Colour Invades the Tennis Court

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 46

Colour Invades the Tennis Court

Mrs.

Fearnley

Whittingstall

(Eileen Bennett)

S, I expect, is. every other : > a’ woman’-tennis * player, "I am tired of this quite unnececeary. ‘frise about .

shorts. ' "Unnecessary," becausethe difference between ‘a ‘very short’ skirt’and well-cut skirt-shorts is so unsensational as: to be-hardy noticeable! A ‘friend of mine watched one of.the women players. at’ Bourne: mouth the other week for a quarter.iof an hour ‘befere she could tnake out whith she was'wearing. ‘ gets Of course, I am talking about cleverly cut, widelypleated shorts, not the type of scanty panties that make even the slenderest woman look like a very much overgrown schoolboy. My idea of this season’s smartest formal costume for the player with a reasonably slim figure includes a pair of skirt-shorts, cut not briefer than three inches above the knee, and made of white flannel. or creaseless linen: with-and this is important-two pleats at both back and front to give the correct fullness. With this goes a sports shirt of fine white woollen material, decorated with the wearer’s monogram in some light colour. This fine woollen is very new-and very practical, because it absorbs all moisture from the body and so is tremendously comfortable to wear. I always have my separate tennis shirts cut very long below the waist, so as to avoid riding up. The belt-in stitched self material-is slotted through the shorts to keep the waist trim. Another new kit I like for friendly games and country matches, though not, of course, for the centre court at Wimbledon, is‘in sky blue linen Orthodox players will be horrified at the idea of colour on.tne ‘court, but I stick to my innovation, and: I think that soon we shall see coloured outfits worn by. the best players just as we have already expérienced:thosetwo, unheard-of "revolutions," bare legs and shorts. "°° This new blue model, for the sake. of which I was practically. mobbed the other day, again takes the form of widely-pleated skirt-shorts, this time -with a. Vnecked sleeveless: bodice cut in one, with them. The opening is down one sid. : F A new:"skirt-shorts" dress which I like very much,, too, is an all-in-one step-in' buttoned right down: the: centre back. eee Cote om get feet For very.tall or rathe# "hefty" women, "nothing can beat the plain dresses with gored skirs which many ra

well-known players are wearing this season. They are sjim-looking and comfortable, and look well in fine cotton, cotton pique, or creaseless linen. Slender people whio: prefer. skirts to shorts should, to be smart; ‘choose those. that are pleated all round. Dresses should be rather high-waisted, the bodices Z close-fitting but not tight round the armholes. Careful cutting is needed here, for a loose ar mhole with a slipping shoulder is just as uncomfortable asa tight one. Like most players, I have a little tab sewn inside all dresses and shirts at the shoulder to keep lingerie straps in place. You see hardly any blazers among the women tennis stars. . Everyone is wearing little cardigans that are knitted like blouses-pouched over a highribbed ‘waistband, and either wrapping over or buttening down the front. They can have either long or short sleeves. On colder days I wear a: short-sleeved one beneath another, in a contrasting colour, with lotg sleeves. An ordinary cardigan catches the racket handle if you play in it-these do not, and so are splendid for "warming up" on a chilly day. For coloured accessories the season’s favourite is undoubtedly blue, in all"its shades from turquoise to navy. Any touch of colour on the dress should match the blouse-cardigan whether it be decorative machine stitching (very good on white frocks) or embroidered initials. Even if they do choose a coloured "woolly" even a coloured dress, smart players prefer all-white socks and shoes. : Most of the leading tennis stars are again playing without stockings this year. For "be"neaths" T like very short’ alpaca wool panties-whether _a.skirt, ‘or shorts are. worn-with a matching vest and, uf" necessary, a wide brassiere. A:stiart player aims at looking as trim after three "hard sétg as she did when she stepped on to the court, ‘and the’ great to this is usually her hair. I .always put a fine net over mine, and so do Dorothy ‘Round, Kathleen Stammers, and most of the other ‘players. Sometimes I find a velvet "snood" an effective trol. addition, but an eyeshade keeps the hair in better conA \ |