2016 Australian Open: Best and Worst Dressed in Melbourne
As the 2016 Australian Open rolls into the meaty part of the tournament, it's a good time to look at the fashion hits and misses. Who wore what best...or worst?
Players seem to wear the brightest and most colorful outfits at the Australian Open. Hot pink, bright yellow, cool green and neon orange prevailed over darker hues.
In terms of patterns, stripes trumped florals, which were all the rage two years ago.
The top players, like Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, have the sweetest clothing contracts. However, that doesn't necessarily translate into the best style. In fact, sometimes elite players take an active role in creating their looks, demonstrating why they are tennis stars and not fashion designers.
Still, some of the game's icons know what looks best on them. This includes Maria Sharapova, who once again wore one of the more flattering designs.
Sharapova's dress landed among the best because the color, style and fit are first-rate. It's that total package, from sneakers to headgear, that defines what's best or worst.
Those who made the worst list failed to pull it off or put it together. They either went big and landed flat or pushed the fashion envelope into the fire.
Did your favorite player make the cut? Find out here in this year's list of the best and worst dressed at the Australian Open.
Honorable Mention Best: Vania King
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Vania King likes to keep it simple, and it pays off with this elegant A-line purple number from Minx Clothing. The cute yellow cross-bar accent in the back complements the magenta dress that features an eggplant color block around the base.
King has long worn Minx, owned by her sister Mindy King, who also designs the dresses. At a time when so many players are wearing "uniforms" produced by Nike or Adidas, it's nice to see some individuality and originality out there.
Honorable Mention Worst: Daniela Hantuchova
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Speaking of uniforms produced by major sporting goods apparel companies, Adidas committed a fashion mishit with its patchwork, quilt-looking dresses.
Worn by several female players, including Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka, this collection is said to be inspired by German Bauhaus art style. They look more Hee Haw than haute.
Best: Simone Bolelli
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Simone Bolelli has emerged as one of the most stylish players on tour. For the Australian Open, Bolelli wore this palm design by Hydrogen in several different colors. The mint version, pictured here, is cool and well-coordinated.
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Worst: Gael Monfils
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The usually hip Gael Monfils looks uncoordinated in this get-up from Asics. More chaotic than a Monfils' rally, this kit is just a prime example of pattern overkill.
David Goffin wore the same diamond-patterned shorts with a solid red shirt, and it looked nice.
Best: Lleyton Hewitt
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If you're going to go wild with design, big and bold works better. Lleyton Hewitt's Australian flag design gives a nod to his 20th and final Australian Open.
Depicting Australia's Southern Cross stars in vivid red, white and blue, Seattle-based Athletic DNA captures the mood of the athlete and the moment. Leave it to an American company to know a thing or two about red, white and blue.
Worst: Svetlana Kuznetsova
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Cartoonish in its oddity, Svetlana Kuznetsova's outfit appears to have collided with My Little Pony. It's sort of hippie chic meets Powerpuff Girls.
Best: Maria Sharapova
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Nike usually does right by Maria Sharapova. This time the company hit an ace with this adorable NikeCourt Premier dress. The racerback in white provides a sporty contrast to the posh peach front.
So well-tailored for Sharapova's statuesque physique, this dress is one of the best she's worn in years.
Worst: Varvara Lepchenko
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Unlike the simple elegance of Sharapova's dress, Varvara Lepchenko's ensemble is a blurry, busy bouquet. If your granny was on tour, this is what she'd wear. A floral fail by Lotto.
Best: Serena Williams
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It takes confidence to wear an outfit that exposes your belly ring. Who else could pull this off other than the Queen of Tennis, Serena Williams?
The bold sporty crop tank is in stark contrast to the girly pleated skirt that flutters in the wind. The canary yellow Nike ensemble serves as a metaphor for Williams' personality and style: powerful yet playful.
Worst: Bethanie Mattek-Sands
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Now turning from the queen of tennis to the high priestess of the fashion faux pas, Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Seen here with mixed-doubles partner Bob Bryan, Mattek-Sands wears what looks like tissue paper hanging from a cropped top. She's certainly fit enough to bare her belly. In fact, exposing more skin would distract from this horrific outfit.
Best: Roger Federer
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In the same way Roger Federer can make a simple approach shot look like an art form, he brings a degree of debonair to the basic polo.
The simple green trim around the shorts complement the splashes of color on his shoes. The horizontal stripes across the top of his Nike shirt are simplistic. Yet, on Federer this design looks so regal.
Worst: Roberto Bautista Agut
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Lacoste has been a leader in on-court fashion for years. But the French clothing line missed the mark with this shirt-length striped design. Seen here on Roberto Bautista Agut, the stripes look like suspenders.
Best: Feliciano Lopez
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Ellesse went retro with this design worn by Feliciano Lopez. The thick white stripe down the side of the Popsicle orange shorts is reminiscent of the groovy 1970s. However, the fitted shirt and length of the shorts add a modern twist to this throwback style.
Worst: Stan Wawrinka
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Stan Wawrinka's game is on fire. So is this hot mess he's wearing. In eye-scorching fluorescent yellow and orange, this kit looks as if it could glow in the dark. Oh, Stan the Man, why? Why?
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