Tennis is the undeniable champion when it comes to the game of fashion, at least for now. After all, it’s tennis we have to thank for the athleisure craze of the past few years. When prominent tennis player Jean René Lacoste created the polo shirt in the 1930s, and then started selling the design in partnership with knitwear tycoon André Gillier, it heralded the beginning of the sportswear as streetwear style we know and love today. And the court is still a place where all the stops are pulled out in merging fashion with function. Who can forget Serena Williams’ catsuit at the 2018 French Open? Or Maria Sharapova’s tuxedo-style shirt for Wimbledon 2008? Just this year, Serena Williams wore designs by Off-White’s Virgil Abloh to the French grand slam, while Naomi Osaka has been outfitted by Nike in collaboration with Sacai for the ongoing US Open.
While tennis togs may be nothing new, the polished and preppy look continues to trickle down through fashion. Alessandro Michele riffed on the country-club aesthetic for Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2019 collection, embellishing dresses and sweaters with an ‘80s-esque tennis logo.
Roger Federer would be well-suited to the cream and white designs from Lacoste for Fall 2019, while this white-collared black dress from Sandro could take you from a workout to a night out. Jacquemus and Thom Browne also serve up some ace looks that you could wear whether you're a pro player or you've never picked up a racquet before.
