Williams said her outfit in her French Open first round match was partially inspired by "Black Panther."GETTY IMAGES
Serena Williams launched her "first proprietary fashion collection," called "Serena," on Wednesday, according to Leigh Nordstrom of WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY. Anchoring the line are "messages of self-love and confidence, both in physical type like the ath-leisure pants, and in its fabrics and price points." The line, which is being sold exclusively on her own website, is "centered around practicality." The first line ranges in price from $35 to $250, and the label is "everything from the more expected ath-leisure to denim, dresses and blazers." The line is centered around the concept of an "s" word -- "Serena," yes, but also a "wide-reaching embrace" of the "powerful" 19th letter of the alphabet (WWD, 5/30). In N.Y., Johnny Oleksinski reported Williams "donned a stark, full-body catsuit" during her first-round match at the French Open on Tuesday. The Nike sportswear was "clearly meant to turn heads" (N.Y. POST, 5/30).
'QUEEN IS BACK': REUTERS' Richard Lough reported Williams knows "one should never steal the show at a friend's wedding, not least a royal wedding." Williams said that the timing of Nike's "The Queen is Back" campaign, launched to coincide with the first-time mother's return to the French Open, was "a touch embarrassing." Williams said, "Nike came up with this idea right when I decided I was going to come back. And so it's kind of interesting how it all tied into the wedding and, you know, then I felt a little awkward" (REUTERS, 5/29).
