It’s an exciting time for tennis fans these next few weeks. Currently, the French Open is underway in Paris, and the 123rd edition of the tournament has seen pros such as Rafael Nadal and Coco Gauff hit the courts. Next month in the City of Light, the will also celebrate and sport, including a spotlight on the surprisingly-chic history of tennis.
Tennis has an extremely fanciful fashion history, dating back to when players donned corsets, floor-length skirts, and even little chapeaus. Originally known as lawn tennis, the sport in Britain during the 1800s, and was played by Victorian men and women on the grass. Though tennis pros today often wear athletic-style clothing focused on performance and comfort, the beginnings of tennis style saw players embrace a more, well, approach to dressing for the court.
Irish tennis player Lena Rice in 1890 Throughout the 1800s, it was regulation that all players—men and women—strictly wear . (Today, the Wimbledon tournament still , though women are now allowed to wear colored undershorts.) What the court looks lacked in color back in the 1800s, they made up for in extreme silhouettes; It wasn’t unusual for women to don skin-tight corsets during a match, which were often worn over floor-length dresses.
Why so snazzy? At the time, tennis was viewed as a high-class sport, and the court looks matched the fashion trends of the moment as a result. This elevated approach to tennis style lasted for quite a while. It wasn’t until the 1920s .
