“Tennis fashion is crisp,put together and less ‘undone’,” says Margie Woods,founder and creative director of Viktoria&Woods. For summer,Woods designed a capsule that leans into the preppy trend and includes a tennis dress,which has just been re-released in time for the Australian Open.
Tennis chic (from left) Hailey Bieber,Farrah Fawcett and Olivia Molly Rogers.Getty/supplied
Of course,when it comes to incorporating tennis chic into your wardrobe,it’s important to take a balanced approach,or risk looking like you’re going to a costume party,says stylist Paul Versace,who styled model Olivia Molly Rogers for Piper-Heidsieck’s Australian Open launch. “For me,a go-to is something white … and always add a chic pair of sunglasses,” he says.
Here are just some of the fashion items with tennis in their DNA.
The tennis bracelet
The history:American Wimbledon champion Chris Evert famously wore a thin,diamond bracelet on the circuit (play was even stopped once when her bracelet fell off during at match at the 1978 US Open),and so,since the late 1970s,the style became commonly known by the moniker.
Chris Evert’s love of diamonds on court inspired the name “tennis bracelet”.Getty
The icon:Chris Evert.
How to wear it:Wear alone on the wrist for refined elegance or stack with different metals or textures. founder Belle Maartensz says she was inspired by Evert’s bracelets,but added her own twist. “Those styles mostly consist of round-cut stones … I’ve always been a fan of combined stone cuts,so I decided on a rectangle,round and square-cut sequence.”
Maria Then,design director at Michael Hill – where sales of tennis bracelets have jumped 14 per cent in the past year – agrees non-round stones are a growing trend. “For those looking for a more accessible way to tap into the look,half diamond … styles offer the same luxurious look for less.”
The low-profile sneaker
The history:The first tennis shoes were actually intended for the British Navy,whose officers needed a rubber-soled shoe that would not slip on the deck of a ship. Like many aspects of prep style,the upper-classes adopted the military item to play tennis in the early 1900s.
Stan Smith,the inspiration for Adidas’ best selling sneaker.Getty
The icon:Stan Smith.
How to wear it:Any way you like. Since the tech boom of the early 2000s,sneakers are as home in the boardroom as they are in a sporting arena. Although there is some brag-ability in the “box fresh” status of a new,white pair,Italian brand Golden Goose has made millions off its sneakers that have pre-existing scuffs and flaws.
The flip skirt
The history:French tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen caused a scandal in 1919,when she arrived at Wimbledon wearing – wait for it – a calf-length skirt. But observers noted Lenglen’s increased agility,and before long,skirts and sleeveless blouses replaced corsets and gowns on court. Over the decades,skirt hemlines have shortened with the fashion of the day.
Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1989.Getty
The icon:Steffi Graf.
How to wear it:Don’t copy what Nicole Kidman,and leave the midriff-baring top at home. Instead,style a tennis skirt with a T-shirt and denim jacket for a preppy look or elevate for the evening with a blazer. It’s also wise to pay attention to footwear – go for a slingback low heel over a stiletto,or wear a chunky sneaker.
The knit
The history:Until the 1920s,men commonly played tennis in starched,tailored whites,which,just like women’s corsets,didn’t exactly promote mobility or speed. That all changed with French champion Rene Lacoste’s design of what would later become the “polo” shirt (thanks to some clever marketing in the 1970s by Ralph Lauren). As for the tennis jumper,one of its earliest fans was the Duke of Windsor,well before it permeated the sport.
The tennis jumper’s champions have included (from left) Bill Tilden,Rod Laver and Fred Perry.Getty
The icon:Fred Perry.
How to wear it:Whether you prefer to pay homage with a polo,button-through or,on cooler days,a jumper,a slightly oversized cut is the way to go. Pair with shorts for a dressier take on a T-shirt (as a bonus,you’ll be covered for any bars with collar requirements).
The dress
The history:At the same time as tennis skirt hemlines were rising,the dress was becoming popular among players including Billie Jean King and,later,Venus and Serena Williams. The pioneering designer behind King’s ensembles was Ted Tinling,who also outfitted Australian Wimbledon champion Evonne Goolagong.
Yes to the dress … Billie Jean King.Getty
The icon:Billie Jean King.
How to wear it:Arguably the piece with the greatest risk of falling into costume territory,the tennis dress benefits from “toughening” up with a denim jacket,leather bomber or a knotted chambray or linen shirt. Wearing it with an oversized bag will also help avoid your chances of being asked directions to the nearest pro shop.
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