You don’t have to be a tennis enthusiast to appreciate the power of this matchup
It’s official, Serena Williams will return to the U.S. Open later this month in Virgil Abloh x Nike. The new collection, aptly named “Queen”, includes tennis dresses (there’s a one-shouldered dress complete with a tutu), a jacket, a bag, and a pair of customised NikeCourt Flare sneakers. All will feature Abloh’s riff on the Nike logo, which, of course, includes the word “logo.”
Virgil Abloh x Nike Queen collection
“With Serena, we have one of our generation’s most powerful, inspiring athletes as the muse,” Abloh said in a statement from the brand. “What I love about tennis is the gracefulness. It’s an aggressive and powerful game, but it takes touch and finesse,” the designer added. “So the dress is feminine, but combines her aggression. It’s partially revealing. It’s asymmetrical. It has a sort of ballerina-esque silhouette to symbolize her grace. It’s not about bells and whistles and tricks. It’s just about it living on the body, and expressing Serena’s spirit with each swing of the racket.”
Virgil Abloh x Nike Queen collection
“When I first tried on the dress, I felt very strong and feminine at the same time. It has all the really strong elements, from the leather to that really cool stretchy material,” said Williams. “I felt so feminine in the tutu, which is probably my favourite part of it. It really embodies what I always say: that you can be strong and beautiful at the same time.”
