Men Lead the Tennis Fashion Parade
Looking back on the past few years in tennis fashion, it’s the top men such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray who have made the biggest fashion statements rather than the top women. For the past several years, Roger Federer has appeared on Centre Court at Wimbledon in a specially-designed white Nike ensemble featuring long white pants, a vest, sweater, jacket, etc. At the same time, Rafael Nadal, who had attracted attention for
his tight sleeveless shirts, bulging biceps and pirate pants, has been the major trend-setter in tennis fashion in 2009. First, Rafa started the year by switching to more traditional collared shirts and shorter tennis shorts, then Nadal brightened the courts at Roland Garros with his neon pink shirt… probably never to be seen again since Rafa was upset there! At Wimbledon, Scotsman, Andy Murray, who had the hometown British fans on the edge of their seats for almost two weeks in anticipation of a possible British Champion for the first time since Fred Perry, was decked out in old school Fred Perry tennis attire featuring the initials “AM” under the Fred Perry crest logo across his left chest.
Over the years, there have been memorable tennis fashion statements, ironically mostly on the men’s side rather than from the leading female tennis stars. For example, thirty years ago there was Bjorn Borg’s pinstriped Fila shirts and trademark headband and later Andre Agassi’s Nike denim shorts and neon lycra bicycle shorts. On the women’s side there has been a trend back to tennis dresses after years of shirts and skirts. Adidas does have the stylish Stella McCartney line including some tennis outfits worn by Maria Kirilenko the past few years, but none have set a fashion trend or generated enormous publicity, perhaps because they were not worn by a Number One ranked player. Certainly, the top women such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova et al have had their moments with a smart and stylish tennis dress, but nothing that one will remember, in a positive light, twenty years from now. Serena Williams’ revealing and skimpy black Puma catsuit and Anne White’s white bodysuit at Wimbledon maybe have left indelible impressions, but both outfits were unlikely to find many followers even if the white bodysuit might have had some merit on cold days at Wimbledon.
You might not like Nadal's pink shirts or Federer's gold-trimmed Wimbledon outfit and bag, but they have attracted attention to the sport of tennis. Couture is always primarily focused on women’s high fashion. It’s time that the major tennis clothing manufacturers introduce tennis outfits for the top women which will set fashion trends not only on the tennis court, but outside the lines and for years to come as well.
Over the years, there have been memorable tennis fashion statements, ironically mostly on the men’s side rather than from the leading female tennis stars. For example, thirty years ago there was Bjorn Borg’s pinstriped Fila shirts and trademark headband and later Andre Agassi’s Nike denim shorts and neon lycra bicycle shorts. On the women’s side there has been a trend back to tennis dresses after years of shirts and skirts. Adidas does have the stylish Stella McCartney line including some tennis outfits worn by Maria Kirilenko the past few years, but none have set a fashion trend or generated enormous publicity, perhaps because they were not worn by a Number One ranked player. Certainly, the top women such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova et al have had their moments with a smart and stylish tennis dress, but nothing that one will remember, in a positive light, twenty years from now. Serena Williams’ revealing and skimpy black Puma catsuit and Anne White’s white bodysuit at Wimbledon maybe have left indelible impressions, but both outfits were unlikely to find many followers even if the white bodysuit might have had some merit on cold days at Wimbledon.
You might not like Nadal's pink shirts or Federer's gold-trimmed Wimbledon outfit and bag, but they have attracted attention to the sport of tennis. Couture is always primarily focused on women’s high fashion. It’s time that the major tennis clothing manufacturers introduce tennis outfits for the top women which will set fashion trends not only on the tennis court, but outside the lines and for years to come as well.
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