Simone Biles debuted a custom Athleta gown designed by Zac Posen, who serves as Gap Inc.’s executive vice president and creative director, at the 2025 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.
Arriving at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles next to her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles wore a gown built around Biles’s favorite Athleta piece, the Transcend Open Back Tee. Using the same four-way stretch performance fabric, Posen created a full-length form-fitting navy blue dress with a square neckline, open back and beaded accents.
“Wearing a custom Zac Posen look made with my favorite Athleta fabric feels like the perfect blend of who I am — strong, bold, and always in motion. The inspiration for the gown, The Transcend Open Back Tee, is the perfect mix of effortless and elevated—it’s breathable, super soft, and the open back detail adds a fun, confident edge,” Biles said via statement.
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Posen said the design process was intentional and specific, adding that “it took on even greater meaning – her presence is magnetic, and the design allows her strength, elegance, and confidence to come through effortlessly.”
The high-stretch material of the dress was chosen for both its comfort and its ability to highlight Biles’s physique.
Biles, who was styled by Jessica Paster, won for Best Championship Performance at this year’s ceremony for her all-around title at the Paris Olympics.
The 2025 ESPY Awards, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, air live on Wednesday from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream on ESPN+. The annual event, presented by ESPN, brings together elite athletes, celebrities and sports fans to celebrate the most memorable achievements, moments and stories from the past year in sports.
