Tennis Players Outfits: “This tradition dates back to the Victorian era in England when tennis became popular as a recreational sport,” says Kevin Jones from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (ASU FIDM) in Los Angeles.
“It was an elite sport because, in addition to the challenge of keeping white clothes clean, the fabrics used—cotton and linen—wrinkled easily, so maintaining a neat appearance was especially important.”
Tennis Players Outfits, Tennis might be the only sport where players’ white clothing not only gives the game a distinctive look but has also become a key fashion element off the court.
According to CNN, some tournaments, like Wimbledon, adhere so strictly to this tradition that even Roger Federer’s orange-soled shoes were banned in 2013.
Tennis Players Outfits, But why did white become the standard color for tennis attire? Kevin Jones explains that this goes back to when tennis became popular as a recreational sport during the Victorian era in England, one of the few sports that allowed women to participate.
Jones further explains to CNN that this sport was entirely elitist, not just because of the difficulty of keeping white clothes clean but also because the fabrics used—cotton and linen—wrinkled easily, making it important to maintain a neat appearance.
Tennis Players Outfits
Tennis Players Outfits, The earliest tennis outfits resembled the leisurewear of the 19th century: women wore striped or patterned dresses with long skirts, corsets, and wide-brimmed hats, while men sported wool trousers, buttoned shirts, or jackets.
Tennis Players Outfits, As spectators and players of this sport often followed similar fashion trends, tennis and fashion have mutually influenced each other over time, from brands like Lacoste and Fred Perry, born out of tennis, to fashion innovations created on the tennis court that made their way into stores.
However, players have sometimes challenged tennis dress codes, from French player Suzanne Lenglen, who wore a shorter skirt at Wimbledon in 1919, to the Williams sisters, who have donned a variety of outfits, from short denim skirts to black and red lace dresses.
Most Grand Slam tournaments have abandoned the all-white dress code for decades, likely to attract more viewers and advertisers in an era where sports have become more colorful.
Tennis Players Outfits, Jones notes, “Color is crucial for attracting attention, especially for sports companies looking to promote their logos and colors.”
Tennis Players Outfits, Wimbledon’s restrictive dress code has been frustrating for brands trying to sell their tournament apparel collections. For players, even the smallest infractions have sparked controversies, forcing them to ensure that even their underwear color doesn’t disrupt the all-white dress code. Some players have outright refused to comply with the rules; for example, Andre Agassi boycotted Wimbledon from 1988 to 1990.
Tennis Players Outfits, According to CNN, however, it is unlikely that Wimbledon will adopt a more lenient stance on its dress color rules, as it is a way to distinguish itself and has largely succeeded in not resembling any other tournament.
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