Naomi Osaka made a striking entrance at Roland Garros on Monday, wearing a custom gold lamé tennis dress that drew immediate acclaim from British fashion houses. The four-time Grand Slam champion, known for her bold off-court style, selected a design by Japanese label Nike, but the garment’s clean lines and restrained opulence resonated with London’s tailoring tradition.
Savile Row tailors and fashion editors noted the dress’s structural precision: a high neckline, cap sleeves, and a flared skirt that moved with athletic economy. “It’s a masterclass in controlled glamour,” said one veteran style commentator. “No frills, no distraction. The gold speaks for itself.”
Osaka herself said little about the outfit in her post-match press conference, focusing instead on her straight-sets victory. But the tennis world took notice. Social media images of the 25-year-old warming up in the golden dress were shared widely, often accompanied by comparisons to Wimbledon tradition.
British fashion houses, including Burberry and Erdem, issued statements praising the outfit as a “modern classic”. Burberry’s chief creative officer said the dress “captured the essence of sport meets sophistication”, while Erdem’s founder called it “a beautiful nod to the power of understatement”.
The outfit is part of a broader trend at this year’s French Open, where players are using fashion to make cultural statements. Osaka herself has used her platform to address mental health and social issues. But today, the gold dress was a quiet, confident assertion of style without commentary.
Analysts suggest the dress could influence future tennis kit design, moving away from bright colours and logos toward more tailored, elegant silhouettes. “This is soft power in action,” said one fashion historian. “It says authority, calm, and control.”
Osaka’s performance on court mirrored that tone. She cruised through the first round with minimal fuss, her game matching her attire in directness and efficiency. The gold dress may yet become the defining image of this year’s tournament. For now, it stands as a testament to the power of precise, unadorned elegance.
