Interesting facts about the costumes from the old tennis list of the noble city.
Tennis style is practical and comfortable, and professional matches must follow a strict set of rules. But that doesn’t mean the uniforms haven’t evolved to reflect fashion. Technological advancements have also altered the appearance and functionality of tennis uniforms. Spandex, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics designed to wick away sweat are necessary—and a far cry from what athletes wore 100 years ago. Let’s take a look at how tennis uniforms have evolved over time.
The Costumes From The Old Tennis List
Victorian era high collar shirt
The first Wimbledon tennis tournament was held in 1877, during the British Isles’ Victorian era. Male tennis players compete in their first year wearing polo shirts, trousers, and white sneakers. Tennis players for women dress formally. To cover the neck, the collar is set high. Ankle-length dress with a waist tie. The skirt’s hem extended past the knees and nearly reached the ankles. with the popularity of tennis fashion at the time, down the racquet chasing This caused everyone to automatically wear white to compete, but the fashion cycle changed in the years that followed. The rules governing athletes’ white attire were established in 1963.
Bare arms and a knee-length hemline.
When French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen played Wimbledon with bare arms and a knee-length hemline, she caused quite a stir. Jean Patou, a French designer, created her outfit. On the court, Lenglen also wore flapper-style headbands. René Lacoste, a French tennis player, invented lightweight, breathable cotton shirts (now known as polo shirts) during that decade and began mass-producing them in 1933.
Fit Uniform With boxy silhouettes
Helen Wills Moody’s courtside uniforms complemented the 1930s’ loose and boxy silhouettes. Moody preferred pleated knee-length skirts and her signature white visor over impractical long skirts.
Decorative cardigans
In the 1950s, women’s tennis uniforms were all about cinched waists, decorative cardigans, and feminine pleated skirts, as seen here on American player Maureen Connolly. Following his retirement, British tennis player Fred Perry established his own sportswear company in 1952.
Tight And Leaner Uniform
During the 1980s, uniforms became tighter and leaner all over. In 1985, American tennis player Anne White wore a white unitard to Wimbledon. Officials reportedly asked her to dress more traditionally the following day. American Chris Evert lost her diamond bracelet on the court during a match at the 1987 U.S. Open, and the game was halted until it was found. That incident prompted the creation of the diamond “tennis bracelet.”
Cycling shorts and flamboyant shirts.
Andre Agassi, an American tennis player, wore denim shorts with fluorescent cycling shorts and flamboyant shirts. From 1988 to 1990, Agassi refused to play at Wimbledon because he did not agree with the all-white dress code.
Pleated shift dresses
Nike-sponsored women wore pleated shift dresses that kept flying up and exposing their stomachs during the Wimbledon tournament. Players who didn’t like the loose dresses were given traditional skirts and tops. Brand endorsements are one of the most powerful influences on modern tennis fashion today.
Tennis outfits frequently inspire the masses as well. Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, for example, have found their own ways to have fun with their uniforms. Like this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section