Venus Williams' Fall '13 collection of her EleVen activewear line features a “varied collection ranging from the traditional -- a striking white Wimbledon dress with ‘power mesh’ insert panel on the back -- to the dramatic -- a black U.S. Open dress popping with a bright floral print -- to the playful pink python print dress she'll wear during the summer U.S. Open Series,” according to Richard Pagliaro of TENNIS.com. Most pieces feature “primary themes, including the bold floral print and pink python print, which are incorporated in tanks, skirts, skorts, shorts and jackets.” The new collection “ships on July 15 and will be available through major on-line retailers.” She said of the U.S. Open dress, “I felt the florals on dark background would be interesting. More importantly is the mesh, which occurs throughout the collection and I think really brings it back to the court. It also gives the ability to mix and match it with other core pieces.” She said of her designs, “It's about style meeting performance. It's about challenging the status quo of active wear. It's about making clothes for people living fulfilled lives that involve movement and fitness. I think about all of those things. I try to figure out: How do I put all of that into the clothes? How can I help people to feel their best? I hope we're getting closer and closer to that perfect EleVen with this collection.” Williams said she used to design her Grand Slam outfits "kind of by the feeling I had" for the various host cities. But she said, "Now I don't. I design by what I feel inside and my vision of the design and what I think will be comfortable on people” (TENNIS.com, 3/6). She added, "When we are designing, I am narrowing down which ones I'm wearing. I have got to plan ahead. ... The retailers want to know right away which ones I'll be wearing" (AP, 3/5).
