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In June 2025, L’Officiel Italia selected Venus Williams;  the 45‑year‑old tennis legend, entrepreneur, and designer as one of its cover stars. With photographer Ricardo Abrahao capturing her alongside a top‑tier creative team (editor Giampietro Baudo; fashion director Giulio Martinelli; stylist Luca Falcioni; hair stylist Araxi Lindsey; makeup artist Adam Burrell), it is my opinion this shoot is both a portrait and a statement: a bold confirmation of her evolving persona in the fashion world.

The decision to spotlight Venus is a testament to her established creative influence;  she is  not merely a celebrated athlete, but a tastemaker who commands attention as a designer (EleVen by Venus) and interior visionary (V Starr Interiors). Thus, this isn’t just celebrity cover casting; it’s a deliberate act of branding that amplifies her voice in design, culture, and identity.

The choice of the designers can only be called  A Labyrinth of Luxury, Emerging reports credit labels like Schiaparelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Brunello Cucinelli, Marc Jacobs, Cartier, Alexis Bittar, Pomellato, and Area among her chosen designers

 

Schiaparelli

• Avant‑garde construction and bold surrealist form allow Venus to harness theatrical scale. Expect dramatic lapels, sculptural silhouettes; Schiaparelli transforms her on‑court power into studio theatrics.

Dolce & Gabbana

• With deep Sicilian tailoring roots, D&G brings richness. Think lush floral embroidery and accentuated feminine lines; Venus’ athletic poise juxtaposed against opulent femininity offers refined contrast.
  

Gucci

• Under a creative direction known for maximalism, Venus could don retro‑refined suits or oversize jackets with bold colorplay, blending power and playfulness. Gucci’s heritage prints and eclectic detailing accentuate her youthful spirit and history-breaking ethos.
  

Brunello Cucinelli

• A master of “quiet luxury,” Cucinelli imbues pieces with artisanal softness. Cashmere blends and muted tones likely ground the shoot, offering calm spaces against louder statements.
  

Marc Jacobs

• Eccentric, fashion‑forward, and irreverent, Jacobs’ aesthetic gives Venus license to embrace unconventional color pairings, space‑age textures, or playful references; elements aligning with her “ridiculous, nerdy and artsy” outlook.
  

The jewelry includes Cartier’s classical elegance, Alexis Bittar’s sculptural statement, Pomellato’s architectural Italian flair, and Area’s bold, gemstone‑laden drama, adding layers across both minimal and maximal looks .

Look 1: Ivory Suit and Statement Jewelry

The striking ivory suit  with earrings and rings is a Single‑breasted, assertive shoulders with cinched waist  that gives a nod to 80s power dressing. The ivory hue resonates with Venus’s pure athletic whites, yet morphs it for editorial glamour. Now this clean tailoring balances Venus’s stature,  Trousers likely elongated; jacket stops just below the hip to accentuate height.  The likely luxe wool‑silk blend to hold structure without rigidity; essential for both editorial motion and athletic ease. Oversized earrings in gold or enamel create a bold statement that frames her face. Cocktail rings bring glamour without overshadowing the sartorial balance. Elevated simplicity; all power, no excess. The suit broadcasts confidence, defined by Venus’s commanding presence.

Look 2: Sculpture‑like Schiaparelli Ensemble

This was simply visualized through sculptural lines. The oversized shoulders or structured cape – dramatic yet refined. Potentially neoprene or stiffened wool to hold shape  lapels curve; waist cinched sharply. Likely earthy olive, deep forest hints from the image carousel suggest this hue.  Perhaps a single‑button closure and minimal jewelry to spotlight the silhouette. This look elevates her physical presence and celebrates her sculptural strength, embracing a bold architectural vocabulary.

Look 3: Dolce & Gabbana Romance

Flowers, romantic sensuality, Mediterranean allure. This  midi tea‑length, cinched waist, ruffled details.
Sicilian‑inspired floral or baroque black‑and‑gold accenting Venus’ rich tone. Feminine, with hints of 50s glamour, soft yet defined. This gives a juxtaposition of Venus’s strong frame with delicate florals evokes power in softness — subverting feminine tropes into empowerment.

Look 4: Marc Jacobs Experimental Play

The asymmetrical tailoring, with unexpected colors or sheer layers. Metallics or vinyl for sheen; latex for structure. Embracing a playful edge, this look highlights Venus’s fearless personality and willingness to push boundaries.

Look 5: Brunello Cucinelli ‘Quiet Stone’

Now this is an understated luxury. Slim sweater, soft trousers, tonal palette.  Cashmere, whisper wool. In minimalist elegance, Venus roots the editorial in a relatable, elegant calm. Subtle power dressing strength in understatement.

Now with these designs, if you do anything in modeling  or photo shoots. The hair , makeup and overall presentation must harmonized 

For her hair Araxi Lindsey was brought in to craft bold styles of tall, structured afros or sculptural upstyles echoing runway drama, while Preti and Gauff admired “those hair” Hair becoming sculpture part of fashion’s architecture. Adam Burrell makeup techniques make the looks  play with Venus’s visual story: perhaps glowing skin, softly defined cheekbones, strong brows. Her lips were made nude or coral; eyes neutral yet accentuated with subtle eyeliner and mascara. This balance enhances texture and color without overt boldness complementing dramatic hair and tailoring.
Now when I look at the line up, it explores a curated story arc: assertive suiting → sculptural drama → soft romance → playful modernity → understated chic — giving a full spectrum of Venus’s personality.

Venus’s evolution from white-clad champion to refined muse reflects athletic grace entering high fashion: she treats every piece like a match  expecting the same precision and poise. Her design studies, critiques of craftsmanship , runway presence, and even walk at Vogue World underline her deep integration into fashion culture.

Her comment, “Beauty is a powerful form of self-expression… not about perfection but confidence”  reframes fashion as radical self-authorship. Each look succeeds not for mere aesthetics, but for how it amplifies her inner strength, the kind typically reserved for champ mentality.

It was clear to me;  that mixing heritage houses with modern, edgy brands, Venus signals her allegiance to both tradition and innovation. Schiaparelli and D&G echo Italian couture; Gucci nods to maximalist revival; Marc Jacobs and Area lean into global fashion-forward narratives. The choices mirror Venus’s layered identity: rooted, boundary‑breaking, and future-forward. Ricardo Abrahao’s imagery  navigates lighting that carves out Venus’s form  illuminating structure, texture, and complexion. His lens has captured the interplay of light against wool and cashmere and the shine of hardware against her skin.

Stylist Luca Falcioni composes looks that honor each designer’s integrity, while ensuring progression and variation across frames. Hair and makeup weave a seamless narrative: fierce hair, neutral but impactful makeup  allowing each garment’s silhouette to breathe.

L’Officiel Italia positions itself as “the Bible of high fashion” . Featuring Venus isn’t accidental: it underscores the alignment of her personal design integrity with the magazine’s vision.

This coverage echoes previous athlete–cover moments (e.g., Serena with Jacquemus, Venus with Lacoste and Paper Magazine). But here, the implicit message is clearest: Venus is no longer just a muse, she is fashion direction. Her clothing line, her style voice, and editorial control align her with icons like Naomi Campbell or Twiggy  figures both of sport and design. At 45, Venus breaks age boundaries. At her age and height, she defies conventional beauty limits in fashion. Her presence contests narratives that youth and slender shapes dominate editorial culture. Instead, she introduces the refined confidence of lived experience. She has also generated influence beyond her athletic victories, Venus shapes lifestyle, health, fashion, and design discourse. Her voice expands conversation: fashion is for all bodies, all genders, all careers a democratizing ethos.

Public acclaim from younger stars like Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka  positions Venus as a role model in dual spheres of sport and fashion  admired both on clay courts and magazine pages.

Now I think she Draw from  her fashion education and designer eye , Venus likely selected pieces defined by:

Premium fabrication: cashmere blends, sculptural neoprene, weighty brocades, Tailoring precision: exact button placements, crisply angled lapels, clean hemlines  essential for magazine teeth, Color palettes: ivory, earth tones, jewel details ensure her skin tone is prominent while giving editorial depth, and texture layering: matte luxe wool next to glossy accessories; soft knits meet sculptural shapes  each juxtaposition intentional.

Each photo gave the narrative Arc & photo sequence and all of this unfolds visually, setting her as both muse and creator, anchor and innovator.

1. Power Suit – Venus as established titan.
   
2. Architectural Statement – Meta athletic super-structure.
   
3. Romantic Softness – Grace in vulnerability.
   
4. Playful Modernity – Youthful reinvention.
   
5. Quiet Elegance – Mature sophistication.
   

As I look at these photos, the tantalizing display of this fashion buffet. These are my wins

• Cultural resonance: The editorial mirrors Venus’s trajectory of athleticism evolving into creative authority.
  
• Styling balance: Structural silhouettes and soft femininity are staged with precision.
  
• Accessorizing: Jewelry choices layer meaning  from Cartier’s heritage to Area’s boldness reinforcing luxury depth.
  

I have only two questions

• Contextual environment: Are the settings visually neutral like studio, or do they nod to tennis roots? More spatial storytelling (e.g., court references) could deepen connection.
  
• Narrative storytelling: Beyond modern looks, could the shoot have included Venus’s own designs from EleVen? Full self‑representation would amplify her agency.
  

This L’Officiel Italia cover is far more than editorial flutter. It’s a manifesto: Venus Williams is both subject and auteur of her aesthetic narrative. Her stylistic autonomy  guided by her education, brand building, athletic discipline, and design lens shines through.

The shoot threads athletic discipline into couture’s highest echelons. It asserts that strength is elegant, maturity is fresh, and courage is stylish. Each tailored tux, sculptural drape, floral whimsy, or cashmere calm doesn’t land awkwardly: it’s earned, embodied, legitimate.

As a lover of fashion and its nuance I saw  Venus’s voice in every thread

• Aesthetic integrity: Not dressing like a star, but as one who lives in design.
  
• Boundary dismantling: Gender norms, athlete stereotypes, ageism  all reconfigured through Venus’s posture, poise, and sartorial intelligence.
  
• Legacy forward: This cover isn’t nostalgia-feeding  it’s pioneering: tennis meets  design to influence  and artistry.
  

In an era when celebrity covers can feel formulaic, Venus Williams’ L’Officiel Italia feature delivers radical authenticity, a “powerful form of self-expression” dressed in couture threads . As she captioned, “Made it l’officiel”  and indeed, L’Officiel just made fashion history again, with Venus at its center.

Acknowledgements

• Cover team: Ricardo Abrahao; Giampietro Baudo; Giulio Martinelli; Luca Falcioni; Araxi Lindsey; Adam Burrell
  
• Designers: Schiaparelli, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Brunello Cucinelli, Marc Jacobs; Jewelry: Cartier, Alexis Bittar, Pomellato, Area
  
• Venus Designer, entrepreneur, fashion icon, and trailblazer