Serena Williams’ Balmain rose dress blooms with powerful hidden meanings

When it comes to modern yet multi-dimensional style, few can rival Serena Williams. Over the years, the tennis icon’s off-court looks have varied between simple, sporty and completely glamorous aesthetics. Yet there’s always been a playful yet powerful air to Williams’ clothes that make them her own—just like her recent appearance at Paris Fashion Week.

At the Balmain Women’s Fall/Winter 2024 show, Williams arrived at Pavillon Cambon wearing a black knitted dress that paid homage to the classic rose with a floral pattern. The sleeveless style featured white trim at the neckline, the aforementioned flowers with a large central graphic, and Williams wore a black coat draped over her shoulders for an easy-going look.

For a whimsical style, Williams donned a pair of square-toe black open-toe leather sandals with plaid woven straps. Smooth leather rose accents add a dramatic edge to the shoe, blooming outward for a garden-like feel. While the shoes certainly stood out, they also added a theme to Williams’ Olivier Rousteing-designed androgynous look, making her look decidedly “La Vie en Rose.”

Williams’ dress taps into the rosette fashion trend that’s been popular in recent seasons. 3D floral patterns have taken root, with Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Meghann Fahy and Natasha at this year’s awards shows and fashion shows The pattern has been seen on celebrities such as Natalie Portman.

However, William’s beautiful moment also had a more symbolic tone. Historically, the flower has been a symbol of courage, beauty, romance, rebirth and honor – as evidenced by its presence in ancient Roman, French and English culture, where it was used in perfume, decoration and ornamentation. Even love potions. In a more modern example, the Met Gala 2024 theme emphasizes the transformative nature of flowers.

These values ​​of bravery and audacity apply to Balmain, too: The French fashion house highlighted roses in its spring/summer 2024 collection, which just days after pieces were virally stolen from its runway last September Roses are introduced.