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French Open:Venus’ outfit creates buzz

posted by Pretty Tough | Girls Who Are Fun Fierce & Feminine
Monday, May 24, 2010 at 8:02pm CDT

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Venus Williams is already making headlines at the French Open — and not just for her play.

In Paris, a city known for fashion, the elder Williams sister took to Court Suzanne Lenglen Sunday for her opening-round match wearing a lacy black corset with spaghetti straps and red trim that created plenty of buzz.

Whistles and whispers circulated through the stands, a reaction brought about not by Venus Williams’ play, but by the outfit Williams designed herself. The fashionista, who has her own line called EleVen , told the press it was all “about illusion” which, she noted is “a lot of my motif this year” when it comes to clothes design.

As Williams ran and jumped her way around the court, the tennis dress — designed to give the illusion of being see-through — was prone to several revealing moments. The black overlay material made the dress appear as if it was see through, even though it was not.

Williams’ outfit is the tennis star’s most talked-about on-court apparel choice since she wore a skimpy green uniform at the Australian Open in January – and that’s saying alot considering some of her other on court fashion picks.

The attire certainly didn’t hamper her play. The No. 2 ranked Williams choreographed a 6-3, 6-3 victory over longtime foil Patty Schnyder in the match.

The red clay of Roland Garros never has been Williams’s best stage — her seven Grand Slam titles have all come at Wimbledon or the U.S. Open. But she is assured of at least one more performance, thanks to her victory over Schnyder.

Williams didn’t mention whether she’d wear the tennis corset again during the tournament. Typically, she says, she comes to a match with eight to 10 outfits.

As play continues at Roland Garros, the women’s field is full of questions. Can Justine Henin emerge victorious at the tournament she once dominated? Are any of the young players ready to break through? And what do YOU think of Venus Williams’ French Open outfit? Check back for all the latest updates.