Maria Sharapova is the muse of my Fashion Retrospections, so I can’t skip doing an overview of her Nike outfits in 2019, even though the always-stylish Russian is now ranked as low as No.131 and played only eight tournaments in the season behind us.
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Sharapova’s first event of the season was the Shenzhen Open, where she sported the Nike Winter Maria Slam Tank and the wrap-style Nike Winter Maria Premier Skirt with asymmetrical colorblocking.
For the first time since early 2010 Sharapova chose a printed design. I call her Australian Open dress a “cloud dress”, because the blue print looks like a bright sky, while it’s official name is the Nike Spring Maria Dress.
The elegant Nike Summer Maria Dress was Sharapova’s choice for the Mallorca Open in June. The top of the floral design is very simple, sleeveless, with zipper at center back. The knot at the left side of the waist is a design feature we don’t often see in the WTA attire and it’s also interesting that the skirt is asymmetric only at the front, as it is extended at the side where the knot is.
Masha gave us an insight into the creative process behind this item:
At Wimbledon, the former world No.1 wore a white dress with cutouts below chest and on the back.
The Russian’s customized tennis shoes featured her signature and five x’s representing her five Grand Slam titles.
At the Rogers Cup in Toronto, we saw Masha in a light blue version of her Wimbledon dress.
In Cincinnati, Sharapova wore the engineered V-neck Nike Fall Maria London Seamless Dress, which, as the name suggest, was expected to be her choice for Wimbledon. This shade is called topaz mist, while the design also exists in light purple and in white.
Sharapova’s eighth and final tournament in 2019 was the US Open, where she lost in the first round to Serena Williams, showing the night version of her glamorous Nike Fall Maria NY Dress for the duration of just one match. The item is made from textured stretchy jersey fabric and is gathered at the waist. Mesh panels on the chest and upper back are there to increase ventilation, while a contrast zipper provides easy on and off.
Even though Masha didn’t have a chance to debut the orange version of this dress at Flushing Meadows, we did see it on her in an Evian water commercial with Madison Keys.
How would you rate Maria’s 2019 tennis fashion year? What is your favorite dress? Mine is the New York dress, both the night and day versions are beautiful.
Overall I love both the RG and US open dresses.
These designs have the glamour and femininity that Maria known for.
The US open dresses look like party dresses.
And I love the fact that you featured Maria shoes as well :).
Fun fact, Maria is not wearing the official Nike vapor X, she is wearing a customed vapor 9 designed with vapor X exterior (just like Federer).
Ive been observing her shoes, and the sole is the vapor 9’s sole.
Ian, Maria didn’t play RG this year. You mean the floral dress from Mallorca? Thanks for the note about the shoes. I know that, it was confusing me, so some time ago I asked Tennis Warehouse and they explained her shoe model to me.
Wasn’t Maria’s dress at Mallorca originally intended for RG? Looks a bit heavy. I like most of her 2019 dresses though. Can’t wait to see her 2020 collection. Hope there’s more color into it.
Sally, you’re right, I also thought it was her RG dress: https://womenstennisblog.com/2019/04/27/sharapova-dress-roland-garros-wimbledon/ As for her 2020 fashion, here are two looks that are said to be intended for the Australian Open: https://womenstennisblog.com/2019/12/26/sharapova-nike-dress-ausopen2020/