Tennis legend told a glittery fashion industry audience how fashion became a favored mode of expression as she grew up in the public eye, with the tennis court serving as her runway.
91裸聊视频淚 knew when I was a little girl that I was different, so I explored fashion and style as a way to distinguish myself,91裸聊视频� Williams said as she accepted the Fashion Icon award Monday night from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. 91裸聊视频淚n many ways for me, the tennis courts became my runway, and the U.S. Open was my own New York Fashion Week.91裸聊视频� Reimagining the traditional tennis outfit became a way, she said, to express 91裸聊视频渕y individuality and my confidence and most importantly, my culture. 91裸聊视频�
Williams, who , is the first athlete to win the Fashion Icon award, and it was presented to her by Kim Kardashian, a . Kardashian called Williams 91裸聊视频渇earless, heroic, authentic, iconic 91裸聊视频� the greatest of all time.91裸聊视频�
The fashion industry91裸聊视频檚 equivalent of Oscar night was held at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and hosted by Anne Hathaway. In top designer awards, Catherine Holstein of the label Khaite was named womenswear designer of the year, and Willy Chavarria won for menswear. The award for accessories went to Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen of the label The Row.
Among other honors: Gwyneth Paltrow accepted the Innovation award for goop, her 15-year old lifestyle brand, presented by Demi Moore. Vanessa Hudgens presented a tribute from the CFDA board of directors to Vera Wang, for her impact on the bridal industry. Designer Maria Cornejo won a lifetime achievement award, presented by Laura Linney.
There was also a tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a short film by director Hype Williams, introduced by Mary J. Blige and with music by Pharrell.
When Williams, now 42, retired from tennis, she said she needed to to focus on motherhood. She gave birth in August to a baby girl, almost exactly a year after her last match as a tennis star. Adira River Ohanian is the second child 91裸聊视频� and second daughter 91裸聊视频� for Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Their first, Olympia, was born in 2017.
In her speech, she spoke fondly about how she91裸聊视频檇 learned to express her creativity on the court. 91裸聊视频淚 designed skirts out of denim and I wore purple tutus and bodysuits,91裸聊视频� she said, 91裸聊视频渁nd put beads in my hair, and braids. It was really just a fun time for me.91裸聊视频�
Williams studied fashion during her playing career, and in 2018, launched her 91裸聊视频淪 by Serena91裸聊视频� clothing line, which she said in her speech was intended 91裸聊视频渢o inspire women women to embrace their bodies and love who they are no matter their size, race or income.91裸聊视频�
Among her many thank-yous, she saved her last for her mother, 91裸聊视频渇or actually making those first tennis outfits when I was young.91裸聊视频� Watching her sew, she said, 91裸聊视频漜reated this creativity in me that I still have to this day.91裸聊视频�
The CFDA awards are presented by Amazon Fashion. Other honors: Alina Cho received a media award, Domenico De Sole won the founder91裸聊视频檚 award, Mara Hoffman won a sustainability award, and the international award went to Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson and Loewe.
Jocelyn Noveck, The Associated Press
