Tennis Fashion

Hi! Welcome to Gigi’s blog! I am Gigi Wacaster and I am 15 years old! I love everything about fashion! After watching Wimbledon and seeing people's crazy and cool outfits, including Karolína Muchová and Coco Gauff, I thought my next article should be about the history of tennis fashion. From the 80s mullets to 2020s vintage polos, fashion has changed over time, but old trends have found their way back. I hope the next time you are playing tennis, you think about what decade your outfit is most like. 

The 80s were, in my opinion, the coolest decade because of the carelessness of the 

outfits. Tennis in the 80s was all about the outfits, the hair, and a little bit about the skill. In that decade, John McEnroe was definitely the tennis fashion icon rocking the headband, mullet and the short-shorts. He was also known for his temper which explains why his nickname was “Superbrat.” Chris Evert was also very fashion forward on the court. She was rocking the old money look. She of course wore pleated skirts, polo shirts, and tight dresses. Popular brands in the 80s are very similar to the ones today including Fila, Sergio Tacchini, and Lacoste. The 80s were definitely prime tennis fashion, when mullets, headbands, short-shorts, polos, and pleated skirts were in style. 

The 90s was definitely the worst decade, but it was still kind of cool. The 90s itself was a very fashion forward decade, especially in sports. Tennis icon Andre Agassi had a very interesting view of tennis fashion. He wore jean shorts and, of course, he had a mullet. Girls on the other hand were a lot more civilized. Steffi Graf definitely had the best style in the 90s. She wore the classic polo shirt and mini pleated tennis skirt. She also is married to Andre Agassi and they have three kids together! The popular fashion brands in the 90s were Nike, Fila, and Sergio Tacchini. The 90s definitely were another prime tennis fashion era in some people’s eyes, with jean shorts, mullets and of course polo shirts. 

The 2000s got a little better, men would wear oversized polo shirts, headbands and backwards hats. Girls would wear mini tennis dresses, tiered and asymmetrical cuts. The 2000s were when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal started playing. Federer was a part of the old money preppy group. He wore polo shirts, headbands and, of course, after the match he put on his classic Rolex watch. Nadal rocked the long hair, sweat band style and, of course, he also wore a watch. The 2000s were Serena Williams' tennis debut. She would wear tight dresses, crop tops and her iconic sneaker boots. The 2000s was definitely an era when tennis skill was insane. 

The 2010s were definitely an era of chic fashion. Caroline Wozniacki was definitely a model for the 2010s women's fashion. She wore bright colors, catsuits, and, of course, a visor. This was a classic tennis outfit in that decade for women. Men would wear sleek, slim-fit tailoring and the Pharrell Williams Collection. Novak Djokovic was a great example of men's fashion in the 2010s. He would wear sleek fashion pieces, including oversized Lacoste shirts and shorts. Popular brands included NikeCourt, Adidas by Stella McCartney, and EleVen by Venus Williams. The 2010s were the decade when fashion was at its simplest. 

The 2020s is the craziest era. One person in particular has caught my eye and has definitely caught your attention. Naomi Osaka has worn the craziest outfits, including tutus, a white tulle maxi skirt, and a giant green bow. In my opinion, this style should be left off the court, but sometimes, at the right time, it can be fun. Moving on to the male tennis player, this player brings energy on the court and off. Ben Shelton wears fun, bright-colored pieces that really show his personality. I like Ben Shelton as a character and as a fashion icon. Popular brands so far include Wilson, Babolat, Nike, and On Cloud. The 2020s are the most chaotic decade. 

I hope the next time you're hitting the court, you think about what decade your outfit is most like, and who your favorite tennis player is. Thank you for reading this article!