by Anyone for tennis? This summer, even the most jaded among us will be able to fit in a game – or at least look like we’re ready for one – as the tennis tree trend joins the Slam Championship.
Apparently, it’s Zendaya and her tennis theme going forward Challengers a film responsible for court-worthy clothing threatening to be as ubiquitous as strawberries and cream at Wimbledon. She is currently touring the world in a series of tennis-themed looks that rival Margot Robbie’s style of dressing. Barbie in a row of pink ensembles.
On Monday, there were custom Loewe stilettos with (branded) tennis balls threaded through the heels, over the weekend there was a green and white checked Louis Vuitton coat – an archive piece from the spring/summer 2013 collection – which brought to mind the perfectly manicured grass of a tennis lawn and in Australia last month, the star went even more literal in a sequinned dress emblazoned with a tennis racket motif. Tennis-white fiber optic accessories, neat pleated tennis skirts and custom Lacoste looks are also featured in the line-up, curated by Zendaya’s “Image architect” (who turned to the styling job title) Law Roach.
I Challengersdirected by Luca Guadagnino – who is also responsible for the high aesthetic aim Call Me Your Name (Oliver’s preppy swagger and Max Mara’s Elio mom vibe on vacation are key references) and A Bigger Splash (see Tilda Swinton’s ultra chic summer wardrobe) – Zendaya plays a tennis coach turned professional who seems to have the sporty sleekness of a devotee at the highest levels of the sport. But what the film is really doing is offering an excuse to mine a more refined version of tennis attire that returns it to its status as a sport cherished by the old-money, elite country club.
“Well done, there’s no sharper tracksuit,” says Laura Ward, founder and CEO of upscale tennis label Exeat, which specializes in the kind of apparel that’s made to be worn on courts where you play to be seen. and then later for, as she describes it, “coffee on the King’s Road”. “The tennis dress code is the perfect combination of elegance, playfulness and timeless fit – this is what makes it the most sartorially famous sport in the world,” she says.
Ward says interest in tennis has been growing in recent years. On Pinterest, activity related to tennis in the UK has increased over the past three months; searches for “tennis outfit” are up 75 percent and queries for “tennis skirt outfit” are up 50 percent. On the StockX trainer market, tennis action has picked up significantly with a 35 per cent increase in trading of tennis trainers, notably the Nike Mac Attack, the one-time favorite of John McEnroe.
Tennis has long been fashion’s favorite sport. “The central silhouettes are very aesthetically pleasing and convey a sense of quiet luxury,” says Ward. There are over a hundred testimonies to the love of tennis fashion; “The best sellers in Gabrielle Chanel’s first clothing line were tennis dresses and it was the Chanel tennis dress that scored America’s first transatlantic traffic. Vogue,” says Ward. “Then there was the legendary Parisienne couturier Jean Patou in the 1920s who famously dressed the first female tennis icon Suzanne Lenglen to the court, causing a stir with shorter hems and bare arms.” It may not be a coincidence that Anna Wintour chose tennis as her sport of choice a long time ago and that she is still one of his most famous fans and amateurs, and a special soft spot for Roger Federer.
The way to rock the look now is to channel a 1950s socialite, royal or Ivy League aficionado – wearing the Ralph Lauren on tennis attire. There are tennis-themed collections of this variety at every price point this season.
The Mango Tennis Club collection could be straight off the shelf from an exclusive club shop in the Hamptons and includes logo-embellished zip-up jackets, visors and umpire-chic vests, priced from £17.99. Parisian label Casablanca has bucked the trend with retro tracksuits and a white t-shirt and pleated skirt. Of course, Lacoste, co-founded by tennis great René Lacoste, is also in on the action with tennis skirts, polo shirts and cardigans in pretty pastel and grass-green colours. For a less obvious but still super fun take, Serena Bute’s “speed stripes” capsule collection makes a fine reference to a tennis kick in a way she describes as “easy and comfortable”.
The Varley Club collection exudes the outward, silver sophistication you might see on a Saturday morning at a top sporting establishment. “Tennis style has a timeless beauty thanks to its classic colors and styles. It’s chic and can be easily incorporated into everyday outfits,” says Lara Mead, co-founder of the label, who chooses the cap as her personal piece because “it completes a look and hides a multitude of sins”. Like many of the current tennis-themed offerings “you can wear it on and off the court,” she emphasizes.
If you really want to channel the look in a high-performance way, you should check out Exeat’s new Marie Antoinette-inspired collection (a tribute to the Paris Olympics) featuring a nifty “Liaisons” bodysuit, decorated with roses and rackets. print; Vuori “Set” dress or “Volley” skirt; and Alo’s pleated skirt and on-point accessories, including bright ribbed socks and a reflective visor. Cotu Superga’s sensible, classic shoes, Tretorn’s Nylite 67s (a tennis staple, relaunching on April 18) or the Freestyle Hi style from Anine Bing’s collaboration with Reebok should provide the polished authenticity needed.
You will also need the jewellery. Tennis may be the only sport that has its own distinctive jewelery genre. What better way to dress up your serve than with an understated diamond tennis bracelet? Rachel Boston has a beautiful £4,000 version and Edge of Ember offers a delicate £1,550 option with a necklace (£465) and earrings (£550) to match, set and match.
Get the court ready…
Collared jumper, £150, Lacoste; Tennis T-shirt, £30, Alex Eagle Sports Club; Tennis dress, £100, Vuori
Body suit, £320, Exit; cap, £59, Anne Bing; Lace up trainers, £65, Excellent
Socks, £25, Hello; Tennis rings, £550, Edge of Ember; Tennis bracelet, £4000, Rachel Boston
