Just days after a shocking loss at the U.S. Open, tennis great Serena Williams scored an ace with her poetry skills as she unveiled the Serena Williams Signature Statement fall collection presented by HSN during New York Fashion Week.
As models walked the runway, Williams read a poem about the power of women that she wrote after she won a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam championship at Wimbledon this summer. The poem was spurred by a question from a reporter who asked her how she feels about being the greatest female athlete. “I was, like, they never ask men that. I wanted to give women strength,” she told the Associated Press.
Williams also revealed that her good pal Beyoncé approved the poem played during the show. Among its sentiments: "She turns her disappointment into triumph. Her grief into joy. Her rejections into approvals. If no one believes in her it does not matter. She believes in herself. Nothing stops her. No one can touch her. She is woman."
“Pray You Catch Me,” from Beyoncé’s latest album, Lemonade, blared from the speakers as models appeared in creations from Williams' latest line (this was her third fashion week show) as well as a few limited edition couture looks accessorized with a new jewelry collection, Diamonds Unleashed for Serena Williams, in which she collaborated with Kara Ross.
The fall collection varies between comfy cold weather looks (cream-colored faux shearling maxi coats trimmed in brown leather, knit sweater dresses and maxi cardigans) and slinky evening wear for party girls (lace see-through long skirt and high waisted shorts, lace and satin tuxedo dress — all in black).
Prices range from $29.90 for a belt to $699.90 for a dramatic lace dress from Williams' couture collection The runway looks are available on HSN.com.
On the front row, Williams' mentor, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, engaged in an animated conversation with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, just a few seats away from 95-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel.
Other celebrities included designer Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo, Venus Williams, La La Anthony, Ciara, Christina Milian and a large continengent of U.S. Olympic athletes, including Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Nia Ali, Dalilah Muhammad, and Natasha Hastings.
Iris Apfel.
