Wimbledon 2012 Tennis Fashion. Day 1: Venus Williams

Before we all began to forget about French Open, Wimbledon started. And though traditionally white, it's still interesting to observe Wimbledon fashion, as each player tries to add something to the style and dilute white a little bit.

Unfortunately Venus Williams repeated her sister's Serena bad luck loosing in the first round of a major. As we already mentioned during French Open fashion review, Venus at last matured in her style and forgot about all those crazy outfits. This year's Venus' dress with transparent back (as usually, Eleven by Venus) was rather cute and had its character.

Venus Williams, Wimbledon 2012

  The dress unfortunately is not currently sold at EleVen by Venus store, but may be it will soon.

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French Open 2012 Tennis Fashion. Day 4: Venus Williams Style Change

The fourth day in the tournament became the last for Venus Williams, whose sister Serena lost yesterday in the first round for the first time in her career. Those who are following tennis and noticed Venus' return during the clay season, surely have noticed that she also changed her style - from radical and outrageous dresses to more traditional ones.

Venus Williams, French Open 2012

New collection of eleVen by Venus is actually available for purchase through Tennis Warehouse. Though there is not French Open dress yet, you can have a look at the outfit Venus sported at Sony Ericsson Open and other items from her new collection.

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Sharapova, Williams Sisters, Kournikova and Steffi Graf as Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models

Sports Illustrated gathered the pictures of what they called "Athlete/Celebrity Swimsuit Models" where they published the pictures of well-known athletes in swimsuits. Among the tennis players, the models were Russian beauties Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova, American icons Venus and Serena Williams, and one of the greatest tennis players of all times Steffi Graf. Check it out:

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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Tennis Fashion Hits (and Misses) in 2011 – “The Gals”

Although we love all of the action that a good Grand Slam brings, part of the fun is catching up on the latest on-court styles. Check out our play-by-play hits and misses for 2011!

THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

While there were a few comely outfits turned out by a couple of female players at the Aussie Open, we wanted to give attention to a couple of SERIOUS misses…in hopes that we never have to see them (or anything like them) again!

 MISS

This monstrosity posing as a “tennis dress” features some very obvious problems: the fit, the back zipper which looks like it was constructed by a 6th grade sewing student and an overall absence of class or style… yikes!!!

MISS

Is Kim Clijster’s taste level really this bad, or is she simply too nice to say, “NO” to her long-time sponsor? A little green goes a long way! Just a button-collar, white, cotton shirt would have made all the difference!

THE FRENCH OPEN

HIT

Fresh and fun…we love the pop of color and bright white accents in this Adidas outfit, tastefully put together by Maria Kirilenko! Our grade: A+++

 In the battle of the big sponsors, this one-shouldered, Nike dress thrown over a black sports bra is just a sad, frilly MISS or mess…whichever way you want to view it!



WIMBLEDON

Blond vs. Blond: While Miss Sharapova sports a very comfortable, classic and well-fitting HIT, Miss Mattek-Sands is, as usual, SANS style in this unattractive and distracting MISS!!! One word: “Ugh!”

THE U.S. OPEN

Julia Goerges is full of focus in this cute, comfy and sporty ensemble (left), a definite HIT, while Nadia Petrova decked in a multi-colored MISS (right) prays for much-needed style!

Stay Tuned for Part Two - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Tennis Fashion Hits (and Misses) in 2011 – “The Guys”

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Venus Williams' Outfit at La Grande Sfida 2011: the Proof of Impracticality of Venus' Clothing in Action

Watching the exhibition match between Venus Williams and Flavia Penetta at La grande Sfida, I first thought, "At last Venus has a dress I like". Her black dress with a zipper in a back and a nice trim seemed very attractive. Before happened something most of those who pay attention to Venus' fashion were expecting for a long time - the thin strap of the dress teared off right in the middle of the point. Venus is lucky enough this didn't happen during some important tournament. But will this teach her to make her clothing more practical for the game of tennis? Frankly speaking, I doubt it :) Looking forward to see what's in store for Australian Open. Hope it won't be worse than last year's Alice in Wonderland nightmare, because I really can't imagine WHAT can be worse...

Venus Williams' dress at La Granda Sfida 2011 that  at last gave up...

Venus returns with some popcorn after a change of the torn dress

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US Open 2011 Tennis Fashion. Day 3: Two Surprises by Venus Williams

Not only Venus Williams surprised us with her new dress (as usual), but also with an unexpected pulling out of the tournament. Venus said she had recently been diagnosed with an energy-draining autoimmune disease, Sjogren's syndrome, which prevented her from going forward in the tournament. 

As for the dress, it's, as usual, strange. The front looks more or less classy (however a high-waisted dress makes Venus heavier than she is), but the back spoils everything. As columnist from Bleacher Report points out, "a small black dress looked straight out of the early 1900’s in the back... It’s more suited for an old lady that isn’t competing against the best tennis players in the world". And even if we can pretend we understand white lace back, the pink zipper looks absolutely tasteless.

 Venus Williams, US Open 2011

Venus Williams, US Open 2011

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Wimbledon 2011 Fashion. Day 1: Venus Williams' Outfit

The Wimbledon 2011 has arrived! And while it's a little bit challenging to judge the Wimbledon's fashion because of the "all-white" rule, we decided to compare what styles were offered by different brands this year, and how they were able (if were) to differentiate themselves in the white tennis cloud.

Day 1. Venus Williams

We had been looking forward for Venus' return to see what she had in store for Wimbledon. And she didn't surprise us with something tasteful. Of course this playsuit is much better than Australian Open nightmare, but still a long way to go for a style perfection... Williams says it's a jumper, and "jumpers are very 'now,' as is lace." She also likes the draping shoulders, which she calls "in the moment." She says: "It's just kind of like a trendy dress. It's fun." As dailymail.co.uk commented on the older Williams sister outfit,

"The white onesie was so short you could clearly see the golden hotpants she was wearing underneath every time she bent forwards during the match. It also had a curiously baggy, and very unflattering top-half, which made her chest look saggy as she ran around the court".

We can't describe it any better.

Do you like Venus Williams' Wimbledon outfit?
	It's great
	It's awful
	It's okay
	So-so. Could be better, could be worse...
pollcode.com free polls

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History of the “Tennis Whites”

There is no question that tennis and fashion go hand in hand, and the history of tennis fashion proves that the style for this game has certainly evolved over time.  But one thing that has not changed (much) when it comes to tennis fashion is the standard of wearing “tennis whites” on the courts.  In fact it is the most famous tennis Open of all, Wimbledon, that has created this tradition, and in a 127 year history, Wimbledon’s tradition is one that is still revered and respected today.  Wearing tennis whites is still an important part of the 127 year long tradition that is Wimbledon, but the fashion standard of wearing tennis whites has certainly changed over time.

As with most fashion standards, it has been the women players of this sport that have led to evolutions that exist today in tennis fashion.  It was women that led to the shorter skirts and sleeveless tops that are standard tennis attire today.  In 1890, Wimbledon imposed a strict tennis whites rule as this became the common color to wear on the court, as it was the color that best hid sweat stains.  Because playing tennis, even back in 1890, was an elite sport where one wanted to “look good” the form of tennis whites became a sport staple.

From 1890 to present, Wimbledon wants athletes to maintain a conservative look, and has carried the tennis whites tradition to contemporary Wimbledon fashion.  It was shortly after World War I when women players began to express a more open minded approach to tennis fashion.  1922 was the first time when color appeared on the court in bandeau form, when Suzanne Lenglen bravely donned a hair bandeau in a bright bold color that definitely had people talking.  For other women players at the time, with no heavy criticism from Wimbledon, this meant an open door to bend the rules on “tennis whites”.

 

Tennis fashion that strayed beyond the golden standard of tennis whites would not change so drastically until the Williams sisters came on the scene.  Serena and Venus Williams dominated Wimbledon and many other of the infamous tennis opens throughout the late ‘90’s.  And people were not just talking about their amazing talent, but also about their fashion.  These were players that knew how to play with the Wimbledon Cup traditional standard, with Serena still showing on court for the U.S. Open in a denim skirt and boots!

Does this mean that “tennis whites” are gone for good? Never.  Tennis is a sport that revels in tradition and respect, and Wimbledon will never veer from a 127 year old tradition.  Even the infamous Williams sisters who love to push the envelope respect the Wimbledon rule.  

As you can see here, both Serena and Venus adopted stylish and sleek tennis whites for Wimbledon 2010.  Serena went for a more streamlined look by Nike adopting the strawberries and cream theme inspired by Wimbledon, where her sister Venus went a little more flashy in traditional tennis whites she designed herself, in a look inspired by one of her favorites, Tina Turner.

 

Tennis whites are not a thing of the past, it is all about making it your own, and the Williams sisters are perfect examples of staying with tradition, and making tradition contemporary.  What has changed is the conservative nature of how strict these rules are kept, ensuring the world of fashion and tennis always stays en pointe with a contemporary world, in one of the world’s most traditional sports.

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Worst Styles of the 2011 Australian Open

The Australian Open… this is the first chance for tennis fans to see who’s hot and who’s not in the upcoming grand slam season, and to watch a few matches of course.  Back to fashion.  Was there something in the water that the women were drinking this year?  There were so many styling disasters that we (almost) didn’t know where to begin.  In fact, with the exception of a token “honorable mention,” men did not even make the list – as a whole they were well-dressed and full of swagger this year – good job guys!

Worst Styles of the 2011 Australian Open

1^st Prize MIND BOGGLING!  Venus Williams –Just when we thought we had seen everything that Venus had to throw at us - including the kitchen sink - we were presented with this tasteless excuse for a tennis dress and rendered…speechless.  Fortunately (or maybe not) a picture is worth a thousand words!  Money may not buy happiness, but it can buy personal style, which leads us to wonder…is Venus blatantly telling us all to “bugger off,” or is this just another pathetic cry for attention?   Our advice:  Hire a stylist.

2^nd Prize PAJAMA PARTY!  Francesca Schiavone – With capped sleeves and a ruffled skirt, scrappy Francesca Schiavone looks a bit like a teenaged boy wearing the pajamas of a four-year-old girl!  Our advice:  Go sporty with a splash of color.

                                                        

3^rd PRIZE YIKES!  Kim Clijsters – We are all about going green, but not when it comes to color in tennis apparel.  We hate to say anything negative about good-natured Kim who became a new champion of Aussie Open, but this unflattering ensemble has her looking like a pale, shapeless kiwi fruit.  Our advice:  1. NEVER wear this color again, and 2. Contrast goes a long way.

4^th Prize R-R-RUFFLES!  Nadia Petrova –With her often streaky performance, it is long past time for Nadia Petrova to get serious about her work.  Sadly, this dress does not shout, “I am a mature tennis player!”  Our advice to Nadia:  Dress your age, not your shoe size.

5^th Prize WHAT??  Caroline Wozniacki – Alas, if not for this atrocious skirt, which made Caroline look 25 pounds heavier than she actually is, she might have made our “best-dressed” list.  Her cute visor, hints of bright color and beautifully painted nails had all the markings of a stylish girl-on-court!  Our advice:  Ditch the separates, and try a nicely-fitted dress.

And finally, to throw at least ONE male into the mix:

Honorable Mention goes to Gael Monfils – With entirely different shades of blue, it appears Gael may have pulled quickly from his own closet to dress for the Open this year.  Our advice:  Coordinate.  Also, sleeveless is a bit juvenile – take a tip from Rafa Nadal, and put the guns away.

 

Keep an eye out for our Dos and Don’ts of Tennis Fashion!

Do you agree with this ranking? We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments. 

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Venus Williams' Australian Open 2011 Outfits

You thought that there can't be anything worse in the world of tennis fashion than Maria Sharapova's dress for Australian Open 2010? Well, after this Aussie Open, I bet you changed your mind. Last year Venus dazzled us with a skin-colored panties. This year she prepared even better surprise - the same panties with tummy-revealing yellow top, paired with a printed skirt.

Venus said in an interview that the outfit was inspired by Alice in Wonderland:

"It's kind of about a surprise, because when Alice goes down the hole, the rabbit hole, she finds all these things that are so surprising".

England cricketer Graeme Swann called the outfit "the worst outfit ever seen on a tennis court". Swann was quoted in his Twitter as saying that Williams, "looks like a cheese and onion slice".

 Her first round blue figure-hugging dress with a zipper was another unpractical outfit which required constant alterations. Every time Venus raced the court, the zipper kept lifting up at the front and she was continually pulling it down.

Actually it becomes understandable why the pieces of EleVen brand worn by Venus are not available for general sale... Just nobody would buy them...

Pictures from www.telegraph.co.uk

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Top Five Best Dressed Tennis Players 2010

With the worlds of fashion and tennis almost being one and the same for some designers, and many players as well, choosing the five best dressed from 2010 is no easy task. These days, designers and the fashion industry have both ensured that today’s top players always look good, both on AND off the courts.  That being said, the top five that have emerged as 2010 best dressed have set a pretty high bar. They aren’t just pretty, they are world class talent, and their personal style shows time and time again that winning good, means looking good while you’re doing it.  Here are the top five best dressed 2010 men and women of tennis.

5.  Andy Roddick.  A known tennis champ with a world renknowned fashionista wife on the side.  Brooklyn Decker a world famous model has influenced her husband’s style off the court.  As a result he has recently been named as the face of the most long running tennis brand, LaCoste for the LaCost fragrance “Challenge”.
 

4.  Serena and Venus Williams. These tennis sisters and all star athletes are certainly a brand of their own when combined.  Ever since they first hit a public court they have been changing the way fashion influences the world of tennis.  From their long beaded braids to daring outfits, these sisters have raised more than a few eyebrows over their career.  But it’s worked for them, as Serena herself was seen spotted next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and personally asked to model by Editor at Large god to fashion Andre De Leon Tally.  These sisters have become fashion icons in their own right.
 

3. Roger *Swiss God* Federer.  Being ranked three on a top five list may not fare well for the always competitive Federer, but when you consider the rank goes to third best dressed tennis player in the world, not too shabby.  And it should come as no surprise as well to him, as Forbes have just placed him on their best dressed list as well.  It is his personal style of crisp clean colors that are fitted to perfection that earmark him for this honor.  Pair that with his charisma and classic look, he makes women swoon all over the world, and has well earned this best dressed honor.
 

2.  James Blake.  Though all eyes are generally on his back swing, in some cases, James Blake has the ladies checking out his personal style.  And more often than he may think.  After collaborating with Fila, Blake found a way to bring his own vision and inspiration to both his look, and his game.  James worked directly with Fila to create a streamlined look that doesn’t just work for women, but looks great on men as well.  This “Carolina blue” is one of James’ favorite colors, and you will see him in it often, when he isn’t on the Wimbledon courts.  Here is a man that pays flawless attention to detail, not just on the courts, and had a hand in decision making with Fila threads with everything from reverse stitching, to a button free polo. Though the details are subtle, they make for a very strong look landing James in the number 2 spot for best dressed.

1. Caroline Wozniacki.  The coveted spot of number one best dressed tennis player goes to a young athlete whose court style was developed by a renowned designer Stella McCartney. Stella did her best for Caro to always look stunning on the court, and she manages to pull off sleak court looks that not only mirror current trends, but inspire new ones as well. Read more about Caroline Wozniacki and what is coming from Stella McCartney in 2011 in our next post.
 

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Tennis Fashion Evolution

1528
King Henry VIII builds a tennis court at Hampton Court Palace and commissions suits—most likely “tall stockings, short blist’red breeches,” as in Shakespeare’s Henry VIII—for the ensuing matches. 

An illustration of a game of Real Tennis being played during the time of King Henry VII, circa 1500

1867
A sturdy canvas and rubber shoe called a croquet sandal is introduced and sells for six dollars a pair, making it too expensive for all but the very wealthy. The shoe later became known as the tennis shoe. The original sneaker offers players a solution to unsightly grass stains. 

 

1886
Women dress in aristocratic style—ground-grazing skirts with voluminous bustles, corsets, high necklines, and floppy hats. The game is rechristened “pat ball” as women gingerly tap the ball over the net. 

 

1919
Suzanne Lenglen wins Wimbledon in a knee-length dress with three-quarter sleeves and a widely imitated bandeau. (Women reportedly walk out, calling the display “shocking.”) Suzanne was the first woman to play without a corset under her tennis dress.

 

1920

Big Bill Tilden ushers in the golden age of tennis sporting a preppy array of cable knits and V-neck sweaters. 

 

Sandy Wiener and Bill Tilden on the courts in 1923 (Library of Congress)

1927
René Lacoste earns the nickname “the Crocodile” after he makes a pre-match bet over a crocodile-skin suitcase. He later has a croc emblem embroidered onto his shirts and blazers. 

 

René Lacoste wearing the first "crocodile" which will become an icon. Forest Hill, 1927

1933
Helen Jacobs breaks out Bermuda shorts at Forest Hills. The Prince of Wales later weighs in: “They are ... quite the most practical costume for the game, and I don’t think the wearers lose anything in looks.”

Helen Jacobs at Wimbledon, 1933.  

1949
“Gorgeous” Gussy Moran asked the Wimbledon organizers if she could wear colored clothing. Her request was turned down, so tennis fashion designer Ted Tinling created a dress incorporating lace-trimmed knickers which even triggered a debate in parliament. Photographers lie flat on the ground in order to shoot her knickers.

 

Gertrude "Gorgeous Gussy" Moran

1958
Karol Fageros was raising eyebrows at the All England Club - with her gold lame underpants. She was immediately kicked out of the tournament, but earned a reprieve when she agreed to cover up her sparkly undies with some more demure white lace.

 

1968
Arthur Ashe wins the first U.S. Open sporting an ahead-of-its-time hipster ensemble: short shorts and bookish black-rimmed glasses.

 

1970
Television viewers complain that they can’t tell the players apart in their all-white suits. For the first time, the U.S. Open permits pastel. 

1976
Sweatband-wearing Swedish heartthrob Björn Borg takes the first of five consecutive Wimbledons. Later, he founds a clothing line known for its boldly patterned underwear. 

 

 

1981
An unusually festive John McEnroe wins his first Wimbledon singles title on the Fourth of July wearing a blue-and-white striped polo shirt, matching tube socks, and a red sweatband.

  

John McEnroe winning his first Wimbledon in 1981

1985
Leggy blonde Anne White takes the court at Wimbledon in a curve-hugging white unitard, distracting her opponent, Pam Shriver. Though the attire satisfies requirements, officials request that she dress more traditionally the following day.

 

1987
Chris Evert halts play at the U.S. Open when she loses her diamond-studded wristlet on the court. Jewelers like Tiffany & Co. and Bulgari promptly create their own versions of the “tennis bracelet.”

 

1990
Andre Agassi plays the French Open in hot pink. The tournament’s director says he might institute a white-clothing rule. Agassi calls him a “bozo” and segues, briefly, into a lime-green phase.

 

1991
In a hotly anticipated moment, Agassi removes his warm-up suit at Wimbledon to reveal an all-white ensemble, with white Lycra shorts peeking out from under white denim; the crowd erupts in applause.

 

Andre Agassi in action at Wimbledon in 1991

2002
U.S. Open champ Serena Williams plays in a shiny, skintight black bodysuit: the infamous “catsuit.”

 

2004
Bethanie Mattek arrives at the U.S. Open poured into a formfitting leopard-print ensemble. She loses, but continues to dress for future Opens as though attending a Halloween party.

 

2007
Maria Sharapova fails to defend her U.S. Open title despite wearing a Nike dress encrusted with 600 Swarovski crystals, inspired by the Manhattan skyline. The bright red-flame color represents the Big Apple.

 

2007
Tatiana Golovin became the forth woman (after Gussie Moran, Karol Fageros and Anne White) who shocked British public, as she broke the rule of "mainly white" Wimbeldon dress code by wearing red knickers.

2010

Venus Williams has been constantly raising eyebrows by wearing skin-colored hotpants during Australian Open, then wearing the same hotpants with the dress which according to Examiner.com "better suited for a dancer at the Moulin Rouge", and choosing to wear form-fitting pink, sequined dress with matching bedazzled shorts during the US Open.

 

 

Used info from http://nymag.com/fashion/08/fall/49260/ and www.mirror.co.uk pictures from different sources from the web.

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