• Style
  • Women
  • Huff/Post50
  • Weddings
  • HealthyLiving
  • Divorce
  • Parents
  • Sign In / Register
  • stylelist home
  • huffpost style
  • FASHION
    • Departments

      Fashion News Fashion Features Fashion Trends Designers Models Accessories
      In The Market For Intern Diaries Step Into My Office Object of My Affection Stylelist Network Stories

      Featured

      Can You Guess The Child Model's Famous Aunt? Can You Guess The Child Model's Famous Aunt?
      Vintage-Obsessed Blogger Shares 18 Recent Finds Vintage-Obsessed Blogger Shares 18 Recent Finds
      Pinterest Cracks Down On Thinspirational Images Pinterest Cracks Down On Thinspirational Images
  • BEAUTY
    • Departments

      Beauty Basics Beauty News Beauty Features Beauty Trends Uptown Downtown Makeup Healthy Beautiful You
      Skin & Body Fragrance Nails Facetime The Unexpected Icon

      Featured

      This Student Reveals Her Bright-But-Wearable Pink Lipstick Shade This Student Reveals Her Bright-But-Wearable Pink Lipstick Shade
      Do You Use A Facespray Like This Yoga Instructor? Do You Use A Facespray Like This Yoga Instructor?
      Morgan Spurlock Waxes Philosophical On Mantyhose & Manscaping Morgan Spurlock Waxes Philosophical On Mantyhose & Manscaping
  • HAIR
    • Departments

      Hair Trends Hair How To

      Featured

      The Hair Doctor Is in: Consultation Is Key The Hair Doctor Is in: Consultation Is Key
      Guess Which Beauty Treatment She Gave The President Guess Which Beauty Treatment She Gave The President
      Can Pink Hair Look Sophisticated? Can Pink Hair Look Sophisticated?
  • CELEBRITY
    • Departments

      Style Evolution Look Of The Day Uptown|Downtown A Look Back

      Featured

      How Donna Summer Helped Me Through College How Donna Summer Helped Me Through College
      PHOTOS: Cameron Diaz's Life In 54 Looks PHOTOS: Cameron Diaz's Life In 54 Looks
      PHOTOS: 27 Stars Who Look More Beautiful Without Makeup PHOTOS: 27 Stars Who Look More Beautiful Without Makeup
  • CULTURE
    • Departments

      Art & Design Film Music Books & Magazines

      Featured

      How Long Does It Take To Become Mrs. Don Draper? How Long Does It Take To Become Mrs. Don Draper?
      5 Things This Hot New Musician Can't Live Without 5 Things This Hot New Musician Can't Live Without
      PHOTOS: SXSW Street Style PHOTOS: SXSW Street Style
  • FASHION WEEK
    • Departments

      Fashion Week Spring 2012 Fashion Week Fall 2012

      Featured

      Fashion Intern Tells All From Behind The Scenes At Two British Magazines Fashion Intern Tells All From Behind The Scenes At Two British Magazines
      Prada's Take On Ombre Prada's Take On Ombre
      The Intern Diaries: Behind The Scenes At A British Magazine The Intern Diaries: Behind The Scenes At A British Magazine
  • VIDEO
  • STYLELIST NETWORK

Venus Williams Wears Nude Shorts, Shocks Tennis Spectators

by Katie Hintz-Zambrano (Subscribe to Katie Hintz-Zambrano's posts)
Posted Jan 25th 2010 at 11:15PM  
245 Comments
Share

Venus shows some skin (or skin-colored undies) while at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Oh, Venus Williams: a woman perfectly capable of making headlines based solely on her outstanding tennis record -- she's won eight grand slam singles titles, plus Olympic gold -- yet, unfortunately, she's decided to take after her catsuit-wearing sister Serena and try to create news in a far less appealing way.

For Williams' fourth round match of the Australian Open, the elder of the two champion siblings decided to thumb her nose at the tournament's new policy banning revealing clothing (enforced after a star Australian player wore a sort of see-through top last year) and don a dress of her own design that featured flesh-colored tennis panties which made it appear as if she was going au naturel, well, down under.

Clearly an intentional move, Williams, who holds a fashion degree, took to her Twitter page to defend the outfit, which also included a flesh-colored panel underneath a yellow dress with a plunging neckline.

"My dress for the Australian Open has been one of my best designs ever! [Ed Note: Hanging out with Andre Leon Talley does not a tasteful "designer" make. Sigh.] Its (sic) all about the slits and the V-Neck," she tweeted. "I am wearing undershorts the same color as my skin, so it gives the slits in my dress the full effect."

Riiiight... because it's ever so important to have your tennis dress mimic a red carpet gown with slits up to there or to trick viewers into believing you're having a Britney Spears crotch-shot moment. Totally the effect you want to go for.

According to the Daily Mail, Williams also went on to explain her outfit -- and thus promote her questionable design skills -- at a press conference.

"This is completely my design. I just sketched it out. The whole idea is just about the illusion that I'm wearing a deep V-neck," she said. "Then the idea was to wear shorts that were like the same color as my skin. It works very well, apparently."

Or not.

What it does, rather, is distract from the dialog of Williams' game (she won in three sets, by the way, and she and Serena are now only a match apiece away from meeting each other in the semifinals) and keep viewers and critics of women's tennis focusing on more petty -- and sort of sexist -- details like the players choices in clothes, jewelry, hairstyles and their grunting habits.

Williams' peek-a-boo design, in addition to the fashion antics of other players, also doesn't help the annoying branding of every young, somewhat good looking player (ahem, Maria Sharapova) as a sex symbol.

As for Venus the "designer" wanting to showcase her fashion line, we'd rather she choose a more appropriate venue -- a fashion show in Miami, perhaps? -- than a grand slam tournament. But maybe that's just us.

Let us know what you think of Williams' ploy in a comment below.
Read All Comments
Filed under: Fashion, Celebrity, News, Celebrity Style
Tags: australian open, AustralianOpen, maria sharapova, serena williams, tennis fashion, Underwear, venus williams, venus williams nude shorts
Share

Style Around the Web

ImaxTree

ImaxTree

  • Make Up Tips For Girls With Glasses - Refinery29
  • How Celebs Work Red Into Their Wardrobe - FabSugar
  • Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions - The Daily Beast
  • Deodorants that Actually Work - Daily Candy
  • Would You Wear Long-Sleeve Shirts As Skirts? - The Frisky
  • Tricks That Guarantee Gorgeous Hair - Daily Makeover
  • Celebs Have Us Seeing Stars - People Style Watch

Related Videos

by 5min
  • Learn About Venus and Serena Williams Learn About Venus and Serena Williams Play These sisters forever changed tennis with their powerful playing styles and unique fashion sense. Learn more about the lives and careers of Venus and Serena Williams.
  • Serena and Venus Williams Make a Racket at Karaoke Serena and Venus Williams Make a Racket at Karaoke Play Serena and Venus Williams are used to their serve on the tennis court, but now the whole crowd is getting served at this karaoke bar in Milan, Italy.
  • Top 10 Curious Facts About Wimbledon Top 10 Curious Facts About Wimbledon Play Find out why tennis balls turned yellow.
  • How to Play Tennis Like Serena Williams How to Play Tennis Like Serena Williams Play Learn how to play tennis like Serena Williams with this tennis lesson. Expert: Angelina Zdorovytska

READER COMMENTS

(245)Add A Comment

K, 1-26-2010, 7:42PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
K

Couldn't have said it better myself Katie. Not sure what article Jason read but it has nothing to do with body image. The bottom line is its inappropriate. There are some things that aren't meant to be broadcast on national TV and the "illusion" of your ass and crotch are two of them. Especially when the word "illusion" is questionable at best. As a volleyball player I have to wear similar tight shorts all the time and when I play on the beach they are pretty much bathing suit bottoms. But I would absolutely refuse to wear anything that gave the illusion of being naked. And we can thank Jason for proving the fact that the only people who would appreciate a woman trying to look naked while playing a sport would be the type of men who enjoy objectifying women as sex objects. Once again the Williams sisters prove that although they have tons of talent they have no class.

Reply »

RhoneAyers, 1-27-2010, 12:23AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
RhoneAyers

I couldn't have said it better.

»

nattylinda, 1-27-2010, 12:23AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
nattylinda

She is by far one of the best tennis players and certainly can wear/create any tennis outfit to wear/endorse. BUT, her choice in the disputed tennis shorts is certainly going to draw attention. She chose the color for reasons stated in her reply to criticism and compliments. Her choice did obviously leave her back-end so clear and defined that all you really see is her butt-crack and the illusion that she is underwear free.

Her tennis skills and winning competitons should be her glory and blessing, not her appearance.

I'll send her some underoos for Wimbleton.

Best of luck, play hard.
Linda

»

Fre, 1-27-2010, 2:59AM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Fre

No class? Wow...that's a bit to the extreme. I say chics with no body or shape will always be jealous, which will lead to a negative comment. Im sure the Williams sisters could careless what any of us think.. hence why she wore what she did. It's funny how if a black girl wears flesh material it demonstrates no class...yet white women where it all the time and I do mean all the time on Dancing with the Stars and the conversation the next day is OMG "she had on the cutest outfit".... If they had a dress code and she broke that code that would be one thing... but they didnt so Stop Hating......

»

Darlene's view, 1-27-2010, 9:18AM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Darlene's view

what makes this any different from gymnastics or women volleyball have you seen those outfits or is it just that there are hardly any black women in these sports that would look that good in something like she has on.

My solution is:I think that all women sports minus the water sports should go back to wearing a uniform that is appropriate like the good old days and there would be no issue.

»

Cesar, 1-27-2010, 1:27PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Cesar

It seems like the author of this article is flat out jealous. I don't see what the big deal is. She's a tennis player and she did not break any rules by wearing that outfit. So why make a big fuss? It just doesn't seem like much news when this type of article is coming from another woman. I'm sorry to say that and it may sound wrong, but women who talk crap about other women always sound like they're just jealous. I'm sure most guys would aggree.....

»

zongo1, 1-27-2010, 2:03PM

1 star vote downvote upReport
zongo1

Who cares what underwear she is wearing. She is an amazing athlete competing in her sport. That's the problem with people, they criticize superficial things when they ignore the big picture.

»

rico, 1-26-2010, 8:14PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
rico

It must have been a really slow news day, or as Shakespeare once said, "Much ado about nothing."

Reply »

chindadoll25, 1-26-2010, 11:43PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
chindadoll25

I agree with you on that

»

Herman Wilson Jr, 1-27-2010, 6:43AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Herman Wilson Jr

Right-on...!!!

»

Alice, 1-28-2010, 9:37PM

1 star vote downvote upReport
Alice

Still looks like a dude no matter what she wears.

Reply »

revivalman, 1-26-2010, 8:18PM

1 star vote downvote upReport
revivalman

Much ado about nothing...and Katie Hintz-Zambrano, who wrote this article, should come down off her high-horse before she falls on her ass.

Reply »

Patric, 1-26-2010, 11:40PM

1 star vote downvote upReport
Patric

Thou are right, she is just jealous she does not have the "bun) and the nice chunky (bam bamm". she is just a flat pancake.

»

Denise Denson, 1-26-2010, 9:30PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
Denise Denson

I always felt too much was displayed anyway when it came to the tennis attaire. But I also understood what the sport entailed and the dress is appropriate. But, there is no reason for the nude display and it looks extremely unbecoming for such women of stature. (Trashy)

Reply »

darrell, 1-26-2010, 8:36PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
darrell

Incidentally I am working on my masters in Mental Health, and I am black.

Reply »

Max Ice, 1-26-2010, 11:23PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
Max Ice

There is no word "whinge" in our common language. What are seeking to express, if anything?

Reply »

ken, 1-26-2010, 8:42PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
ken

What does your statement have to do with this article? My wife is black,she's a nurse,a LPN as a matter of fact. Not only is she a LPN she is currently in school getting her RN license. Oh and one other thing i'm white, I just thought you should know that seeing as how you seem to be the type of person to get mad at a interracial couple....And what does compton have to do with anything? You really should keep your ignorant comments to a minimum or better yet just think them, because you evedentally do not have any type of real manners as far as another race goes. And as far as this article goes, I understand people expect to see traditional white uniforms or what-have-you. But i see it like this, if the woman didn't get suspended or whatever it's called in tennis then i see no problem, yea it might be provocative but what can you really do, just complain and hope someone will see your message?....lol idiots

Reply »

mk, 1-26-2010, 8:44PM

Half a star vote downvote upReport
mk

There was nothing wrong with her attire. Nothing wrong with her wearing her own clothing. she is famous because of her talent as a tennis player not because of her clothing. If she decides to wear her own clothing line thats her choice. what does being a black american have to do with anything. Ignorance and arrogance is so evident in your comment.

Reply »

eric hedberg, 1-26-2010, 9:02PM

3 stars vote downvote upReport
eric hedberg

I'm all for complete nudity at a tennis match!! Why not have NUDE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS??? Why are we so AFRAID of the human body?????

Reply »

Kelly, 1-27-2010, 2:59AM

2 stars vote downvote upReport
Kelly

Hm. Nude tennis. Perhaps a bit titillating, but quite uncomfortable for well-endowed women (or men, for that matter!!). Those poor women would have their mammaries hanging down to their navels in a few years!

»

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments
 
ADD A COMMENT
  • NEW USER
  • RETURNING USERS
  • AOL/AIM USERS

Got something to say? Say it!

Simply enter your name and e-mail address, and you'll receive an email confirming your comment and issuing you a password. Use that password, and you're good to go.

If you already have an AOL/AIM screenname, log in under the other tabs.

Happy commenting, and keep it classy.

Members enter your username and password.

Enter your AOL or AIM screenname and password.

ADVERTISEMENT

STAY IN THE LOOP!

ONLY ON STYLELIST

Sunscreen Dangerous? Experts Shed Light on the Controversy
Beauty
Healthy Beautiful You
Should you be afraid of sunscreen? From natural to chemical to Vitamin A, our experts explain and advise just...
Beauty BasicsMom MakeoversMore Beauty Tips »
Reese Witherspoon's Retro Waves: How to Get the Look!
Hair
Hair Basics
Reese Witherspoon goes retro on the May 2011 cover of Vogue with glamorous '40s-era hair. And we've got pro...
Haircuts by FaceMore Hair Help »
Sample Sale Snitch | Proenza Schouler SS 11
Fashion
Spring
Check out some discounted duds from Proenza today and tomorrow.
Style GuideStyle by BodyMore Fashion Tips »
Look of the Day: Aubrey Plaza & Amy Poehler at the Premiere of
Celebrity
Look of the Day
Both ladies opted for fun, printed frocks -- but each styled their looks much differently.
Look for LessMore Celebrity Tips »

MORE ON Stylelist

Outdoor Decor
Inspiration Create A Getaway Feel For Your Backyard, Patio Or Balcony
City Gardening
Gardening and Landscapes Tips For Growing A Garden In A City
Room Makeover
Know-How 3 Life-Changing Room Makeovers
Weekend Diys
DIY Weekend DIY Ideas: 8 Ways To Fix Up Your Home In 2 Days Or Less (PHOTOS)
Ray And The Ro Ksubi
Stylelist Network Ksubi 'Bad Sports' Lookbook: From The Stylelist Network
Memorial Day Sales
Projects Memorial Day Sales 2012: Home Decor And Outdoor Furniture Sales At Macy's, Sears, Home Depot And More (PHOTOS)

SITES WE LOVE

Meet Fashion's Coolest Moonlighters — & See How They Make It Work

Headphone Stalking! 9 Rad 'Phones From The NY Streets

5 Outfits To Try This Week: Sneakers, Overalls, & More

Get Jordin's Lacy Look For Less

Mary Kincaid: Weekly Roundup of eBay Vintage Home Finds (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: Nicole Scherzinger Almost Reveals Too Much

Carine Roitfeld, Janet Jackson, Karl Lagerfeld, and More at Last Night’s amfAR Gala in Cannes

Natalia Vodianova Was Royal in Blue

Cathy Horyn Deems Mickey Drexler’s Life ‘Not the Stuff of Novels’

Scrub Down: Hadali Detoxifying Body Scrub

Dressed In White: Sophie Theallet Sea Island White Cotton Gown

Patriotic Purse: Edie Parker Red, White and Blue Jean Clutch

Heat It Up: 5 Cool Outfits Inspired by Our Favorite Summer Movies

One Awesome Thing: A Swimsuit to Make You Feel Like a Bond Girl

Look of the Day: Leopard Meets Brights

Kim Kardashian a Kopy Kat?

Priscilla Chan’s Wedding Secret

Mozart Meets the Future

EVEN MORE ON Stylelist

Design
Clean Home
Beauty
Home Design
 
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trademarks
  • Advertise
  • About Our Ads
  • Get AOL
 
 
© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved