TennisIDENTITY

Venus Williams' Wimbledon whites. Round 1, the jumper.

Venus Williams hit her first Wimbledon match in the fashion must-have of the summer season, a jumper/romper/playsuit. Whatever YOU call it, walk the hot streets of any US city and you will indeed notice, that this one-piece shorts-top combo is hot. Williams pulled hers together with a gold belt, necklace and shorties/bra-top which peeked out from the zip-up v-neck. I have to say she did a nice job making this traditionally little girls item look nicely grown up. Some elements of it would have bothered me on court (namely the loose sleeves) but they didn't hinder Venus that's for sure.

Quoting Venus via Wimbledon.com: "The shoulders have a lot of draping, which is also in the moment,...It's just kind of like a trendy dress. It's fun. I'm really into zippers, so it has like a focal point of a zipper in the front. It's just fun. The back is like a cut-out or like a peek‑a‑boo. I'm always trying to do something different and fun. But more lately now I'm really trending towards simplicity. I'm not sure why. It's just how I feel right now. Everything is getting more simple."

And there it is, the sassy little number that was Venus' look of choice for a commanding 1st round victory. I expect, if the past is any indicator, that we will see another look second round. A year is a lot of time to think and create. Can't wait to see what's next on her grass court-walk. 

Finding EleVen by Venus Williams: Last year Williams had an agreement with online retailer Gilt.com. No word yet on 2011. Her focus has always been making great tennis fashion affordable. How about H&M? Seems a good fit ehh?

It's Fashion Week in New York and Venus Williams has the biggest catwalk of all.

It's fashion week in New York City and the creative juices are on display from the work of students at Academy of Art University to that of Tory Burch and Vera Wang. It is the week where long hours of planning, cutting and sewing are either rewarded with attention or dismissed as folly. Not one designer has a bigger catwalk, bigger live audience and more attention than EleVen's Venus Williams and she's taking advantage of it.

As styled models sashay down skinny runways under tents and in showrooms around the city, Venus as model runs, jumps, stretches and sweats across a tennis court, all eyes and cameras on her. So far she has played in four different tennis outfits all from her EleVen line being sold at Gilt.com. There are more to come.

"I'm having fun with it," said Williams to ESPN2's Hannah Storm last night. "It's all about celebration." And so the latest dress (like the black and red) is adorned with sequined fireworks. We've seen bold graphics, open backs, sheers, varied necklines, black lace, leather fringe, hot pink and body hugging style.

There have been a few malfunctions such as dresses riding way too high during big points but she's taken care to insure that what's underneath is fashionable too. The shorties are decorated with sequins as well. The wind on court has also been a challenge. "The fabric is light and flies when the wind blows," Williams continued smiling. Nothing has slowed her down.

Williams is living her dream, as fashion designer, model, business woman and star tennis player - she's an author too. "I love what I do," she commented to Storm referring to tennis and fashion design. It's all coming together for Venus and she's literally dancing to the music when hitting end-of-match balls into the crowds.

Yeah her outfits are rocking the tennis world and that's what she likes. As a designer to the tennis masses, she's got a few things to work on to make sure some of these new dresses are more user friendly -- that ride up is not working for me. Looking forward to seeing what she wears to the finals if she earns her place there though. Prospects are good.

Click here for a gallery of Venus's US Open Styles courtesy of LIFE.

Gilt.com to Sell EleVen by Venus Williams. Sneak a Peek and Purchase August 27.

EleVen by Venus Williams is available!  On August 27, the second day of a two day wellness/fitness event at Gilt.com, at exactly noon EST the online retailer will be selling off-the-rack EleVen including versions of two of Venus's most discussed 2010 styles, her lemon yellow dress at the Australian Open and her lacy/racy from The French. This is a "one day" only sale that will last 36 hours.

Both performance dresses will sell for 40 percent off recommended retail.

Now the deal with Gilt.com. If you are not familiar with the shopping site, you have to register to be a customer (not a big deal at all). You also have to shop quickly because the sale of each item is limited in quantity and time. Items go back to stock if they sit in your cart more than 10 minutes. Yikes! That's tough for me as I'm a bit of a browser. If you miss Friday's sale, don't worry, EleVen will go on sale again as Gilt has contracted with Williams for a year. Subscribe to the site to stay in the know.

The Friday sale will also have a variety of other fitness products, up to 70 percent off retail - same deal, that day only.

Check it all out at Gilt.com/EleVen.

Venus Williams Teams Up With Ralph Lauren in Tennis and Fashion.

Venus Williams will be the featured player during Ralph Lauren's second virtual Legends Clinic Thursday, August 26, 2010 to be broadcast live from New York SPORTIME Tennis Center in New York. Tune in on your PC or hand-held at 2 pm EST on Ralph Lauren or m.ralphlauren.com/USOpen (for mobile devices).This is the retailer's first virtual clinic based in the US.

The seven-time Grand Slam Champion will answer questions, offer tennis tips and demonstrate techniques as a teaching pro would do for you on court. If you have a burning question, submit it here, and she may answer it. Keep your questions tennis technique related and you'll have the best chance of being selected.

And what will she wear you ask? No lace or frill here. Here's the dress (left). No she will not wear this at the US Open but it's a new limited edition tennis dress designed by Ralph Lauren in partnership with William's EleVen line, $198.

Looks more Ralph than Venus to me but I like it. Pretty preppy but cute. A special edition co-branded polo will also be available,$98. Look for both pieces starting August 26.

Buy the co-branded items at Ralph Lauren or at the US Open Polo Ralph Lauren Shop at the Open.

Video: Venus Williams Chooses Winning Design to Wear at US Open 2010. We wait.

Although it's highly doubtful Venus' chosen tennis dress design will top this year's French Open number, I look forward to seeing which design she selected to wear at the US Open. Stay tuned.

Venus Williams Talks Tennis Fashion and Her New Book.

On tour, this time to promote her book Come to Win, Venus Williams chats about her on court tennis fashion choices with PBS's Tavis Smiley, particularly the controversial little lace number in France. "It was really, it was about illusion..." says Williams. "It was just about a design and...most people aren't jumping in their lace, and I was running, jumping and diving..."

The player, fashion designer and oh-so-controversial nude shorties are still generating plenty of attention. I'm sure she hopes for the same for her book. It's sitting on my desk at the moment. I'll report back shorties...uhh, shortly.

Watch the whole interview (it's not just about tennis fashion) Friday night, July 16. Check local listings here.

Wimbledon Tennis Fashion 2010: Venus Williams

Again, the details make the grade. Venus Williams dress at Wimbledon is a work of art and texture. Click on the image here and take a close look.

Venus' ELEVEN branded Slam dresses have been examples of some of the biggest trends in fashion, some of them hitting mainstream America just now.

She's played with asymmetrical lines, interesting backs, bright colors, computer designed fabrics and lingerie looks. At Wimbledon she's added fringe -- 6 layers of it on the skirt. Fun. She says she was inspired by Tina Turner who is a fighter and winner herself (and wearer of tight tops and super short skirts).

Obviously this outfit can perform but you have to have the bod; no hiding anything here. The stretch fabric bodice is open and covered with stretch antique rose adorned lace, the bottom is covered with fringe that looks electrified every time Venus hits.

She's ditched the skin toned shorties which caused so much controversy and the white on white is far less distracting than the red/black Moulin Rouge style she wore in France.

I'm hearing rumblings that Venus is close to making a deal which would once again make her styles available to the public. Looking forward to it.

Synchronized Tennis Anyone? Plus, the 411 on eleVen by Venus Williams.

 

Cool shot ehh? Venus has worn two different styles so far at the Australian. Both are from her signature eleVen line, a fitted lemon yellow dress with hot pink shorties (pictured here) and a more classic white style with yellow trim. Where to buy?  Unfortunately Venus' very affordably priced eleVen tennis line is not immediately available now that Steve and Barry's (the exclusive retailer of the line) has gone under. There are rumblings, however, of a new retailer. I've been told an announcement is forthcoming soon. We'll let you know when and where.

  Images: Ron Angle

Day 3 Video Highlights and On Court Fashion from Doha

Check out Day 3 tennis and court fashion highlights from Doha. Jelena Jankovic wore Reebok's KFS Shimmer Dress ($49.99) in soft black grey with cool shadow; Svetlana Kuznetsova, Fila's Summer heritage v-neck tank ($39.99) and skort ($36.99) in periwinkle; Venus Williams, eleVen by Venus Williams in a black version of her singles dress (not available at this time); Serena Williams, Nike Women's Winter Court Tank ($60) and Winter Court Skort ($60); Elena Dementieva, a to be released 2009 Yonex dress; and Dinara Safina, the adidas fall competition tank ($37.99) and competition skort ($37.99) in mono pink with white.  All except eleven are available at Tennis-Warehouse. You can find other retailers at Yonex, Reebok, eleVen by Venus Williams, Nike, Fila and adidas Tennis

Read our previous post for more info on watching this tournament.

Venus' On-Court Style at Wimbledon, Now Available to the Recreational Player

Until now, the EleVen by Venus Williams styles that Venus wore to tournaments were not available to the public. With Wimbledon, this has changed. The style pictured left that she wore in the first round, will be available at Steve and Barry's stores in late July. The dress is made of performance fabric and hosts a shelf bra. You will need shorties. The price on this one has not been released yet, but based upon the pricing of the other items in the EleVen line, it will be very reasonable (Steve and Barry's offers what they call "astonishing" low prices on high quality).

We spotted Venus wearing another dress from the line, a very cute baby-doll style, while playing doubles with Serena (see insert pic). Nice clean lines. Nadia Petrova has been wearing EleVen too (a puff sleeve polo and skort). Sorry but but Petrova's outfit will not be available for purchase.

For those who want tennis style at a great price, look for a store near you at Steve and Barry's. EleVen by Venus Williams is not sold online.

EleVen by Venus Williams -- love it!

Venus Williams' personal on-court style is not yet available on the market, but you can shop her EleVen line. EleVen combines court performance with style that works just as well off-court as on. The fabrics are soft, lightweight and very comfortable. Most of the pieces come in dry performance moisture wicking fabric. The styles are classic with a twist, nicely fitted with an accent of modern. The color palettes are fashionable, not flashy; the EleVen logo is embroidered on everything

We loved how these clothes fit and moved. Best of all are the prices. WOW! You can't get this kind of tennis style anywhere for less -- not even the clearance rack at Marshalls. The piped track set top (pictured left) retails for $14.98 U.S.D. and the matching pant, is also $14.98. The close-fitting boyfriend tank pictured under the jacket is just $7.98.

The comfy set pictured right would look great on any junior player. Performance polo $7.98, shorts $10.98. Boyfriend tank underneath. The line has lots more colors and styles.

With EleVen, fresh court style is now totally affordable. Stock up! EleVen by Venus Williams is only available at Steve & Barry's stores nationwide. Go to www.steveandbarrys.com to find the store nearest you.