It’s an thrilling time for tennis followers these subsequent few weeks. Presently, the French Open is underway in Paris, and the 123rd version of the match has seen execs similar to Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff hit the courts. Subsequent month within the Metropolis of Gentle, the 2024 Vogue World present will even have fun 100 years of trend and sport, together with a highlight on the surprisingly-chic historical past of tennis. Tennis has an especially fanciful trend historical past, courting again to when gamers donned corsets, floor-length skirts, and even little chapeaus.
Initially generally known as garden tennis, the game first emerged in Britain through the 1800s, and was performed by Victorian women and men on the grass. Although tennis execs right this moment typically put on athletic-style clothes targeted on efficiency and luxury, the beginnings of tennis type noticed gamers embrace a extra, properly, flamboyant method to dressing for the courtroom.
All through the 1800s, it was regulation that every one gamers—women and men—strictly put on all-white. (At the moment, the Wimbledon match nonetheless follows this rule, although ladies are actually allowed to put on coloured undershorts.) What the courtroom appears to be like lacked in shade again within the 1800s, they made up for in excessive silhouettes; It wasn’t uncommon for girls to don skin-tight corsets throughout a match, which have been typically worn over floor-length clothes. Why so snazzy? On the time, tennis was considered as a high-class sport, and the courtroom appears to be like matched the style developments of the second consequently.
This elevated method to tennis type lasted for fairly some time. It wasn’t till the Nineteen Twenties that issues started to loosen up. Coloured trims have been slowly allowed, and trailblazers similar to French tennis participant Suzanne Lenglen defied conference by carrying short-sleeve or sleeveless tops with skirts (nodding to the flapper silhouettes of the period). Since then, tennis outfits have gotten much more informal and trend ahead; Always remember Serena Williams’s Off-White tutu at the 2018 U.S. Open, as an illustration.
Lately, what gamers put on on the courtroom are designed for one main perform: To assist them win. It’s extra about perform over trend. However there’s something charmingly extravagant (if not a bit absurd) in regards to the early days of tennis, when gamers as soon as swatted round rackets in full-on trendy garb. What a time.
Beneath, extra pictures from the fanciful trend days of tennis.
