Why is Naomi Osaka wearing clothes and a giant bow at the US Open?

When she takes the court on August 27, just before her match against Jelena Ostapenko, one wonders if New York Fashion Week hasn’t started yet. That day, Naomi Osaka wowed the stands at the US Open with a look that was as original as it was visual. she wore a white cardigan, an apple green miniskirt over a white veil, and headphones adorned with Beats beads, frills and bows. A white bow also adorns the black duffel bag she carries over her shoulder, and two small knotted straps hug the back of her Nike sneakers. The highlight of the show, a huge green bow attached to the back of his jacket. Even during pre-game training, the style is there: a pleated skirt and a white ribbon as a belt. Unless she’s playing in this outfit, it’s rare for a professional tennis player to be so dressed up on the sidelines of a competition.

Japanese subculture

This look is signed by equipment manufacturer Nike, and we owe its design to American fashion designer and entrepreneur Yun An. The 47-year-old designer, founder of Tokyo brand Ambush, began collaborating with Nike in 2018 and recently released an eight-piece, vintage-inspired collection for Nike’s women’s line. The capsule collection, whose muse is Naomi Osaka, who signed with the company in 2019. “She sent me some of these gothic lolita looks that she really liked at the time,” Yun An stated. New York Times about this cooperation. And continue. “They (Japanese Lolitas, editor’s note) come out and wear pink, blush, bows, lace. It’s really about embracing the beautiful and feminine side.” In Japan, the Lolita aesthetic is a ubiquitous clothing trend on the streets of Tokyo, characterized by an exaggeration of the “cliché” codes of the little girl’s wardrobe: abundant lace, candy pink and ribbons. It’s enough to please Naomi Osaka of Japan, who wrote on Threads that the outfit was “the best outfit I’ve ever worn.”

This flirty silhouette, worn by Naomi Osaka on August 27, is one of two outfits Yun An designed and the athlete coveted. The green kit is for day games and the black version with impeccable bows is for evening competitions. As he says, a way to boost his confidence before each competition New York Times “For me, the outfit can always do something. It comes down to self-confidence. You wear an outfit, it’s almost like a super suit in a way.” A look reminiscent of the many sensational looks Serena Williams has adopted before her. Like at the 2021 Australian Open, where the 42-year-old broke stereotypes by appearing in an asymmetrical combination.