Naomi Osaka May Be a Tennis Star, But She Ruled New York Fashion Week, Too
Despite what you're told growing up, you don't have to settle for just one career. Doctors can be bloggers, actors can be singers, and athletes can design some pretty cool pieces of clothing.
Take Naomi Osaka, for example. While the tennis star has made quite the name for herself on the court, she recently added the title of designer to her resume. During New York Fashion Week, Osaka showed off her collaboration with the brand Adeam and even attended a few fashion shows for the first time.
Luckily, Osaka was able to take InStyle along for the ride to get an inside look into her fashion week adventures. She revealed her getting ready process, why she chose the outfits she did and shared some highlights from her week.
What was the vibe like when getting ready?
"Vincent Oquendo, who does my makeup, was the resident DJ, and we played a mix of soul and R&B while getting ready. Since getting glammed up isn't part of my everyday job, we like to take days like this lightly and have a ton of fun together. For hair, Sacha Breuer, and I wanted to play with different looks you don't normally see on me. From braids to wavy, to straight and long, we really wanted to complement each look with a different hair look. You don't get to attend NYFW every day, so for us, it was about really exploring different sides."
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What were you snacking on?
"I started my NYFW journey with my own Adeam collection and started that day with smoked salmon on a bagel, so that trend continued for day 2. I love smoked salmon its one of my favorite morning meals. In Japan, fish for breakfast is a staple, so its something I am used to and starts my day off. Hats off to the Langham Hotel - loved the room service."
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What types of outfits did you wear?
"I worked with Law Roach for this NYFW, and we had a blast choosing outfits. There were amazing styles and some really cool jumpsuits and shapes, but I ended up with a Coach trench as I loved the red color and felt it was perfect for the rainy weather in NYC. We paired snake boots with it for the Coach show, which added another element of fun to the look and something a bit unexpected.""For the Prabal Gurung show, I choose a pantsuit, and I absolutely loved the geometric aspect. When I look at fashion, I like to look at the pieces in terms of art, and the lines on the suit jacket were amazing. We added some really special jewelry and necklaces, paired with earrings designed by Tasaka. I think for me, it was fun putting together a full look with Law, Vincent, and Sacha so that the outfits, accessories, and glam all made sense and were all different."
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Do you wear a lot of color normally?
"I love color, and I don't wear it as often as I should. But I do play around with it. Even if it's an accent on a Nike sneaker, a pop of color is fun and something I love both on and off the court. For Coach, Law and I chose a big pop of color not only with the trench but also with the bag. We also added color in the makeup looks; Vincent Oquendo and I discussed using a bareMinerals Hydrasmoothing Lipstick in a bold color to match the trench. We had a lot of fun."
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Where did you find inspiration for your own collection with Adeam?
"I love all types of art. Since both Hanako [Maeda] and I share our interest in art and a connection to Japanese culture, we wanted to incorporate these elements into the collection. My collection fuses traditional and modern Japanese elements, and what we hoped to create was wearable art. We tried to add in traditional Japanese elements like the origami-like drapes and the architectural seams of the shirting tops and dresses. I really wanted to create a more modern, Harajuku girl 'kawaii' aesthetic."
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Who were you most excited to see during NYFW?
"I have to say, sitting next to Anna Wintour and Michael B Jordan was a highlight for me. No surprise there."