This exhibition examines how tennis attire has changed with society over time – from conservative styles to more self-expressive and modern fashion choices.
Tennis’ dynamic beauty and allure has long made it a focal point of art. Musicians compose tunes that encapsulate its elegance while theater plays often use tennis as an emotional backdrop for human dramas.
White was the New Black
Black tennis players struggled against discrimination in their sport of choice. They worked to break down walls of elitism that kept it predominantly white and faced an environment which was not only biased racially but economically and socially segregated as well. All of this had an impactful influence on how they played tennis – creating their own distinct style defined by etiquette and manners.
Women, particularly, were taught by their coaches to behave like genteel aristocrats – wearing long skirts decorated with lace inserts and embroidery patterns as part of a game to emulate such behavior – leading them to play as leisure activities in upper middle-class households and wealthy white communities.
Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe were visionaries who challenged white supremacy within sports to become champions, setting an example for future black athletes. However, their rise was fraught with numerous hurdles that made their journey hard fought.
Gibson lived her formative years in Silver, South Carolina as part of a sharecropping family that exploited labor (Gray & Lamb 2004).
Richard Williams saw in tennis an opportunity for his daughters to overcome poverty and the streets of Compton by becoming tennis champions, so he pushed them towards this path despite all their challenges and setbacks.
Example: Their family was living in a segregated city controlled by violent street gangs and lacking sufficient resources, making it hard for them to establish beneficial networks.
Antwaun Sargeant’s New Black Vanguard exhibition at Aperture Gallery in New York showcases 15 black image-makers who create work for fashion magazines and high-end advertisements, some with years of experience while others may be newercomers to the field. Along with accompanying book, this traveling exhibition seeks to reroute conversations about how media portray Black people.
Tennis became a sport of emancipation
Tennis has long been enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds for centuries. Not only is it a fantastic way to stay physically fit and socialize with others, but it has become an iconic symbol of status, wealth and power – it transcends borders and cultures to become part of many cultural and political movements worldwide.
Tennis emerged as an arena for female empowerment through women’s participation. Prior to 1914, females only rarely had access to organized sports like tennis – they were considered scandalous sights due to moving vigorously while sweating or appearing out of breath. Tennis became an arena where these barriers could be dismantled through women’s participation.
Tennis was traditionally associated with upper class society; however, during the 1870s and early 1880s it quickly became a favorite pastime among middle-class women as an indoor and outdoor activity in homes as well as parks across Britain. Tennis became so popular because its physical demands and stimulating nature could provide both exercise and mental stimulation – something it still does today!
Women’s participation in tennis was initially restricted by gender discrimination; however, participation accelerated significantly during the 1920s with the rise of four Musketeers such as Billie Jean King, Ann Jones, Francoise Durr and Rosie Casals who dominated it through athletic displays of excellence.
By the late 1960s, football had transitioned from an exclusively male sport into a gender-neutral event – an important step toward equality. Since then, several iconic matches such as Battle of the Sexes in 1973 have taken place between men and women players on different sides.
Tennis has had an enormous impact on culture, featuring heavily in movies and television shows. Serena Williams has had a particular significance within professional tennis – using her platform to advocate for women’s rights while inspiring other women across the world to strive for excellence in their own fields.
Tennis became a sport of class
Tennis has long been associated with leisure, recreation and style. A sport played exclusively by those from society during its inception as “lawn tennis” in the 1800s, its clothing represented class. Players would often wear long-sleeved white button-up shirts (with sleeves rolled up) and flannel trousers on the court, often sporting long hair in braided plaits or braids. That iconic look continues to shape tennis even today, from its roots in croquet up through to today’s multi-billion dollar industry. Tennis has long been an inspiration to artists, designers and advertisers looking to promote products or tourist destinations through visual imagery. John Lavery’s painting of a tennis party in 1885 became a symbol of its aspirational lifestyle that made tennis such a beloved pastime.
Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova brought new fame to tennis during the 2000s, drawing endorsement deals and front row spots at fashion shows. These players helped cement our perceptions of it as a sport full of glamour and elegance.
Tennis is an ever-evolving sport, much like its courts themselves. Just as its balls move about on courts, tennis fashion – whether slowly or quickly – responds to trends around us in unpredictable ways.
Prior to the 19th century, tennis was almost exclusively enjoyed by wealthy people on their estates. Male players wore hats and ties as part of their uniform on courts while female players often donned corsets and bustles that could prove uncomfortable during play. All-white outfits worn by players demonstrated they belonged to an upper class background.
Following World War II, both male and female tennis players began expressing themselves more freely on court. Suzanne Lenglen of France and Lili Alvarez from Spain were two pioneers who broke away from fashion rules that had restrained female tennis players before them. Rene “the Crocodile” Lacoste revolutionized men’s clothing by designing loose pique knit shirts featuring flat unstarched collars with sleeves ending at the elbow for maximum range of motion allowing for greater movement on court.
Tennis became a sport of activism
After World War I, when women began competing alongside men in tennis matches, their clothing became more fashionable and relaxed. Icons such as France’s Suzanne Lenglen and Spain’s Lili Alvarez became icons of this new era for women’s sportswear; both wore short dresses with loose strapped shoes to express their freedom from corsets and bustles; these players donned designs by fashionable couturiers Jean Patou and Rene Lacoste that broke with traditional conventions reflecting postwar changes within society.
As with fashion, wider social trends had an effect on tennis as well, particularly regarding racial equality. Tennis had traditionally been dominated by white players; however, due to legislation passed in 1968 that permitted professional athletes from minority backgrounds such as Arthur Ashe to compete at its highest levels, black players such as Ashe began making waves within the game itself and using his tennis prowess for advocacy causes such as civil rights, economic empowerment, opposition against Apartheid, and AIDS awareness – just to name a few causes that spoke out loudly against whiteness within its borders.
Tennis has always been a favorite sport among spectators, yet its image also holds great appeal for artists and designers. This phenomenon was clearly demonstrated with Sir John Lavery’s The Tennis Party (1885), which helped legitimize tennis as an art subject worthy of serious artistic study.
Tennis has long been a beloved pastime among teenagers, yet has long been marred by racial divide. One possible explanation may lie in the fact that many participants come from upper class households and thus access private clubs; conversely, few opportunities exist for teenagers from low-income homes to access this sport without incurring their own costs.
While the Williams sisters are well known for their athletic prowess on the tennis court, they have also become leading advocates for mental health. Through their work they aim to raise awareness about the significance of mental wellness for youth. Their PeaceLove Foundation equips human service workers with curriculum and supplies necessary for running workshops that initiate conversations about mental wellness.