“I Feel Honored and Grateful”—Serena Williams on Getting Her CFDA Fashion Icon Award

On Monday evening, tennis pro and fashion star Serena Williams was honored with the prestigious CFDA Fashion Icon Award—a prize that has also honored Zendaya, Naomi Campbell, and Rihanna in the past. Accepting her trophy in a custom Thom Browne look, Williams certainly looked the part. “I feel so honored and grateful,” Williams told Vogue of receiving the accolade. “I had an amazing evening celebrating all of the honorees and winners, and to be celebrated among them feels really special. To have my dear friend Kim Kardashian present to me is something I’ll always remember.”

While Williams has often been recognized for her skills on the tennis court, the star has also proven she has an eye for style on the red carpets (see all of her best looks here). Looking back on her many fashion moments—several of which have been served at the annual Met Gala—William says experimenting with her style has been a fun adventure. “My style has grown and evolved throughout my career, but I’ve always tried to stay authentic to myself and have fun along the way,” Williams says. “I think my playfulness and confidence in that was something other people could see themselves in too.”

Photo: Menelik Puryear

Williams’s custom Thom Browne outfit for the night was certainly all of those things. The design included a corseted dress covered in hand-embroidered black sequins, as well as a black satin stole with organza and pearl embellishments. “I loved the fabric so much—if you know me, you know I love black and I love sparkle,” says Williams. “The beaded sleeves were playful yet flattering. I loved the modern play on a classic black dress corset, and the gorgeous David Yurman jewels to complement the neckline.”

Of course, wearing Thom Browne was also an intentional choice for Williams. She wanted to acknowledge the chairman of the CFDA, and sport an iconic American designer. “When I saw the sketches of this dress, I was absolutely blown away,” says Williams. “Thom’s ability to play with silhouettes, fabrics and textures makes his style so unique. He really understood my body and he celebrated it—I felt glamorous and special, and am really grateful we had the chance to collaborate.” As for Williams’s favorite part of the night? It wasn’t the dressing up—rather, the delicious fare served inside the event. “The chicken pot-pie was to die for!”

Below, a closer look at Williams’s Thom Browne look.