THE SERVEARCHIVE
AI garment reconstruction: Maria Sharapova, Australian Open 2006. Maria Sharapova’s sky-blue empire-waist dress with thin black straps and neckline binding, curved black under-bust seam and loose fine-pleated flowing skirt starting immediately beneath bust.

Match kit · AI garment reconstruction.

Maria Sharapova · 2006

Blue empire

An empire waist and black-edged blue fabric changed the familiar tennis silhouette.

The original look

Maria Sharapova’s sky-blue empire-waist dress with thin black straps and neckline binding, curved black under-bust seam and loose fine-pleated flowing skirt starting immediately beneath bust. Historical on-player photograph.

David Callow / Sports Illustrated · Copyrighted editorial photograph; rights remain with the credited owner.

View original photograph & source ↗

The story behind the look

Sharapova’s sky-blue Nike dress moved the waistline up beneath the bust. Fine black straps, neckline binding and a curved under-bust seam outlined the upper section, while the fabric below fell away from the body.

The Australian Open photograph records a softer, flowing silhouette than a fitted tennis shift. The high seam and fine folds gave the design its distinctive empire shape.