Alex Eala Debuts At Two NYFW Shows
Alex Eala just closed out a run at the US Open. Days later, she was sitting front row at New York Fashion Week.
The 21 year old Filipina tennis star made her first appearance at Tory Burch’s Spring/Summer 2027 show on September 10 at Gotham Hall in New York City. She wore a red jacket over wide leg trousers, carrying the label’s Bunny Knot bag. She sat alongside Anna Wintour, Amanda Seyfried, Lauryn Hill and Ravyn Lenae.
A Rule She’s Still Learning
Eala told Cultured magazine this was her first fashion week, and that she felt excited and a little nervous sharing a room with that many recognizable faces. She’s said before that sports and fashion overlap for her, both are ways to show who she is, just in different rooms. Her connection to Tory Burch is personal too. Her mother wore the label’s shoes when Eala was growing up.
A Second Show, A Different Mood
The following day, Eala appeared at Michael Kors’ Spring/Summer presentation, where she was photographed with Natalia Bryant, model and daughter of Kobe Bryant. She wore a black dress with a silhouette that drew comparisons to Audrey Hepburn.
Fashion Was Already Watching
Anna Wintour had already praised Eala’s growing interest in fashion, comparing her to athletes like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka who use style to express themselves. Eala has named Maria Sharapova as her style influence, along with Chris Evert, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
Her week in New York also included a CBS Mornings appearance. She’s set to compete next in the Singapore Open and the Asian Games in Nagoya, then head home for “Alex Eala Live: Game. Set. Celebrate” at the Philippine Arena on December 8.
She came to New York for tennis. The fashion shows were her own idea.
