WHAT'S WORN ON THE COURTS

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 25

WHAT'S WORN ON THE COURTS

There are quite a number of changes in tennis fashions this spring (says a fashion expert), and I can see that the short skirt is coming hack into fashion again, as well as the almost übiquitous shorts. , However, though it is back again, the new tennis skirt is so short and so pleated (but with cunning inverted pleats which show absolutely no fullness) that it looks almost like shorts. Of course, there are still quite a number of the tennis “ stars ” who keep to their plain tailor-made shorts, and these do look extremely smart if thev are well made. The latest newcomer to the shorts brigade is Mme Sperling (Fraulein Zrahwinkel that was), and hers are so close-fitting and so short that she looks exactly like a tall, long-legged boy. Miss Helen Jacobs really has the best shorts of this tailored type, and the dark blue line of braid down each side of hers is the last word in smartness. Little Senorita Lizana also goes in for shorts, but hers are much fuller and longer; while, like most of the players of this year, she favours the plain Peter Pan collar on a sleeveless white blouse. Perhaps the best materials are the cruising linens and cottons, and there is very inuqh less crepe de chine and thin cotton to be seen. Another thing I notice this season is that coloured sweaters and scarves are “ out ” and the really smart players wear white or extremely pale colours. Several girls are wearing the very new white kid belts, on which their names are written in big gilt letters. These look very smart indeed when worn with a white sweater with big gold buttons, as I saw the other day. Such a welcome change from the usual red. blue, and green sweaters! Eye shades and bandeaux are being favoured much less this year, but short, white, hand-knitted scarves, worked with a big initial in blue or black, are very, very popular for wearing around the head.

Recently I saw some extremely smart tennis coats, which are much newer than the white and natural camelhair ones worn last year. Those were made of thick royal blue serge lined with white crepe de chine and finished off with large china buttons. Another coat I liked was in grey lined with dark blue, with a scarf made of the two colours worn as a cravat with one end pulled through a slit in the neck of the coat. Jumpers, too, are quite different this year, and a good knitter could easily benefit by the fashion for very looselyknitted woollies, and have some charming little sleeveless things in very thick wool with matching or contrasting scarves. One great feature of jumpers and sweaters this spring is that they are all waist length—quite different" from the long, hip-length model of a few years ago. And do_ remember, when choosing your tennis frock or shorts dress, to select a material that is shadow proof. Nothing looks worse, to my mind, than to see a player’s silhouette outlined through a too-flimsy frock by the strong sunlight. A heavy linen—one of the crease-resisting varieties for preference—or pique is excellent, hut if you prefer washing silk do make sure that it is a really heavy one.