NYC skyline inspires new Sharapova wardrobe
'Nike has always understood my desire to make a big impression in N.Y.'
 Diane Bondareff / AP Maria Sharapova poses in the Nike tennis dress Wednesday that she will be wearing for her first-round evening match as she defends her title at the 2007 U.S. Open. The crystal encrusted dress is inspired by the New York City skyline. |
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NEW YORK - Maria Sharapova loves New York, especially its style and skyline.
When Sharapova defends her U.S. Open title next week, she’ll be wearing tennis dresses decorated with graphic interpretations of the cityscape on the chest.
The designs, created in collaboration with Nike senior designer Colleen Sandieson, were shown off at a news conference Wednesday evening.
Like last year, Sharapova will have one outfit dedicated for day play and another for night matches.
“Nike has always understood my desire to make a big impression in New York,” she said in a statement. “And the dresses that we’ve worked on for the U.S. Open have always looked as good as they feel when I’m playing. This year is especially exciting because the designs are inspired by the city itself.”
The night dress is a bright flaming red — in honor of the Big Apple — in a flared shift silhouette. It’s a sleek garment made of a breathable wicking jersey and constructed with a no-sew technique with seams bonded with heat and silicone instead of thread.
There are more than 600 Swarovski crystals incorporated into the design, which makes the dress sparkle. Additionally, there are three crystal buttons down the back, creating a keyhole effect.
For the daytime, the look is similar but without the flashiness of the crystals. The dress is mostly white with a gray skyline image against a black backdrop. It has a scoop-back design that facilitates movement, according to Sandieson.
Performance is always the priority, Sandieson said, but she and Sharapova strive for designs that marry function with fashion.
“She has a fantastic game and I have a lot of respect for that but she has a great eye for detail. She’s got a style that’s very natural to her, and she also knows what she likes and doesn’t like,” Sandieson told The Associated Press.
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“She wears clothes that a lot of other women would like to own and look good in,” said Susan Kaufman, editor of People StyleWatch.
Kaufman also notes that today’s tennis stars are photographed when they’re off the court, too, giving more of a glimpse of their personal style.
The U.S. Open runs Aug. 27-Sept. 8. Sharapova is the No. 2 seed.
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