The evolution of women’s tennis fashion has evolved and become a prominent aspect on the court. Tennis players on the Colorado State University tennis team look back at the history of women’s tennis fashion.
“I think fashion has changed dramatically over time,” said Zara Lennon, a graduate student at Colorado State University who has played tennis for 19 years. “Clothes in the past were more formal, with long skirts and high collars.”
Lennon referenced women’s tennis clothing from the early 1900s, which mainly consisted of floor-length skirts, high-neck dresses and long-sleeved shirts.
“Honestly, I think it must be hard for them to play tennis in these clothes,” said Luana Avelar, who has been playing tennis since she was 11 years old. “They seem to be restricting a lot of movement, … (but) I do think they’re pretty good overall.”
Compared to the women’s tennis attire of the 1900s, women’s tennis players at Colorado State University have a variety of options, including skirts, tank tops, dresses and shorts. The apparel features the logos of Colorado State University and one of its sponsors, Under Armor.
Different apparel color options for Colorado State University women’s tennis players include green, white, black, orange for Aggie Day and blue for State Pride Day.
“Compared to older tennis uniforms that were less suitable for high-level play, our garments are shorter and easier to move,” says Sarka Richterova, who has been playing tennis for 20 years. “The costumes this time are very beautiful and practical.”
The evolution of women’s tennis fashion has brought performance-focused changes to current uniforms. Modern women’s tennis wear is made from lightweight, breathable fabrics that are comfortable to wear.
“They started out for better performance rather than ‘pretty’,” Avlar said. “For example, many years ago women used to wear boots with a heel when playing, and now there are a lot of tennis shoes that are specifically designed for foot support, balance, gel and comfort.”
Colorado State University tennis players are noticing that today’s women’s tennis fashion is more diverse and inclusive.
They say they admire the fashion of many professional female players, including Caroline Wozniacki, Aryna Sabalenka, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
“Women have more freedom to choose what they really feel comfortable with,” Lennon said. “If they like to wear crop tops and skirts, they can, and if they like to wear T-shirts and shorts, they can do that.”
Modern tennis apparel options help Colorado State University tennis players stay comfortable and stylish during their matches.
“I feel like the better I dress, the better I play,” Avlar said. “Of course, it doesn’t affect my overall tennis, but it feels really good to step on the court and feel pretty at the same time.”
As women’s tennis fashion evolves in the future, apparel will likely be crafted using lighter materials, new technologies and creative designs to continue prioritizing comfort and performance.
“I have a great appreciation for vintage fashion and fashion history,” Richterova said. “But I’m happy that in tennis we can now play tennis in the clothes we wear without having to wear long cotton skirts with the immobility of movement.”
Contact Elesia Guerra at Entertainment@collegian.com or Twitter @CSUCollegian.