I truly appreciate fashion on the tennis court. I believe the seed of that affinity was planted in me during childhood, when I spent summer days watching Novak Djokovic matches, the kind that played in every living room where I spent time as a kid, but it certainly became especially pronounced after Jonathan Anderson designed the costumes for Challengers, a film about tennis, and tenniscore took over all our feeds. At first glance, these are simple sports outfits, not much more complex than what we wear to the gym, but tennis actually leaves plenty of room for stylish fashion moments. Even at Wimbledon, where the strict all-white dress code applies, we can always count on some kind of fashion statement, or perhaps even a violation. I am not a huge sports fan, but I always follow tennis tournaments without hesitation, and my favorite players always prove to me that it was worth the time.
Roland-Garros has only just begun, and it has already shown that, alongside exciting matches, we are also in for some great fashion moments. Naomi Osaka, known for her creative and unconventional tennis outfits, has already captured the attention of a global audience in long tennis skirts that almost resemble ball gowns. You will forgive me for being slightly biased, but for me, the best outfit so far still belongs to Novak Djokovic. I no longer associate the brand Lacoste, whose ambassador our tennis player is, solely with sports, but also with great fashion. In addition to presenting collections at the prestigious Paris Fashion Week, the brand is also behind one of the favorite bags in our editorial office, and this time it did not disappoint me either.
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During his match against Perricard, Novak Djokovic wore simple orange shorts and a shirt that perfectly matched the clay color of the Roland-Garros courts. But the charm of his understated outfit actually lies in its layering, in the incredibly detailed and thoughtfully designed jacket the tennis player wore onto the court. The oversized silhouette of the windbreaker adds a touch of chic nonchalance, while the contrasting retro-style trims evoke the tennis court itself. But the trompe l’œil effect does not stop there. The jacket actually features a texture reminiscent of clay, along with numerous details that blur the line between sportswear and high fashion. Sculptural 3D elements and a clay-like finish are present throughout, yet they do not compromise the jacket’s functionality, the most important element when it comes to sports fashion. The most striking detail is certainly found on the back, where a dark outline of a wolf appears, evoking the strength, intelligence, and strategic mindset Novak is known for.
This unusual stylish piece was designed by Pelagia Kolotouros, Lacoste’s creative director, who took over the brand’s creative helm in February 2023, completely transforming its fashion codes. Her creative vision has brought fresh energy to the courts, but also to street style, breaking down the boundaries not only of sportswear, but also of deeply rooted gender conventions. I do not know about you, but I am ready for more great fashion moments from the collaboration between Novak Djokovic and Lacoste, and I believe we will have the chance to see them in the coming days of Roland-Garros.