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Jean René Lacoste, 1928 – Creator of the piqué polo shirt, Lacoste was the first tennis player to compete in short-sleeved knit shirts instead of the dress shirts that were seen as traditional tennis attire. The French tennis player earned his nickname “The Crocodile” as a result of his tenacious playing style: this nickname was to inspire the logo that is now recognized around the world as the Lacoste sports brand.
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Fred Perry, 1936 – Like Lacoste, Perry was a top tennis champion who contributed to the transformation of traditional tennis clothing. Whilst competing at Wimbledon in the 1930s, Perry would wrap medical gauze around his wrist so he could easily wipe the sweat from his brow during play. This was later developed into the sweatband, an innovation Perry’s company mass produced alongside piqué polo shirts similar to Lacoste’s.
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ALICE MARBLE AND KAY STAMMERS, 1938 – with Marble working her oversized box coat, and Stammers in her culotte-style shorts and neat preppy blazer, these two American tennis pros sure new how to make an entrance at Wimbledon.
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LEA PERICOLI, 1965 – Pericoli often collaborated with Teddy Tinling, a sought after designer who revolutionized female tennis apparel in the ’50s and ’60s. The success of her 1964 Tinling fur-trimmed tennis dress generated so much buzz, subsequent tennis outfits were kept top-secret right up until the start of each match. Above she is shown in her Tinling rose trimmed dress.
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MARIA BUENO, 1966 – three-time Wimbledon champion, Bueno was also a fan of Tinling’s designs. Here she rocks a futuristic flared tennis dress with PVC detailing at the midriff and hem.
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GURTRUDE “GUSSIE” MORAN, 1950 – Not everyone was crazy for Teddy Tinling though. In 1949 Moran was the target of much disapproval from the All England Lawn Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club after wearing a Tinling creation so short, her frilly knickers could be seen as she played. Ever since, she chose to wear fashionable shorts beneath her skirt instead, such as her leopard print pair pictured above.
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BILLIE JEAN KING, 1967 – As a six-time Wimbledon women’s singles champion, King had a reputation for being fierce on court. But that didn’t stop her from bringing style to her games. Her preppy Lacoste twin sets were always given an edge by her fashionable frames, as shown by her miu miu style cat-eye glasses above.
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CHRIS EVERT, 1974 – Evert was well known for her cute tennis dresses that matched her American sweetheart persona. Even in 1976, when she opted for plain tennis whites whilst playing at Wimbledon, she gave her look a twist with her frilly pink panties that could be seen poking out from beneath her skirt.
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MARIA SHARAPOVA, 2008 – If any player today can be labeled as fashion conscious as her predecessors, it’s Sharapova. In 2006, she collaborated with Nike to create her own Audrey Hepburn-inspired LBD to wear during night matches. Above she is pictured in her Nike Wimbledon tuxedo that she wore in 2008 with a pair of £2,500 diamond and platinum earrings.
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Laura Robson, 2013 – Robson was the 19-year old newbie who stole the hearts of the British nation this tournament. Kitted out in Stella McCartney for Adidas, she sported the latest in tennis fashion wearing pieces from McCartney’s debut tennis line.
