Just months ago Emma Raducanu was an unknown 18-year-old whose wardrobe consisted largely of tennis kit and school uniform.
Last night however, hot on the heels of her Grand Slam win at the US Open on Saturday, the tennis sensation cemented her celebrity status with an appearance at the Met Gala, fashion’s most important night of the year.
Arriving in a black and white printed silk twill crop top, skirt and cape from the Chanel Cruise 2021/22 collection, Raducanu, who accessorised her look with a pearl belly chain, looked effortlessly cool and youthful. The fact she chose an outfit by the French house for her first major fashion appearance raises the question: could Emma Raducanu be the new face of Chanel?
Chanel has now confirmed the shimmering black boucle mini dress she wore to the US Open Trophy Ceremony on Saturday was also from its Spring/ Summer 2021 ready-to-wear collection. Two Chanel moments in one week just a happy coincidence? I think not. Surely Raducanu has hit the sartorial Grand Slam with a mega-deal with the French fashion house?
For Chanel to enter into an official partnership with Raducanu would however mark a transition from their usual ambassador list, which typically comprises actresses (Penelope Cruz, Margot Robbie, Lily-Rose Depp), musicians (Caroline de Maigret, Soo Joo Park) and models.
However given Louis Vuitton signed Raducanu’s peer Naomi Osaka as a brand ambassador back in January of this year, there’s no reason this year’s new luxury fashion faces shouldn’t be stars of the court.
While Chanel are yet to confirm or deny an official relationship, one wonders, will Raducanu be sat front row at Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week show in a few weeks’ time?
