Tonight at the 2024 Met Gala, Serena Williams proved once again that she’s as much of a force on the famed Met steps as she is on the tennis court.
Over the years, the tennis star has marked the first Monday in May with various standout looks—from a dramatic ombré feather cape and jumpsuit in 2021, to last year’s floor-length black gown. This time around, Williams collaborated with Balenciaga on a dress inspired by look 52 from the house’s 51st couture collection—presented in 2022 and echoing pieces from the Balenciaga archives. Creating the gown was no small feat: The atelier dedicated 150 hours to pattern-making and crafted the couture piece from 25 meters of gold foil-laminated taffeta sourced from Italy.
Photo: Courtesy of Balençiaga
Photo: Courtesy of Archives Balenciaga Paris
“It’s truly been an honor to collaborate with the talented Balenciaga team on such a memorable and glamorous piece,” Williams tells Vogue of the dress, which features an ethereal sash that forms a train. “This gown represents a collective effort to create something truly extraordinary, and I am immensely proud to be the one to showcase it.”
Styled by Kesha McLeod, Williams accessorized with black gloves and Messika jewlery. In keeping with “The Garden of Time” dress code, she wore an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch. “I love how the sand gold color plays off my dress and how its tone changes depending on the angle and light,” she says. Hairstylist Angela Meadows adorned Williams’s long, blonde hair with a gilded floral hair accessory by Lelet NY. When it came to beauty, makeup artist Renny Vasquez reached for WYN, the brand Williams founded earlier this year. The two settled on a look marked by shimmery eyes and a matte lip.
For Williams, who has spent much of her adult life attending high-profile events, the Met Gala is particularly meaningful. “Attending the Met Gala while pregnant with Olympia in 2017—and just last year with Adira—will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says. “Embracing my pregnancy on the red carpet allowed me to feel empowered and radiant, while sharing the beauty of motherhood. I also just love to think that both my girls have been with me to the Met Gala!”
Ahead, a look at how Williams got ready for the 2024 Met Gala.