Venus Williams Hits the Courts for Lacoste x Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc Collab

Venus Williams was serving style at the launch of the new Lacoste x Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc collaboration collection.

It’s love-love for the famous French brands, who have joined fashion forces for the first time. The line captures TikTok’s tenniscore trend just in time for the Cannes Film Festival.

The Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc is the stuff of South of France lore, where amfAR holds its annual gala and many stars stay to escape the crowds of Cannes while taking in the sun at its cliffside swimming pool.

“This establishment is as legendary as our crocodile is iconic,” Lacoste deputy chief executive officer Catherin Spindler said of the French sportswear brand’s famous logo. Spindler, who joined Lacoste in 2019, has steered the house to more fashion-forward partnerships.

“Our two houses share many commonalities,” Spindler told WWD. “Tennis, from which Lacoste draws its origins, is also a strong element of the history of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc.”

The Lacoste label was founded by tennis player René Lacoste in 1923, and the crocodile logo was added four years later, mirroring his nickname of “the crocodile” for the way he dealt with opponents.

The hotel, meanwhile, built its five tennis courts in 1923. The bright ochre color of the clay originated in the region and is now known as the trademark shade of the French Open tournament. The courts are surrounded by a canopy of Aleppo pine trees.

Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, took to the hotel’s courts to launch the collection, posing in crisp, classic tennis whites.

She also fronts Lacoste’s “Play Big” campaign, along with 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, as well as French actor Pierre Niney, Korean actor Ahn Hyo-seop and K-pop star Jeon Somi, and Chinese actor Wang Yibo.

Tenniscore is having a moment courtesy of Zendaya. The actress has paraded a winning streak of sporty tennis looks during the press tour for her latest film, “Challengers.”

Data from buy-now-pay-later platform Clearpay indicates the tenniscore trend is a hit: sales of skorts are up 134 percent year-over-year, mini pleated skirts are up 109 percent, and court dresses are up 35 percent.

The collaboration encompasses a revamp of polo shirts and hoodies with the Hôtel du Cap crest on the right and the Lacoste logo on the left, as well as baseball caps, socks, beach towels and a tennis racket. There’s also a pleated miniskirt designed for on and off the court.

The limited-edition collection is only available at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc through the summer.