TENNIS FASHIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20005, 23 November 1927, Page 7

TENNIS FASHIONS

The lawn-tennis dress of the moment has resolved itself into a kind of uniform, the main structure of which is white, but which is enlivened by handkerchiefs, sweaters, waistcoats, headgear of various bright colours (says the Manchester Guardian). The dress hangs straight from the shoulders, either with no sleeves or with a sort of epaulette. It is very much like the garment that one used to dream of finding oneself in in church or other unsuitable places. Yet it is only 25 years ago since the tennis dress frequently touched the ground, was five yards round the hem, and was belted in at the hard, tight waist with a severe piece of petersham. With the skirt was a blouse with a collar from two to three inches high and very stiff, and the cuffs of the blouse were also stiff and starched. The skirt itself was generally cut on “umbrella lines,” which meant that I before the underhand serve it had to be swirled out of the way. The stiff straw hat, or the greatly exaggerated “golf” cap of the moment, was pinned ' on with the hope tha« it would stay in place, anid, to further this hope, a veil was sometimes tied over it. By 1913 the waist had moved up higher, though skirts were still long enough to show a tennis boot only. Players were allowed elbow sleeves, and necks were cut out a little. The expert might jump about as far as her clothes permitted, and the freedom of her attitude was commented upon. She often played without a hat, though this was still deprecated. The lawn-tennis dress cf only a quarter of a century ago is perhaps one of the most remarkable commentaries upon the escape of women from physical restrictions which had far more to do with moral fetters than was ever admitted. She might run about—if she could. But she could not.