catwalkcreative
Alumni
As tennis fever hits our shores and Wimbledon is in full swing, it got me thinking about tennis fashions from decades gone by . . . . . .
Back in the 1860s when women first began to play tennis they wore clothing made from heavy materials like flannel or serge. They also had the addition of a bustle and even furs which sounds ridiculous given they were playing a sport that required a certain amount of running!
Maud Watson (and her bustle)
The first Wimbledon Ladies' Championship was won in 1884 by Maud Watson and it was around that time that white clothing became popular since it helped to mask perspiration, the dreaded consequence of running. In the Wimbledon final, Maud (aged 19), was all in white but she wore a constricting outfit including a bustled two-piece costume, topped by a sporty male straw boater. An early fashion statement perhaps.
Lottie Dod
Three years later, 15-year-old Lottie Dod (from Cheshire, England) won Wimbledon. Her calf-length skirts had to be seen as acceptable, since they also formed part of her school uniform. But even by the turn of the century Miss Dod was pleading for “a suitable attire for women’s tennis which does not impede breathing.”
May Sutton
In 1905 along came May Sutton, who at home in California had taken to playing in her father’s shirts because of the extra freedom of movement they offered. That year she caused a stir, not merely by winning Wimbledon but by doing so after rolling back her cuffs and revealing her wrists. The sleeves on her dress, she complained, were “too long and too hot.”
A very young Chris Evert
Of course growing up in the 70s and 80s, one of my favourite tennis players was Chris Evert who I thought was super-glamorous! I was riveted to the screen whenever she played at Wimbledon. Me and my twin sister would forever argue about which one of us would be Chris Evert while playing tennis during the summer hols. It was usually a choice between Chris Evert or Yvonne Gooligong (Lawley), another glam tennis player of the day.
Do you have a favourite tennis player or is there one tennis fashion 'faux pas' that you remember from over the years?
Back in the 1860s when women first began to play tennis they wore clothing made from heavy materials like flannel or serge. They also had the addition of a bustle and even furs which sounds ridiculous given they were playing a sport that required a certain amount of running!
Maud Watson (and her bustle)
The first Wimbledon Ladies' Championship was won in 1884 by Maud Watson and it was around that time that white clothing became popular since it helped to mask perspiration, the dreaded consequence of running. In the Wimbledon final, Maud (aged 19), was all in white but she wore a constricting outfit including a bustled two-piece costume, topped by a sporty male straw boater. An early fashion statement perhaps.
Lottie Dod
Three years later, 15-year-old Lottie Dod (from Cheshire, England) won Wimbledon. Her calf-length skirts had to be seen as acceptable, since they also formed part of her school uniform. But even by the turn of the century Miss Dod was pleading for “a suitable attire for women’s tennis which does not impede breathing.”
May Sutton
In 1905 along came May Sutton, who at home in California had taken to playing in her father’s shirts because of the extra freedom of movement they offered. That year she caused a stir, not merely by winning Wimbledon but by doing so after rolling back her cuffs and revealing her wrists. The sleeves on her dress, she complained, were “too long and too hot.”
A very young Chris Evert
Of course growing up in the 70s and 80s, one of my favourite tennis players was Chris Evert who I thought was super-glamorous! I was riveted to the screen whenever she played at Wimbledon. Me and my twin sister would forever argue about which one of us would be Chris Evert while playing tennis during the summer hols. It was usually a choice between Chris Evert or Yvonne Gooligong (Lawley), another glam tennis player of the day.
Do you have a favourite tennis player or is there one tennis fashion 'faux pas' that you remember from over the years?
Those images are yucky to the max!!!! I heard that Venus had started designing but it looks like her apparel isn't very suitable for the tennis court - or anywhere else. :embaressed:
