On the court, tennis star Roger Federer is a tour de force. Over the course of his unparalleled career, the athlete, who retired from tennis last year, shattered records . Off the court, however, Federer seems to prefer more dapper fashions, and reaches for sharp, classic tailoring on the red carpet.
For his appearance at the 2017 Met Gala, which celebrated Rei Kawakubo’s work at Comme des Garçons, Federer chose to wear what looked to be a clean, simple Gucci tuxedo. At least from the front, that is. When the star turned around, he revealed a playful back of the blazer, which featured a cobra made out of rhinestones. As co-host of Monday’s 2023 Met Gala, which will pay tribute to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld, the star will likely lean into something equally formal but daring.
At other glitzy events, Federer favors closely fitted blazers, Rolex watches, and lustrous loafers. He’ll add subtle, crisp flair to his outfits, like the color-coordinated pocket he paired with a midnight-blue suit and slim-fit black turtleneck. Or the masterfully cut tuxedo he wore to the 2016 Academy Awards. Federer’s adherence to classical menswear codes feels deliberate in a landscape where, increasingly, men’s dressing has relaxed. It’s a reminder: sometimes less really is more.
Federer recently revealed that he has not always appreciated the art of great tailoring, especially on the court. “I don’t understand how I used to wear [size] extra large, but that’s how we used to dress,” the athlete told Britishin a 2022 interview. “Sampras and Agassi used to wear this baggy stuff. It was just a trend, so in hindsight, I think, ‘Was I crazy to wear XL at 17?’ But you wanted to think you were big and buff, even when you weren’t yet.