| There was a time when selecting tennis clothes was | | | | All tennis players should own a proper warm-up outfit, |
| quite a simple endeavor; the tradition of wearing tennis | | | | which is typically a two piece suit consisting of long |
| whites made the selection process quite streamlined. | | | | pants and a long sleeved top. A warm-up outfit helps |
| However, as anyone who follows tennis knows, the | | | | the athlete stay warm and get loose before a match, |
| days of watching Martina Navratilova or Jimmy | | | | and it is also the traditionally preferred attire for arrival |
| Connors take the court wearing all white are long | | | | at the court. Tradition also holds that warm-up suits |
| gone, and today's game is one that embraces fashion | | | | should be removed during the actual match unless it |
| forward styles and functional fabrics. | | | | happens to be a very cold day. |
| Today's best players, like Roger Federer and Maria | | | | During a match, men should wear tucked shirts and |
| Sharapova, are often seen in apparel that spans the | | | | tennis shorts, although more and more the untucked |
| spectrum of color and fashion; not surprisingly, the rest | | | | look is becoming a presence in professional and |
| of the tennis world has followed suit. | | | | amateur tennis. Women should wear short sleeved or |
| Today's tennis clothes look great on and off the court, | | | | sleeveless shirts paired with skirts or skorts - shorts |
| and they are made with performance fabrics that | | | | that have styling that resembles a traditional skirt. |
| surpass the cottons of the past in nearly every way. | | | | It is important to note that the traditional tennis attire is |
| Modern polyester fabrics like Coolmax (TM) and | | | | still alive and well in some places, particularly at some |
| Wickaway (TM) are available in a wide range of knits | | | | tennis and country clubs. If you are invited to play as a |
| and colors, but it is not their style but their utilitarian | | | | guest at a club, check with the club or your host in |
| qualities that make them so ideal for tennis. | | | | order to be certain that your tennis clothes are |
| Performance fabrics - like polyester, nylon, and | | | | appropriate and fitting with their dress code. |
| spandex - breathe unlike traditional textiles allowing you | | | | No tennis outfit is complete without the ever important |
| to stay cool and dry even during the height of summer. | | | | accessories. Tennis shoes should be sneaker style, |
| Further, these high tech fabrics hold their shape and | | | | and it is probably best to purchase sneakers that are |
| color much better than their cotton counterparts, | | | | specifically designed for tennis. Not only will true tennis |
| allowing you to look good before, during, and after your | | | | shoes perform better, they will not have black or dark |
| match, and their high durability will allow you to continue | | | | colored soles which are banned at many courts due to |
| to look good in the future. | | | | their tendency to leave dark scuffs on the playing |
| Modern textiles are just one aspect of contemporary | | | | surface. Make sure you complement your tennis outfit |
| tennis clothes; these clothes are fashionable and | | | | with fashionable socks as well as things like |
| functional as well. While there is nothing wrong with | | | | headbands, hats, or wristbands; all of which will help |
| wearing traditional whites to the court, proper tennis | | | | keep your face and hands dry and ready for action. |
| attire now includes bright colors and prints which | | | | Tennis is a game deeply rooted in history and tradition, |
| continue to gain popularity at all levels of the game. | | | | but with some careful shopping you can successfully |
| Style and form are important considerations when | | | | span those boundaries by wearing tennis clothes that |
| selecting tennis apparel, but one should be careful not | | | | perform well, look great, and stay true to the traditions |
| to ignore function as well as the traditions of the game. | | | | of the game. |