Gala's Guide To Tennis Chic
[ 2 July 2007 ]
A good friend of mine, Davide, is in London at the moment. I said to him, “I’m surprised you’re not at Wimbledon, kissing boys in Lacoste polo shirts & getting grass stains on your knees.”
As I get older, tennis seems more & more attractive to me — to me, it is about the most civilised thing I can think of (like golf, except it’s interesting). Mostly I think I want in because I love being surrounded by all those social graces but still getting in there & shaking things up a little bit. I relish the image of strutting in there with my purple hair tied back, wearing a white Lacoste tennis dress, all tattoos & mirth while sipping iced tea!
For girls:
if your hair is long enough it should definitely be pulled back into a ponytail. Girls with their hair pulled back into a classic ponytail always makes me think of school — I went to an Anglican all girls’ school & our hair wasn’t permitted to touch the pristine white collars of our shirts. Anyway, to me, it is very sporty & a bit innocent-looking, which I find quite appealing.
In terms of apparel, of course you can’t go wrong with anything Lacoste. Hit up Ebay for the best stuff, though if you want to buy new, here’s a Lacoste terry headband & matching terry wristband. Really, I’m sure these things have no purpose but they are essential components of tennis chic.
Try wearing a white Lacoste tennis dress with (matching) neon pink underwear or a headscarf & 3/4 leggings in the same colour. Throw on a ballerina-wrap cardigan for when the sun starts setting.
I am a huge, huuuuge fan of the adidas by Stella McCartney range. Here’s a four-piece tennis dress set worn by Maria Kirilenko on the court. I adore it. It’s not in stores anymore but remember, Ebay is your friend!
This is from her newest tennis range. Love that skirt. Isn’t it fabulous?!
In terms of accessories, pile on clear lucite bangles — they go with anything & they’re super-mod. Big sunglasses are very important — whether you go for the huge oval sort, Wayfarers or Ray-Ban aviators, make sure they suit your face shape!
For boys:
In a nod to retro tennis, I am a strong believer that most men should wear a sweatband (à la John McEnroe & Richie Tenenbaum). It’ll keep that ‘fro (or emo combover) out of your eyes & makes you look super-athletic even if on the court you resemble a Thunderbird.
I personally have an insane penchant for the combination of a pastel-coloured polo shirt (sky blue is especially a favourite of mine), toned, tanned arms, wristbands & half-sleeve tattoos. (Think this but with an edge.)
Wear the shortest shorts you can (especially if you’re tall, like Chevy Chase in Fletch — he looks like an emu in his tennis gear, so hot) & allude to having a summer house in the Hamptons.
Here’s Davide’s opinion on tennis chic for boys:
“Wool jumpers over shoulders is fluorescent colours is totally where its at. It makes other people think you are joking and is a great way to show off a good skin day.
The great thing with tennis chic is that it’s super fun and comfortable. Get in character and speak with a funny accent. If feeling super in character stick some tennis socks DOWN YOUR SHORTS. Wearing colours makes one’s day a bit brighter so don’t be scared to match yellow and purple.
Today because it’s gay pride parade (which I wouldnt normally go to but it’s a party in a strange land with some people I know so what the hell, try new things right?), I’m wearing a yellow jumper over a sailor striped polo with jeans and yellow flat dress shoes from Selfridges because it’s coooold. I have a peach coloured scarf to go around my neck. It’s a shame that I naturally look so masculine, because I’d make a great camp sailor.”
For the super-keen:
Start spending time at a country club. Remember to wear pearls & get blitzed on gin & tonics like the rest of them.
Adopt a ridiculous name for the season, like Binty, Muffy or Waldorf Salad The Third.
Go super-retro like these cute kids, in tweed & a newsboy cap.
Carry a bottle of Evian, hire a driver & start dropping tennis-themed sexual innuendo into conversation, e.g., “I’d like to re-string HER racquet…”
Happy serving!
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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another really stylish tennisplayer is the swedish Bjørn Borg!
he was at the peak of his career in the 70’s and wore lots of short shorts and headbands:)
I also like knitted cream cricket jerseys, sleek-fitting netball dresses, and those mad sleeves in your first photo.
I love ritchie tenenbaum :O
that’s funny that you made this yesterday because i happened to wear this tennis-y dress that i haven’t worn in ages!:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/gwennabat/DSC00837.jpg
i like the collar a lot because it’s very oversized and pointy, and also how low it cuts without being overly revealing. kind of long for a tennis dress though. but the color is awesome!!!
and the stella mccartney adidas line is awesome. i normally hate sporty wear but i drooled over it every day when i worked at nordstrom. :)
hahahah i love the innuendo
oh i love stella mccartney and what she did with adidas! it was awesome! and i love adidas’ range in the japan market. it’s fabulous.
Oh, I just love this look. You are so full of genius ideas. :)
Do you have any other suggestions for hair besides a ponytail? The sides of my hair are rather broken off from straight ironing them, and it looks a bit messy if I put it up. Thank you!
Amanda — Tease the hell out of it! It’s not very ‘classic tennis chic’ but then, unless you have a bob or a ponytail, nothing is! I love teased hair, it looks so good.
i just wanted you to be aware that i and many others think you and your website are AMAZING. you need to write EVERYDAY! every hour of every day! i don’t think you realise just how wonderful and inspiring and fabulous you are! you are going to be SO successful, i can see it, everyone can. and if it’s not by writing for huge magazines, it’s through bringing constant joy to your readers lives. you’re the best, seriously. i particularly love “inspiration” and “life” and “carousel”. keep up the fantastic work!
Hmmm if girls like the one up the top are hanging out at the tennis court count me back in, and along the lines of tennis innuendos one can’t go past, ‘balls’. :P
Perfect timing of the article, my flatmates and I decided last night that we should start playing tennis. I want to just so I can dress up.
Hi Gala!
Long time reader, first time poster…
It’s funny, when I was younger I constantly asked for tennis shift dresses for Christmas, birthdays…I’d wear them with jelly shoes (!) and tights and soak up the Queensland weather despite sweating in the polyester materials of Adidas and co’s yester-year.
It was only recently that I realised that these tennis shifts were my way of expressing my love for 1960’s culture and fashion – of bell-shaped dresses with Mary Quant kisses that have now given way to the fashion party of today’s tennisistas.
Long live the tennis dress, I say!
— Pieces
If you’re watching tennis, especially in London over the Wimbledon period, it is ESSENTIAL to take a good umbrella, wear waterproof shoes (wellies are a good idea) and have patience (in spades) for when the courts are covered due to the rain. When one finds out the dates of the Wimbledon competion, one need not take heed of the weather reports as one can be fully optimistic that torrential rain interspersed with small bouts of sunshine will be on the horizon.
Chaps – its ALL about the female competition this year!!!
Oh, and remember, tennis ain’t tennis without a diet of strawberries and cream, washed down with a biscuity champagne… Moet, Lanson and Verve Cliqot are an excellent choice.
Anyone remember that mid-90’s prepensity for male tennis players to wear cycling shorts under their outer shorts? Andre Aggasi sure was a trend setta!
Love that photo of Caroline Trentini in the first picture!!!
Hi – tennis isn’t about what you WEAR, but about how you PLAY. Try saving the $ on clothes and spending it on lessons, racquets and court fees.
ana — Arrghhh thank you! Nicest comment ever. It popped into my inbox on a day when I was feeling a bit crappy & made me feel so much better. KISSES!
Robin — I love your advice, you are the best ever!
Guest — HAHAHAH!
Awww, darn. I usually like most everything you post, but this an item on which we happen to differ.
I have the unfortunate luck to work at a country club this summer, + so the tennis look is just about the most tragic thing I can think of (that I get to see every day!). Of course, none of them mix it up like you probably would, + that makes all the difference. :)
Aw baby, you know I’d rock the tennis club!
This reminds me of The Official Preppy Handbook—awesome style suggestions.
I had a few really cute plaid skirts with kickpleats when I was younger—all pinks and blues and greens. I should search for those in my size… :-)
Great commentary on the fashion of the sport, also enjoyed the pics!
Love the tennis chic.
My business is slow-going right now, so I’m not bringing in the dough. I am in desperate need of mu-la and then I can finally go shopping.
I haven’t been since a few days after christmas in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (btw, their boutiques are to die for!), I think if I start a website I can put Google advertisements up for a little extra cash.
It may not work-due to how much effort & time a website consumes.
Kudos for you and your blessed time!