With three Grand Slam titles to her name and 17 weeks spent at number 1 in the world, Maria Sharapova is probably the best Russian tennis player of all time and one of the most loved and popular champions this game has ever created. Since bursting out on the scene with her sensational Wimbledon success at the age of 17, Maria was constantly in the limelight. Acknowledging her immense potential, Nike were quick to sign her off, but once she has proved her tennis credentials, the partnership grew and in 2010, an eight years renewal of the deal was worth, according to the Guardian, $70m (£43m). Additionally, special attention was always put in creating Sharapova's on court persona. Helped by an unique wardrobe, the Russian quickly established herself as one of tennis' most genuine fashionistas.
Through the years Maria featured a pocketful of unique outfits. What I really like about her is that she's not afraid of taking risks and she's always standing by her choices. With her tremendous fashion sense, she's developed a coherent style for her. Moreover, she's allegedly planning to launch her own collection of accessories following on the footsteps of Venus Williams and proving that nowadays, tennis player can successfully manage multiple careers.
Below are the most memorable Sharapova looks, beginning with my favourite outfits and ending with the ones that failed to impress me.
Below are the most memorable Sharapova looks, beginning with my favourite outfits and ending with the ones that failed to impress me.
No.1 - The 2006 'Audrey Hepburn' dress. Under the nightlights of a packed Arthur Ashe Arena, the Russian glowed in this classy LBD, beating her opponent (i.e. the Belgian Justine Henin) in straight sets. Before the final, Maria was considered the underdog. However she not for once looked like that on court. By winning her first US Open title she thought us an important lesson: always dress big for big moments. Sometimes, the trick might pay off.
No.2 - 'French Chiffon'. Maria's love affair with clay has yet to produce a happy ending, Roland Garros being the only Slam to elude her. However, if she cannot impress the audience with her clay-court game, the Russian made a habit of mesmerizing them with her looks. For Sharapova, the French Open is all about chiffon and her 2007, 2009 and 2010 outfits are clear indications of this pattern. Considering the venue is Paris, the capital of haute-couture, her choice is utterly suited. I really like these three dresses, and the 2009 (i.e. the second one left-right, top-bottom) in particular, as they bear a strong Sharapova trademark, they are unique and in the end they create a coherent style.
No.3 - 'Back to school' outfit. Sharapova showcased this cool school uniform while playing at the 2007 WTA Tour Championships in Madrid. Although it didn't get her the title, the Russian once again lived up to the expectations, making another smart fashion choice. For an indoor event held in early November, Maria's deux-piece was by far the highlight of the tournament.
No.4 - 'Pushing the edge'. After winning the title in 2004, Maria's ride at Wimbledon was kind of a roller-coaster. However, she always liked to push the boundaries and dared the conservative English crowd with her outfits. The best testimony lies in the see-through blouse tied with a pair of shorts she wore in 2008 which caused an instant commotion. The same happened with her 2009 blazer.
No.5 - The 'Princess from Down Under'. A year after her humiliating defeat to Serena Williams in the final of the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova was back to regain her honour and her fashion credentials. Wearing a classy white dress, the Russian went all the way to securing her third Grand Slam title. In this case, less was more.
No.7 - 'Lines', during the 2009 American hard-court season
And now the oops:
No.1 - 'Too much and to no avail'. During the 2010 Australian Open, Maria Sharapova showcased this elaborated dress with so much things going on. Unfortunately for the Russian, her fashion failure was backed up with an even more significant loss, in her first round match to compatriot and fashion rival, Maria Kirilenko.
No.3 - The 'Glittering' red dress & the accompanying see-through blazer. Compared to the black version, this dress is way too precious for a tennis court and the blazer is a bit too far-fetched. This time around, too much was just too much.
No.4 - The 'I'm Confused' dress. I was puzzled by the dress she wore at the 2007 Australian Open. Although I like the design, I cannot figure out why she felt the need to add the drawing on the side of the dress. The outfit looks more coherent when she has the blazer on as this also includes the drawing, but even so I would say this is a no.
No.5 - The 'Dull' dress. At the Australian Open 2011, Sharapova wore this Nike outfit. I was a bit disappointed with her choice as it seems just dull. Although it's perfect for a tennis match and it might be appealing to most of the players, it's way too dull for her standards. Nothing creative, nothing edgy, nothing out of the ordinary. I hope she has more tricks on her sleeve for the remaining of the season.
photos: GETTY IMAGES
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar