How Marta Kostyuk Aces Fashion On and Off the Court

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The biggest fashion story at the 2024 Wimbledon tournament, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, had nothing to do with the two champions, Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krecjikova, or any of the celebrity attendees. Instead, it was the little white dress worn by tennis player Marta Kostyuk, one of the top-ranked Ukrainians on tour, that made the most buzz.

At a tournament where a strict all-white dress code is enforced, it’s hard to make a statement. And yet, Kostyuk’s custom Wilson dress made a splash. “I’m very happy with how it turned out,” she tells InStyle. She’s referring to the “Marta” dress (named after her, of course), a white mini number with a V-neckline and back cut-outs that looks more like a club-ready frock than a tennis dress, which also featured a delicate sheer mesh overlay.

It was yet another fashion ace for Kostyuk, who is known on the tennis circuit for her on-court style statements. She manages to prioritize comfort and athleticism without letting go of her sartorial taste, wearing everything from a navy, red, and white A-line baby doll dress to a highlighter yellow turtleneck frock. Most recently, she dazzled at the BNP Paribas Open tournament in Indian Wells, California, where she sported a sunset-inspired pink-and-purple dress and matching lavender sneakers.

She doesn't do it alone, though. Behind many of her on-court style moments is Wilson, her apparel and racquet sponsor, and Joelle Michaeloff, the brand's VP of design. Kostyuk and Michaeloff have developed the kind of friendship that's hard to find in the tennis world. So much so that when Kostyuk got engaged, she turned to Michaeloff and Wilson to make her wedding dress. "When we started to plan my wedding, I didn’t have a particular dress in mind, but I really like the way we work and she sees me," she tells InStyle. "I thought it would be a great moment that we could have together and share." The result was a white tank top mini dress with a floral embellished net overlay that inspired the "Marta" dress.

As tennis and fashion merge more and more, Kostyuk's Wilson-backed wardrobe serves as an example that the two do go together. Ahead of her latest tournament in California, Kostyuk talked with InStyle about her relationship with fashion, what makes an ideal tennis outfit, and who is her tennis fashion icon. This is Marta Kostyuk's How I Get Dressed.

On Her On-Court Style

"I would define my personal style as sporty and very feminine. I don’t think [my on-court style] differs that much; it’s just more sporty, but I still try to keep it more feminine and different from others."

On Her Relationship with Wilson

"Well, they created my wedding dress, so I think that says a lot about the kind of relationship we have, and I think we keep making it stronger and better and expanding it more and more. They are a great company and great people, and I’m very happy they are a part of my life."

On the Marta Dress

"We had quite a few Zoom calls with Joelle where I would share some of my ideas and vision, but I just trusted Joelle. She is so good at the job, and I trusted her. She had the idea of making it somewhat related to a tennis dress, and I just ran with her, giving little feedback and details of things I wanted to be included or what I wanted to be open, which part of my body more open, more closed, these little details. But the general idea of the dress was Joelle’s, and I’m very happy with how it turned out."

Her Approach to Fashion

"I’ve been working with stylists for many years, and it’s something that is important for me and I’m passionate about. It’s not just about the way I look on the court but also how I look off the court. It elevates my mood, the way I present myself and see myself. It’s an important part of me and important for me to look good but comfortable at the same time. It has a big impact on my performance."

On the Best Dressed Tennis Players

"This is a tough question, as everyone has different styles and partners, but I would probably say Coco (Gauff). She always has good kits and good colors. I love the way it looks. I would also name myself here."

Her Perfect Tennis Outfit

"I would say, first of all, it has to be comfortable. Tennis is a very athletic sport, I need to be comfortable in my shots, my swings, and my movement. So it has to be comfortable but I really love dresses, I think this is my favorite fit. I don’t mind which color; I just hope it doesn’t match the background of the court, so we are working on this a lot to make sure at each event we don’t match with the background of the court. Generally, I like to be diverse, and I don’t mind playing in anything as long as it’s comfortable and beautiful."

Read the original article on InStyle