Thursday November 5, 2009
Serving up aces
By S. INDRAMALAR
Tennis sensation Maria Sharapova proves that her sense of style extends beyond the court with her collaboration with designer Cole Haan.
WHEN 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won her first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2004, the world sat up and took notice. It was just her second outing at Wimbledon and the tall Russian took down top-seeded, two-time defending champion Serena Williams in straight sets, no less. She was also the third youngest women’s winner at Wimbledon and the only Russian to win the title.
Short buckle boot The media was all over Sharapova. In Britain, The Sunday Times declared: “A Star is Born”; The Independent said she was “the Queen of Wimbledon 2004 with the whole world at her feet” while The Observer referred to her as “a Russian miracle”.
At the same time, the 185cm tennis ace was also making headlines with her striking model looks, and her fashion styling both on and off the tennis courts.
She wasn’t just a good player. She was one with style.
Pretty soon, Sharapova was being courted by top fashion designers and magazine editors, and featured in numerous fashion campaigns and spreads.
a handbag in soft gold Among others, she was featured in Sports Illustrated’s 2006 swimsuit issue and was named “hottest athlete in the world” for four consecutive years by Maxim.
Sharapova isn’t the first athlete to moonlight as a fashion model/muse but the 22-year-old Russian is dead set on having a life outside the tennis courts.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph some time back, Sharapova shared: “The best thing about my life is that I’ve had the opportunity to do many more things that I wouldn’t have done if I was just in school or something. I absolutely love that because if it was just ‘tennis, tennis, tennis’ I would get mad.”
Because of her love for fashion, it’s no surprise that Sharapova eventually chose to dabble in designing.
The tennis ace recently collaborated with renowned American fashion brand Cole Haan and sports brand Nike to come out with a Maria Sharapova Fall/Winter 2009 Collection for Cole Haan.
The collaboration is particularly significant, Sharapova says in her e-mail reply.
“This collaboration has been really special since day one because Cole Haan really gave me the freedom to help them design pieces that are functional and reflective of my personal style.
“He made sure that the best materials were used, and the styles used innovative technology to make them highly functional. The main idea is that the pieces are versatile, yet fashion forward and perfect for everyday use,” she explains.
The alliance with Cole Haan was facilitated by Nike, which the tennis ace has worked with since she was 10. Cole Haan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc.
“I was able to meet Cole Haan through my other sponsor, Nike. Cole Haan’s attention to quality and craftsmanship, as well as style was important to the collaboration,” shares the Siberian-born Sharapova, who lists New York designer Marc Jacobs among her favourite designers. Her designs, she says, reflect her youth and her lifestyle – active, constantly on the move but still very, very stylish.
She adds: “My inspiration for the collection was my own lifestyle, and those of other young women around the world. We lead busy lives and need versatile pieces that are both stylish and functional.
“It’s my hope that other young women will embrace the spirit of the collection; it’s fun, chic, fashionable and more importantly, it’s able to take you from day to night.”
The collection of handbags and footwear is quite comprehensive: from hobos to clutches, chic ballerinas and flat boots to sexy short boots and sandals with lace-up and leather strap details. It promises to have a far-reaching appeal.
Combined with new refinements to Nike’s air technology, the range is truly in the forefront of both style and technology.
Imagine an ultra trendy shoe that boasts a “non-pressurised, ambient pocket of air” which will make it softer and totally comfortable to walk in.
Though she admits to following fashion trends, Sharapova vows that she doesn’t believe in compromising on comfort just to be en vogue.
“I think fashion that combines comfort and functionality are important for everyday life. Fashion trends can be fun, but I choose the trends that I like and feel comfortable wearing.
“The shoes in this collection incorporate Nike Air technology, which makes even the stiletto style comfortable. I think young women should see fashion as a way to express their own sense of style,” she says, adding that her favourite pieces in the collection are the Air Bacara ballet shoes and the Air Sarafina over-the-knee boots.
“The ballet shoes work with everything and the boots are flats – which is great because I’m so tall,” says Sharapova, adding that her personal style is “anything stylish and chic”. Among the stand-outs from the collection are the Air Bacara Ballet Flats – available in four gorgeous variations (estate blue patent, plumeria patent, black patent and soft gold metallic) – the flats have a pretty lace-up detail at the back to add a hint of playfulness to the overall elegance of the shoe; the Air Milano tall boot – a fitted black boot that’s sleek and designed in two tones (soft suede and luxe oiled vachetta) with four shiny gunmetal locking buckles on the sides; the Air Milano short boot which is an artisan boot, also in soft suede and oiled vachetta leather but with 11cm (4 1/3-inch) heel and the glamorous Air Milano sandal in gold metallic and black snake-embossed leather.
The collection also boasts a variety of bags that range from stylish hobos – the Maria N/S hobo in black lambskin screams understated style and functionality with cleverly concealed pockets for your phone, PDA and IPod – to cute satchels. The Maria Small Triple Zip Satchel comes in soft gold, black nylon, black lambskin, estate blue nylon and plumeria nylon (that’s purple, in case you’re wondering); and the convertible clutch comes with a chain strap that’s easily concealed in soft gold.
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