Naomi Osaka’s Jellyfish Outfit at Australian Open Pushes Tennis Fashion Boundaries

Before putting a single point on the board at this year’s Australian Open, the tennis star Naomi Osaka of Japan on Tuesday scored something of a fashion victory — at least among those who measure such wins by the attention they generate.

For her first-round match against Antonia Ruzic from Croatia, Ms. Osaka walked into the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne wearing a frilly greenish-blue athletic dress with swishy white pleated pants. On her head was a white wide-brim hat with a gauzy veil, and in her hand was not a tennis racket, but a white parasol. (Ms. Osaka shed the pants, hat and umbrella before the start of the match, which she won.)

Developed by Nike, which sponsors Ms. Osaka, and the couture designer Robert Wun, the ensemble made headlines in mainstream and fashion publications alike. The way it wafted behind Ms. Osaka as she strode onto the court made her resemble a jellyfish, a creature that inspired the outfit, she said in an interview with Vogue. (Another inspiration: butterflies.)

In a conversation that has been edited and condensed, a New York Times fashion critic and two Styles reporters discuss their reactions to the look and its significance.

YOLA MZIZI In the interview with Vogue, Ms. Osaka said some of her indelible memories of star players and star plays were often connected to how they expressed themselves on the court. Would you cast this look as memorable?

ALEX VADUKUL I kind of loved it. Ms. Osaka is well known for bringing a signature style to the tennis court, but this outfit felt on another level of fashion statement. Dramatic and operatic in a Baz Luhrmann way. I got Gatsby and flapper vibes from the big brimmed white hat. There was also something bridal to the floor-length veil.

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