Venus Williams Brings Emerald Elegance to Met Gala

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Photo credit: Getty/Venus Williams Instagram

Venus Williams brought emerald elegance to Manhattan’s Met Gala.

Former world No. 1 Venus Williams made a striking return to the annual Met Gala wearing a Lacoste “kelp green” dress and dramatic robe inspired coat. The haute couture creation was designed by Pelagia Kolotouros.

The 44-year-old Venus is a Lacoste brand ambassador.

In a release, Lacoste said the design is based on multiple inspirations. 

“[Venus’] Met Gala look, imagined by Lacoste, drew from key figures central to the theme—from André Leon Talley’s flair to Joséphine Baker dubbed the “Black Venus”, ” Lacoste said in a statement. “Designed in a kelp green as a nod to the brand’s heritage, the silhouette plays with volume and delivers a bold interpretation of the evening’s dress code: Tailored for You.”

Four-time Olympic gold-medal champion Venus shared some behind-the-scenes images of the night in New York City on Instagram. 

“I’m so excited to be back at the Met Gala this year, especially with Lacoste for their incredible debut,” Venus Williams said. “Collaborating with Pelagia on this custom look made the night even more special. We’ve worked together for years, and this felt like such a full-circle moment.

“I’m honored to represent a brand that I admire so much on a night that celebrates creativity, history, art and fashion.”

Embed from Getty Images

Lacoste shared these details of Venus’ Met Gala dress:

First, a piqué-inspired embroidery applied on the polo collar and placket of a contoured bodysuit -crafted by Atelier Baqué Molinié, a Paris-based textile design studio renowned for its embroidery expertise.

The tailored cloth is embellished with no fewer than 1,500 pierced crystals, 1,500 sequins, 2,800 Toupies, and 11,200 round beads.

The tailored silk wool blend skirt with sunburst-pleated flaunts movement, short in the front and long in the back —requiring 30 meters of fabric, skillfully handled by Lemarié. This latest high-profile collaboration reinforces the close relationship between Lacoste and the historic French maison d’art, founded in 1880 and famed for its pleating expertise.