babble » blogs » Strollerderby
Strollerderby
Venus Williams Short Dress: Trendsetter or Bad Example?
Is the length of her skirt (or lack thereof) appropriate for a family sporting event?
While we learn season after season that despite their tremendous statistics and achievements, athletes are not necessarily the most appropriate role models (Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Michael Vick, Alex Rodriguez, Brett Favre, Michael Phelps and LeBron James, anyone?) for kids. Yet it can be difficult to stop kids from looking up to some sports legends nonetheless.
But what happens when the crime committed by the Heisman Trophy winner, World Series champion, Super Bowl ring wearer or Olympic gold medalist isn’t an extramarital affair (or 15), dog fighting, steroids, sexting, bong hits or an inflated ego? What if the egregious offense is a skirt so short it’s barely discernable from a shirt that, say, your young daughter might ask you if she can wear, too?
Venus Williams considers herself somewhat of a fashion maven. At the U.S. Open in New York last fall, she wore a pink tank dress with fireworks exploding all over it. She proudly said the outfit was supposed to pay tribute to New York and its electric energy. However instead of honoring New York, most in New York snickered that the fireworks literally came up over her underwear. Sometimes she wears short shorts underneath her shockingly short dresses, sometimes she leaves what’s underneath up to the imagination.
She’s putting on a show again this week at the Australian Open. Not just because she’s made it to the second round, but because she’s once again wearing dresses, the hemlines of which are inversely proportional to her age: as she gets older, the dresses get shorter — as Yahoo Sports Chris Chase said so eloquently.
The thing is, Venus Williams actually does have some fashion credentials. She has her own line of clothing — EleVen. But just because her clothes are for sale it doesn’t mean they’re appropriate for everyone (or anyone). After all, chances are you won’t take your 7-year-old shopping for panties at Victoria’s Secret or buy her sweatpants that have “Juicy” written across her butt. Not all styles and brands are OK for everyone.
Why it is that Venus feels the need to wear dresses up to her eyeballs is beyond me and, quite frankly, if and when my toddler ever asks when she’s older for clothes to match her favorite athlete or star, I think I’d tell her that just because we admire someone’s accomplishments it doesn’t mean we need to admire their fashion sense, too — that unless the star is just a flash in the pan, their talent has nothing to do with their wardrobe. And that if she really wants to be like Venus, she needs to take her racket and go hit some balls on the backboard.
Do you think Venus Williams is setting an inappropriate fashion example for young girls?
Image: Wikipedia
Go Back To Strollerderby
22 Comments
[...] google_color_link = "0000FF"; google_color_text = "999999"; google_color_url = "191919"; Fiction Short Story [...]
Fiction Short Story Ideas | Fiction Bookshop commented on Jan 18 11 at 5:27 pm[...] fashion leaders—including top designers, models, and celebrities—have demon more… Venus Williams Short Dress: Trendsetter or Bad Example? – Babble (blog) – blogs.babble.com 01/18/2011 Babble (blog)Venus Williams Short Dress: Trendsetter or Bad [...]
News about Fashion and Latest Treands issue #1 | 7'th World Of Information commented on Jan 18 11 at 9:16 pm[...] Positions:. Comments: (21) from http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2011/01/18/venus-williams-short-dress-trendsetter-or-bad-examp…. [...]
Venus Williams In Short Dress: It Is Candid Camera, Unfortunately | Girls Skirts Reviews commented on Jan 26 11 at 6:00 pmSarah commented on Jan 18 11 at 11:57 amIf she’s wearing shorts underneath it, should we care? This is what she is wearing to compete, not what she is wearing to the corner store. The linked-to yahoo article shows pictures that seem fine to me.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 18 11 at 12:21 pm@Sarah — If what she was wearing was meant to be a tank top and shorts, I’d agree. But since her outfit is meant to be a short dress and panties, I disagree. I think it’s inappropriate.
Gretchen Powers commented on Jan 18 11 at 12:48 pmIf my girl wanted to wear that ON THE TENNIS COURT, I’d be fine with it. If she wanted to wear it to school or dinner, etc., I would not. Context. All that said, I didn’t think the pics on that Yahoo! link looked that flattering. She’s rocked way better looks than this.
Jennifer commented on Jan 18 11 at 1:57 pmI donot see anything wrong with what Venus is wearing. It is not Venus job to be a role model for our kids….we should be our children role model.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 18 11 at 3:10 pm@Jennifer — I never said it was Venus’ job to be a role model, but whether they like it or not, athletes in the spotlight like her are looked up to by many kids.
@Gretchen — I disagree that the tennis courts are an appropriate place for that outfit. But I do agree that she’s worn much more suitable clothing.
JEssica commented on Jan 18 11 at 3:42 pmShe isn’t wearing just panties, she is wearing bloomers which go over the panties and have pockets to hold tennis balls. The bloomers are made of a thick material and usually are made in the same color as the outfit so you cannot discern them from the outfit.
I have less issue with this outfit versus the ones the NFL cheerleaders wear at the NFL games.
Gretchen Powers commented on Jan 18 11 at 3:47 pmBy “better” I don’t mean more suitable…I mean cuter looking! I don’t see a think wrong with this for tennis. I don’t have an issue with anything a grown woman wears. Kids are kids, women are women and role models are such because of their skills not because of what they wear.
GQ commented on Jan 18 11 at 4:17 pmLIFE IS TO SHORT TO BE WORRYING ABOUT HER DRESS. TURN OFF YOUR TV AND MAKE YOUR KIDS READ A BOOK IF YOUR THAT BOTHERED. DAMN!
ALittleShort commented on Jan 18 11 at 4:20 pmYeah, I have seen shorter and racier on cheerleaders (booty shorts with their butt hanging out, and a “top” that just covers the essentials) then what she is wearing. Plus, most women tennis outfits aren’t exactly modest. If the normal dress code for a tennis court was ankle length skirts and long sleeved shirts, then I could maybe see the issue. But from what I have seen, most of the skirts are short, and the tank tops are fitted. They aren’t showing any mid-drift, or if they are, I haven’t seen it. I think picking apart a tennis court outfit is a bit of a stretch.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 18 11 at 4:55 pm@Jessica — As a longtime tennis player, I can tell you those aren’t bloomers that she’s wearing. And Venus has commented in the past that she occasionally chooses a nude color underneath so the “focus” is more on the dress.
@ALittleShort — Maybe you haven’t seen her dresses compared to basic tennis skirts.
@Gretchen — I agree that role models should adults, and their role as a model should be based on their skills. But it’s hard to deny that kids like to look like their role models, not just act like them. That’s often times the starting point for fashion.
JBoogie commented on Jan 18 11 at 8:00 pmI think this article smacks of sexism and quite frankly, an incredibly elitist attitude. “…since her outfit is supposed to be a short dress and panties, I think its inappropriate….as a long time tennis player, I can tell you those aren’t bloomers that she’s wearing.” Umm…your lifetime membership to the country-club is showing. I think Venus is an incredible role model for young women and really, I doubt the color of her panties really matters to the young girls who are working every day to make it in professional tennis. So, instead of finding one more reason to make female athletes feel inferior to their male counterparts, why don’t you give those young girls something to hope for? Like maybe, just maybe, people can finally see past their clothes and just simply recognize them for the freaking blood, sweat, and tears they put in every single day to get to where they are.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 18 11 at 8:18 pm@JBoogie — I think that’s the first time I’ve ever been accused of being sexist and elitist — thanks! You must not know that everyone who plays tennis is wealthy, right? Like, uh, the Williams sisters, who grew up in the projects playing tennis? And like I said, we can’t choose who our kids look up to, but they look up to players with exceptional talents, and I think those like Williams (and the other MEN I mentioned!) all have some responsibility to live up to their part – on and off the court (or field, or pool, or rink, etc.). I think Venus is a great role model, and would be an even better one if she showed she didn’t need to try to grab headlines with her short hemlines.
Snarky Mama commented on Jan 18 11 at 10:05 pmI don’t understand why it’s OK if she calls it a tank and shorts, but not OK if she calls it a dress. All of the same things are still covered, even if she calls it an elephant.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 18 11 at 11:17 pm@SnarkyMama — I guess someone with a daughter can try sending her to school in one of the dresses Venus wore this week and see what happens.
Snarky Mama commented on Jan 19 11 at 12:18 amThat didn’t really clear up why you think if “what she was wearing is meant to be a tank top and shorts” you “agree” it’s fine, but if it’s called a dress, you’re not cool. It’s still the same outfit. If you have a problem, it should be a problem no matter what the outfit is called.
And, she didn’t wear it to school. She wore it on a tennis court.
Meredith Carroll commented on Jan 19 11 at 1:20 am@Snarky Mama — To be honest, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I can tell you that I think she’s setting a poor example and that her accomplishments on the court would be taken more seriously if she dressed more appropriately.
Rod commented on Jan 19 11 at 6:11 amI don’t see what harm Venus Williams outfits are causing apart from making some people feel uncomfortable. If the majority of the public had a problem with the way she dresses then she wouldn’t continue to attract sell out crowds and such large television audiences. She’s ranked number 5 in the world and likely to improve that ranking so the way she dresses is hardly going to stop people from taking her tennis seriously.
Mistress_Scorpio commented on Jan 19 11 at 10:19 amWhy should Venus Williams care to be taken more seriously by the likes of you?
Victoria commented on Jan 19 11 at 3:31 pmi’m not a racist…but her mini outfit and and trying to show more skin is gross…she is not pretty at all and showing more skin takes away the real tennis talent in her.
Add your take:
Note: Babble is a supportive, diverse community. We encourage a range of opinions,
but any unduly hostile comments will be removed.
Comments are delayed up to 15 minutes
Lori Garcia 
Joslyn Gray 
Amber Doty 
Julianna Miner 
Monica Bielanko 
Sierra Black 
Meredith Carroll 
Carolyn Castiglia 
Sunny Chanel 
Madeline Holler 
Rebecca Odes 
Danielle Smith 
Danielle Sullivan 
Katherine Stone 
The Walt Disney Company supports Babble as a platform dedicated to honest, engaged, informed, intelligent and open conversation about parenting. However, the opinions expressed on this site are those of individual parents/writers and do not reflect the views of Disney. In addition, content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or safety advice.
22