Dress for Success: Finding the Right Clothes for Your Best Tennis Game

Clothing styles on the tennis court have come a long way since the early twentieth century. Back then, it was fashionable for men to wear long pants, vests, and cotton shirts while women often wore full-length dresses. It was more about societal standards than enhancing performance, which we now know to be the better direction to take when purchasing new tennis attire. But don’t mistake that for not being fashion forward – you can have your cake and eat it too when it comes to tennis court fashion.

As technology speeds us into the next century, what it does for tennis and other sports follows similarly. While cottons trap heat and sweat close to the body, technological advances in synthetic fabrics help do the opposite by including moisture wicking. This is where the clothes actually pull moisture from the body and towards the outside of the clothing in order for it to evaporate easily. Not only can you purchase moisture wicking shirts, but also socks, shorts and pants.

This advancement in clothing has made it easier to stay cool and dry, even in the most humid of conditions. Though not a technological breakthrough, accessories such as sweatbands and caps have aided players by keeping perspiration from getting into the eyes and blocking the glare of the sun as it is setting. It is also important for clothing to allow for free movement around the court. Restrictive clothing can only hinder a player’s agility, so be certain to choose clothing that allows for movement in the arms and legs.

It’s not hard to find both form and function in the world of clothing on the tennis court. While shopping for your tennis wardrobe, keep in mind these three recommendations:

  1. You must have comfort, proper fit and the ability to move.
  2. Fabrics that contain moisture wicking can only help, especially on a hot summer day.
  3. Any color combination and pattern you’re comfortable with will do – make a personal statement on the court with both your athletic ability and fashion sense!

While personal style is subjective, open any magazine and you will find plenty of so-called experts taking aim at who wore what on any given day. Thankfully, style on the court is typically subjective, and therefore, designers now offer a myriad of options to fit any fashion sense. From loud prints and color combinations to the more subdued hues of grey, just about any style choice is fashion forward on the courts these days.

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