Serena Williams Is Jumping on the Animal Bag Train

Serena Williams’s debut Haute Couture Week ensemble was a love letter to man’s best friend: the dog.

It was an extravagant apple-red look from Thom Browne, which the tennis legend wore to sit front row at the brand’s Fall 2024 couture show in Paris on Monday.

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The fit was part preppy, part coquette, and part business. At its core, it was composed of a bright red suede corset top embroidered all over with little white dachshunds, plus a matching pleated miniskirt. But in what can only be described a master class in layering, Williams wore the top over a white-and-pink striped button-up, and pulled the shirt out from over the skirt, adding a frilly, peplum-esque detail to the look.

Julien M. Hekimian//Getty Images

And that was not all. The 23-time Grand Slam winner fastened her shirt collar with a red-and-white plaid tie, which she tucked into her corset, and draped over her shoulders a crocheted coat with a mixed striped-and-plaid pattern.

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The athlete and designer continued the kooky, romantic flare with some lacy white socks, which she wore with a pair of black oxfords-turned-heels. She added some shimmer with large white diamond studs and a blue diamond ring, but the true heart of the outfit was her vibrant red leather Thom Browne Hector bag. The statement accessory was inspired by the designer’s own beloved dachshund, Hector, and quickly became a brand staple after its 2016 debut—even heralding a wave of animal-shaped designer bags. The fun piece retails for about $2,920.

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Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper's Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets. 

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