Does Coco Gauff X AE Collection signal pickleball street wear collabs on the horizon?
WTA World No. 3 Coco Gauff recently partnered with clothing brand American Eagle Outfitters to create a limited-edition collection.
It features a lot of 90's style denim, which instantly brings back memories of the iconic outfit that Serena Williams wore at the 2004 US Open.
The collection features pleated denim mini skirts, high-waisted distressed baggy jeans, and denim corsets, but the real standout item is the oversized graphic denim jacket.
Gauff also shares her favorite AEO items, including bodysuits, tube tops, blazers, and hand bags. The style can be described as utilitarian and business casual, with a little bit of 90's flare.
It’s no secret that tennis fashion is far more developed and refined than pickleball fashion right now, but this collab made me wonder if something similar was on the horizon for America's fastest-growing sport?
After all, there are quite a few prominent fashion figures in pickleball. Genie Bouchard, Parris Todd, Hurricane Tyra Black, and Anna Leigh Waters are prime examples of players who, like Gauff, boast incredibly style both on and off the court.
As pickleball grows in popularity and some players become household names, I could definitely see pros and established clothing brands come together on a regular basis.
While quite a few pickleball athletes are already sponsored by the likes of Alo Yoga and FILA, for example, and serve as brand ambassadors as well, I love that American Eagle sought out Gauff to influence street wear instead of athletic wear.
Gauff could’ve easily collaborated with American Eagle’s athletic wear sub-brand, Aerie, on a project, but the company wanted Gauff to put her stamp on jeans, sweater tank tops, and trendy accessories.
I absolutely see a future where clothing brands outside of athletic wear join the picklesphere and collaborate with someone like Waters. If any of our Best Dressed regulars had a collab, I’d add every piece to my online shopping cart immediately!
Honestly, my dream collaboration would be Gucci and Leigh Waters creating a pickleball-themed tracksuit.
I’ll start saving my money to buy one. It’s not a want, it’s a need.
Which pickleball pro would you love to see score a brand collection like Gauff? Let us know on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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