Serena Williams on the Vogue World runway during New York Fashion Week

From court to run.

Serena Williams opened the show on the Vogue World runway at New York Fashion Week, wearing a metallic silver Balenciaga gown and a floor-hugging cape.

She was joined by four “ball girls” in white tennis uniforms and holding rackets as a recording of Williams’ memorable 2000 NBC interview played in the background.

“I want people to remember me as the girl who changed tennis or was just able to bring something new to the game,” she said in the video.

Her participation in the event makes sense as Williams announced she is quitting tennis to focus on her family on her cover for the September issue of Vogue; she stands outside the warehouse in a powder blue Balenciaga gown, joined by her daughter Olympia.

While this wasn’t the first moment on the Williams catwalk – she made her debut at the Off-White show in the fall of 2022 following the unexpected death of designer Virgil Abloh – she was joined by some quite important names on the Vogue World catwalk.

Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, Irina Shayk, Lila Moss, Helena Christensen, Shalom Harlow and Karlie Kloss – all took inspiration from the likes of Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Erykah Badu.

Meanwhile, stars including Kanye West, Lori Harvey, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, Keke Palmer, Doja Cat, and Jared Leto all watched from the front row.

Models wore new outfits from the fall / winter 2022 collection of Balenciaga, Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Burberry, Coach, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Diesel, Banana Republic, Tory Burch and many others for a stylish “street fair”, which also included cooperation between iconic New York restaurants and famous brands such as Michael Kors x Katz Deli’s and Banana Republic x Magnolia Bakery.

To end the celebration, Lil Nas X performed his hit song “Industry Baby”.