Australian Open highlights fashion’s growing role in sport

The outfit worn on court by Naomi Osaka at the 2026 Australian Open has made global headlines, sparking discussion about athletes who express their identity through personal style. An RMIT expert unpacks the influence and public perceptions, particularly around gender and race, of fashion's increasing prominence in the sporting world.

Dr Harriette Richards, Senior Lecturer, School of Fashion and Textiles

"Naomi Osaka's remarkable, jellyfish-inspired fashion statement at the Australian Open (AO) this week has garnered enormous global media attention.

"The AO, which is more accepting of experimental on-court style than other high-profile events such as the French Open or Wimbledon, has been called a 'barometer' for tennis fashion by New York Times fashion columnist Vanessa Friedman. Despite this relative freedom of expression, Osaka's choice of high-fashion outfit nevertheless received plenty of criticism, with commentators saying fashion should be left on the catwalk.

"The furore tells us a lot about public perceptions and expectations about athletes, particularly in terms of the gender and racial identity of players.

"Female athletes tend to be far more progressive in terms of their clothing choices (and tend to receive more criticism in the process, especially if they are women of colour), while menswear has advanced technically more than stylistically.

"Tennis, primarily played by individuals rather than teams, is a sport in which fashion is especially prominent. However, in this age of increased competition for media attention, bold fashion statements remain a key way for athletes to achieve headlines, in whatever sport they might play."

Dr Harriette Richards is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University, and a co-founder of the Critical Fashion Studies Research Group.

***

General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or [email protected]