“Very demure, very mindful,” isn’t what Naomi Osaka had in mind when she began thinking of her 2024 US Open outfit. Add a little bit of “very cutesy” to it and you have her latest look, full of ruffles and bows. As she’s a Japanese player, the shoujo anime of the olden days might seem like where the inspiration came from. Indeed, her profile picture on Instagram is one of Sailor Moon right now, known for her traditionally girlish outfits. But while Osaka has no shortage of creative inspiration, who is the brains behind the fashion?

It’s someone who has created a name for herself in not just Japan but is also a frequent collaborator of Nike – Yoon Ahn! The fashion genius, originally from Korea, left for Japan at a young age to establish her own business one day. It came in the form of AMBUSH, a brand that sells everything from clothes and sneakers to jewelry and sunglasses. But for Ahn and Osaka, Nike came in as the uniting factor, giving us a different view of both the athlete and the designer.

“I think that when I put on my U.S. Open outfit, I’m going to feel a transformation,” Osaka told the NY Times in an Aug 25 interview. When asked by Ahn what kind of style she had in mind for the Grand Slam, the Japanese player had something of goth Lolita in mind. “For Naomi’s look, she brought forward a vision and it was my job as a designer to create something that she’ll feel confident and comfortable in when she walks onto the court, allowing her to bring 100% of herself,” Ahn said.

Goth Lolita is inherently a Japanese fashion movement where (mostly) girls wear elegant, largely monochromatic dresses and add personal effects like parasols and hair nets. While something of this elaborate nature would not make for the best outfit for an athlete, Yoon Ahn knew what she had to do. “We live in a girls’ world…The collection is an extension of that idea, allowing women to bring out their character and enhance their own personal styles.”

Nike’s Naomi Osaka x Yoon Ahn collection will feature two outfits – one for playing in the daytime in green, and one for evening/ night matches in black. The competition kits will also feature walk-on skirts and jackets featuring oversized bows. And just as a little fun fact, since Naomi Osaka’s one-year-old daughter Shai might come to watch her mom play, Ahn also had a little something in store for her!

Ahn’s creative genius lies in her individuality, mixed with cultural elements. Perhaps that’s why her jewelry, inspired by hip-hop culture, caught the eye of big names like Pharell Williams and Kanye West. Once her stardom was on the rise, Ahn collaborated with Japanese rapper Verbal to finally launch AMBUSH in 2008.

Fast forward to 2024, and it’s no wonder Osaka worked so well with Ahn! “The inspiration that fueled the look for me — and this might be a Japanese term — is feeling like a ‘magical girl’ on the court,” Naomi Osaka said in a statement. “There’s a moment of transformation for me when I walk onto the court, and I have a lot of fun playing, so wanting everyone who sees the outfit to connect with that feeling is a really big motivation for me.”

And motivation is something she might be in dire need of right now. Because coming back from maternity leave to active touring has been harder than anticipated for the new mom.

“My biggest issue currently isn’t losses”: Naomi Osaka

It’s been a rollercoaster year for the Japanese sensation but she’s finally back on the court where she’s won 2 Grand Slams. Nevertheless, it’s also true that she’s yet to win a title in 2024. “My biggest issue currently isn’t losses,” Naomi Osaka wrote in an Instagram post earlier this month. “My biggest issue is that I don’t feel like I’m in my body.”

But in a way, putting on a fresh set of clothes makes Osaka that much more confident. We all have our own form of armor to face the world, right? “In terms of confidence level, when I wear what I feel is a good outfit, I definitely feel more comfortable. I think that’s a magical thing that fashion can do. I think that when I put on my U.S. Open outfit, I’m going to feel a transformation,” she told the NY Times.

Well, the times have certainly changed from when Serena Williams’ bold takes on tennis outfits caught eyebrows. As Osaka now gets ready for the seasoned round, her ruffles and bows might just give her that extra push of confidence!