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The sophistication of the sport’s attire is a surefire ace this summer, serving up class without snobberyApologies first of all to anyone who saw the word “tennis” in the headline and thought this was going to be a column about Andy Murray’s prospects at Wimbledon, because it isn’t. (Fingers crossed though.)I’m not here to talk tennis. I’m here to talk tennis-core. Knife-pleat skirts, visors, collared polo shirts. Snowy white, with flashes of deep green; neat dresses with socks and trainers; sweaters the colour of clotted cream draped over the shoulders. Tennis is just such a good look.It has a glittering trophy cabinet of fashion heritage. This is the sport that gave us classic Stan Smith Adidas trainers, and the polo shirt, invented by René Lacoste. Glamour and elegance infuse tennis on court and off. The grace and power of a player serving an ace or diving into the net for a volley has the elongated, elegant line of a fashion illustration by René Gruau.A classic diamond bracelet has been known as a tennis bracelet since 1978, when Chris Evert’s broke mid-match during the US Open and stopped the game to pick up the stones. Spectators at tennis tournaments don’t dress as fans, as they do at most sports; they wear The Vampire’s Wife dresses or dapper tailoring. And in what other sport would the ballboys and girls be dressed in the ultimate leisure-lifestyle brand, Ralph Lauren, as they are at Wimbledon?Tennis is a character-driven drama played by people at the peak of physical fitness, and the gladiatorial nature of the contest is reflected – in the modern game – in increasingly individual looks. But while these tutus and sweatbands, jumpsuits and blazers have kept the fashion spotlight on tennis, it is the classic look, rather than the avant-garde updates, that fashion will always be in love with.And never more than now. In 2023, tennis-core is where athleisure is at. After two decades of streetwear dominating fashion, preppy style is making a comeback. What that means, at real-life-wardrobe level, is neat collared polo shirts instead of oversized football-style shirts; colour combinations that are discreet rather than garish; subtle, club-style logos rather than slogans and graphics. Continue reading...