The one thing that never changes about fashion is its ever-changing nature. The tennis uniforms are no exception to this trend. It has evolved over the years into something very different from what players wore decades ago. Century over socioeconomic developments impacted the tennis clothing trends. People’s fashion sense has evolved, and sports attire, such as tennis clothing, has followed suit. Players not only gravitate toward clothing alternatives that conform to comfort during matches, but they also have fun with their attire.
It’s fascinating to trace the origins of tennis clothing. So, in this piece, we will present a brief overview of how apparel trends have evolved over tennis history, and it will also tell how it has grown over the years.
Beginning of Tennis Apparel (The 1990s)
Tennis became popular in England during the reign of Queen Victoria. At that time, tennis team shirts used in matches reflected the trend. Women usually wore long-sleeved dresses with stand collars. It was when wearing white was associated with wealth, much like the sport of tennis because it belonged to the upper class and was kept out of reach of the general public.
Wimbledon also put forward a requirement in 1890, requiring players to wear all-white outfits for their tennis games. Women athletes used to grace the court in floor-length skirts, corsets, and stockings in the 1900s.
The 1920s
By this point, female athletes started questioning the utility of their tennis team uniforms. They wanted such apparel that provided comfort and were also socially acceptable. Suzanne Lenglen, a French tennis star, was one of those ladies who was dealing with two issues simultaneously. She caused quite a fuss when she strolled into a Wimbledon match wearing a knee-length skirt and flashing off her bare arms. She was also seen wearing a flapper-style headpiece and gleaming white tights.
On the other hand, Rene Lacoste, another French player, introduced breathable cotton shirts for women. Those were lighter, delicate, and breezy. Lacoste, however, is now a well-known brand, and it continues to mass-produce simple and affordable sportswear.
Tennis Team Uniform from The 1930s – 1940s
In this era, women’s tennis team shirts became more fun. Ladies desired to question conventional norms, reflected in their courtside dress.
Helen Wills Moody, during her career, won a victory over many of her opponents. She was the one who also overcame the patriarchal trend that had bound women for years. She typically wore pleated knee-length skirts and sleeveless white shirts during her games, and her signature was a white visor.
Similarly, another daring woman, Gertrude Moran, altered the tennis team uniform in the 1940s when she showed up in shorts for Wimbledon in 1949.
The 1950s -1960s
Moreover, tennis apparel in the 1950s was defined by cinch-waist pleated skirts and beautiful jerseys with elaborate detailing. Players like Maureen Connolly popularized these outfits.
Another British tennis star, Fred Perry, started his sportswear line in 1952, making women’s clothing more accessible.
Furthermore, Mod fashion overtook the tennis fashion scene during this era. In the 1960s, athletes wore sleek tunics with gingham bursts. Additionally, Virginia Wade and Lorna Greville-Collins, English players, as well as French players such as Marlys Burel, wore graphic shorts. And these shorts became popular in the court.
The 1970s – 1980s
Nike teamed with a Romanian tennis player in 1973, resulting in the first release of tennis sneakers. Gradually, notable players, including John McEnroe, began supporting the brand’s gear and sneakers. As a result, Nike started producing outfits with color pops and colorful designs. In this way, they broke away from the history of all whites.
In the 1980s, Andre Agassi also signed with the brand and wore bright colors like neon, pink, yellow, and denim. Often he wore gaudy apparel and bicycle shorts. Even he refused to enter the Wimbledon events because of their all-white policy.
The reason for introducing colors and removing the all-white rule was to make the sport accessible to the general public. The goal was to demonstrate that tennis was no longer a game for society’s wealthy elite.
The 2000s – 2010s
In the early 2000s, Maria Sharapova, a Russian star, wore attire with elements of men’s sportswear. She wore an extraordinary, never-before-seen Nike-designed ensemble to the 2008 Wimbledon, and it was inspired by men’s tuxedos and drew everyone’s attention.
While, in the 2010 French open tournament, people were anxious about what Venus Williams wore. Because she was famous among the public for her striking and edgy appearance, on that specific day, she chose a lingerie-inspired black lace translucent suit and a pair of nude shorts underneath.
Tennis Attire from The 2010s to Present Day
Tennis clothing transformed from a more sophisticated to a comfortable and more accessible outfit. Streetwear has found its way into tennis fashion, and Serena Williams has embraced it. She wore a white high-collared dress with a pleated skirt to the Wimbledon Championships in 2016. Due to which some netizens accused her of wearing too-revealing apparel. But her devoted followers flocked to her aid, defended and applauded her distinct choice of ensemble. When she wore a catsuit on tour in 2018, it sparked madness among fans.
