skirt. “I was trying to embody his spirit and bring something cool and fresh to tennis,” he said in an official release statement. Williams wore the dress in multiple colorways at the 2018 US Open.
In 2019, she wore neon yellow Abloh-designed sneakers while attending the Met Gala. Not long after, she wore an original Abloh to the 2019 French Open. The black-and-white striped two-piece, complete with matching cape, was adorned with the French words for “mother,” “champion,” “queen” and “goddess”.
When Abloh died, Williams was one of the celebrities who shared tributes to the beloved designer. “Words cannot express the pain I feel at the passing of my friend @virgilabloh,” she wrote on Instagram. “I will always be grateful to have had the opportunity to witness such greatness, such awesomeness and feel the warmth of his smile. It was an honor to be by his side. It lit up every room he walked into. May his loving family and friends find comfort knowing how deeply your art impacted our culture and all of us. I will miss you.”
Source: www.espn.com