The W in Designer: WNBA Takes On New York Style Week – WNBA.com
September 19, 2022
A historic 12 months for sports activities stars to deliver their power and wonder to the runway.
Whereas gamers on the Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Solar battled it out within the WNBA Finals, different gamers set their sights on New York Style Week. From September 9 to September 14, unbiased designers and main sportswear manufacturers scheduled thrilling runway exhibits, shows, and hard-to-get-into events. Constructing off of the momentum for vogue from the 2022 season, a number of gamers walked of their first exhibits and have been noticed in extremely coveted front-row seats. Providing a novel alternative for publicity that’s outdoors of the sports activities realm, the most recent iteration of New York Style Week proves that feminine athletes have an plain affect on model.
Traditionally, WNBA gamers haven’t been invited to take part within the excessive vogue world as usually as their male counterparts are. It’s uncommon to search out their presence in previous Style Weeks, other than Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was noticed at exhibits in 2014. As extra designers and types goal to develop the feminine id by means of clothes, it’s a becoming alternative for WNBA gamers to hitch the dialog round vogue lastly. Since designers plan customized fittings for his or her runway, the minor peak variations between the gamers and fashions pattern sizes aren’t noticeable– it’s tough to identify Isabelle Harrison, Katie Lou Samuelson, and DiDi Richards, among the many different fashions.
“The WNBA is essentially the most expressive and progressive league on this planet. The gamers know precisely who they’re and the way they wish to specific themselves. Tunnel outfits helped perpetuate that, and I see gamers’ confidence develop 12 months by 12 months. Their model, their vogue selections, their acutely aware effort to STUNT is dope,” says Ari Chambers, “It naturally lends itself to the blurred line between vogue and sport.” Celebrating the trailblazing high quality of New York Style Week, right here’s a recap of the WNBA gamers (and a broadcaster) with an plain impression on the way forward for excessive vogue and sports activities.
Isabelle Harrison Closes the Kim Shui Runway Present
Making her first runway debut, Dallas Wings participant Isabelle Harrison closes out the Kim Shui Spring/Summer season 23 runway present in a silky costume. Persevering with their relationship, the place Shui created customized outfits for Harrison with the Jordan Model, the dynamic duo reunited on the Grand Terminal Station for a excessive vogue occasion. Though the participant just lately sprained her ankle, she strutted down the runway with an plain sense of confidence whereas carrying Shui’s armored-inspired designs. With every mannequin exhibiting the multidimensional id of the Kim Shui model lady, Harrison brings a uncommon mixture of magnificence and distinctive basketball athleticism.
Katie Lou Samuelson Spreads Positivity at PUMA’s Futrograde Present
Signing a multiyear contract with PUMA in 2019, Los Angeles Sparks participant Katie Lou Samuelson was noticed on the runway for PUMA’s Futrograde present. Exploring PUMA’s sportswear heritage and futuristic functions of expertise, Samuelson was wearing a basic mustard-colored outfit with colourful hair equipment and a pair of white PUMA sneakers. Sitting on the intersection of sports activities and vogue, the present invited Samuelson and different athletes like Usain Bolt and Kyle Kuzma to take part as fashions. Pushing these athletes outdoors of their consolation zones, it’s thrilling to see a sports activities model and its ambassadors in an unfamiliar, critically stylish setting.
Lexie Brown and Michaela Onyenwere Watch DiDi Richards at Dur Doux
Working in partnership with the WNBA, Dur Doux invited DiDi Richards to stroll in its present and Lexie Brown and Michaela Onyenwere to sit down in its entrance row. By elevating athletes to essentially the most visually vital components of its runway presentation, Dur Doux is representing how onerous and delicate qualities can seem in vogue. Based by a novel mother-daughter duo, Dur Doux dressed Richards in a shiny orange maxi costume, gold bangles and seashell hoop earrings. Whereas model DNA lays in Florida’s tropical environments, its free-flowing appears to be like match the elegant vibes of New York Style Week.
Ari Chambers Reps Brittney Griner at KA Originals Runway
Going down at a sunny rooftop in New York’s Soho neighborhood, KA Originals made its Style Week debut. That includes Ari Chambers, an on-camera expertise and co-host of WNBA weekly, as one in every of its fashions, the appears to be like mix founder Kristine Anigwe’s affinity for extremely stylish supplies with sports activities references. As captured by Charles Spears and Derrick Lockett, Chambers wears a backward jersey with Brittney Griner’s 42 quantity with structured leather-based pants and a protracted coat. “There’s one thing so symbolic about elevating Brittney Griner whereas being on an elevated stage throughout Style Week,” shares Chambers. Introduced underneath unbiased designer platform Flying Solo’s programming, KA Originals continues its impartial shade palette with a complete assortment of beautiful appears to be like.
Natasha Cloud Stunts at LUAR and Kim Shui
Operating into Natasha Cloud on the LUAR and Kim Shui runway exhibits, the Washington Mystics participant blends in with New York Metropolis locals with an array of edgy, all-black outfits. Cloud’s pure sense of favor might be seen in the entire participant’s pre-game outfits for this season, and her pleasant character led to epic New York Style Week mingling moments. In addition to exhibiting assist for Harrison on the Kim Shui runway, Cloud used the week to debut streetwear-approved hats like a Prada bucket hat and an attention-grabbing black and white checkered hat.
Charli Collier slays at Sergio Hudson’s assortment launch
Dallas Wings Participant Charli Collier was additionally noticed in New York at Sergio Hudson’s assortment launch in a silky teal outfit. When she was the primary draft choose within the 2021 season of the WNBA, Collier wore a customized Sergio Hudson costume for the digital draft. Persevering with her relationship with the model, Collier brings her pure power and wonder to the model’s occasion. The newest assortment from Sergio Hudson options shiny stable colours in enjoyable shapes like mini clothes and collared blouses that tie on the waist.
WNBA reporter Kirsten Chen writes a way of life & vogue column on WNBA.com all through the season and might be reached on Twitter by means of @hotgothwriter. The views on this web page don’t essentially mirror the views of the WNBA or its golf equipment.
