The Australian Open best dressed: Perfecting the art of smart casual
This year, the Australian Open has graduated to a fashion event rivalling runway shows and red carpets, with luxury brands such as Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton sponsoring everything from ball kids to trophy cases.
While sporting giants such as Nike, New Balance and lululemon keep athletes outfitted on court, models, influencers and celebrity guests are redefining style in the stands with a mix of luxury and high-street labels.
Tennis whites at the Australian Open: Costeen Hatzis in Odd Muse; Jelena Djokovic in Sandro; Kate Waterhouse in Saba; Nadia Bartel in Henne.Credit: Getty, Supplied, Instagram
But what does it take to make the best dressed list at the tennis?
Without the hats, grand dresses and Birdcage blow-dries from the Melbourne Cup carnival, it comes down to an innate understanding of the smart casual dress code. Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit would be too much, your Sunday morning milk run ensemble of mismatched athleisure wear, too little.
Here are this year’s best-dressed, serving looks that stay within the lines.
Jelena Djokovic
While Morgan Riddle, the girlfriend of Taylor Fritz, and Paige Lorenze, girlfriend of Tommy Paul, steal headlines in attention-seeking outfits, Jelena Djokovic takes the stealth wealth approach.
Whispering chic is easier when your husband Novak has estimated earnings of $US240 million ($382 million), but Jelena adds a polished accent to her off-court approach. In a white Dior jacket with a glistening Audemars Piguet watch or a striped Sandro suit with a cropped jacket, Jelena is always podium-ready.
Stealth wealth grand slam: Jelena Djokovic at the Australian Open on January 21 wearing Dior, and on January 13 wearing Sandro.Credit: Getty
Kate Waterhouse
In a sleeveless white Saba top and breezy trousers, Waterhouse was a safe bet in white, exuding style without the dramatic detail expected at the racetrack.
“It doesn’t have the heritage of the horse races,” says fashion commentator and Melbourne Cup regular Kate Waterhouse. “The AO has our casual spirit. It’s an opportunity to express yourself with ease.”
Tennis Whites vs. the Melbourne Cup White: Kate Waterhouse at the Australian Open in Saba; at the Melbourne Cup in Scanlan Theodore.
Costeen Hatzi
The composed Hatzi and her exuberant boyfriend Nick Kyrgios’ odd couple appearance is most apparent in their outfit choices.
Accessible brands such as Witchery and Odd Muse, along with a youthful pale blue set from Melbourne label Viktoria & Woods, are Hatzi’s mainstays, requiring no warnings from fashion umpires.
Mixed doubles: Costeen Hatzi in Viktoria & Woods, with boyfriend Nick Kyrgios.Credit: Eddi Jim
Jimmy Jan
“I’m still finding my fashion sense,” says TikTok personality and medicine student Jimmy Jan. Having appeared on the runway at Australian Fashion Week, the part-time model is used to being dressed rather than creating his own fashion-forward looks.
“It’s all about comfort and nothing being too bulky for me,” says Jan.
Jan faced stiff competition from a parade of guests hosted by event sponsor Ralph Lauren, aspiring for looks ripped from the pages of an advertising campaign. The mild-mannered influencer’s less tortured take on preppy chic won the day.
Tennis Casual v Runway Casual: Jimmy Jan in Ralph Lauren at the Australian Open; on the runway at Australian Fashion Week in 2023.
Nadia Bartel
The co-founder of Melbourne label Henne shopped her wardrobe for the AO. “That’s the great thing about the tennis,” Bartel says. “You can just grab anything at the last minute and go.”
No red carpet required: Nadia Bartel in Henne at a Cetaphil event for the Australian Open; At the June opening of her Henne boutique in Sydney.Credit: Instagram @nadiabartel, Wolter Peeters
It helps when you have an entire collection at your disposal.
“The difference to other events is that you can wear these outfits again over summer.”
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