Since "Bunny" Austin wore tailored
shorts in international matches both in
Paris and at Wimbledon, speculation
has been rife as to just how far dress
reform would be adopted by tennis
players generally. Women in the forefront of tennis overseas have
demonstrated individual taste. This in itself is a noteworthy departure
from the dress traditions that have obtained for many years.
As opposed to the customary white or cream dress of semi-
MRS. WHITTINGSTALL, nee Eileen
Bennett (England) wears a sports
shirt open at the neck with very brief
shorts, similar to those so prevalent on
Sydney beaches last summer.
Mme. Mathieu (France) is admitted
to be one of the smartest women either
on or off the court. In common with
the accepted ruling of her country
women, she wears a grey and navy blue
ensemble. Even her glasses have been
specially made to further this color
scheme for the customary horn-rims are
replaced by composition of a bluish
grey tint.
Helen Wills-Moody (U.S.A.) adheres
to the vogue for white. But a tri-color
scheme is carried out in her racquet
and her sports coat and a scarf are in-
variably made in tones of vivid blue and
red.
Psychologists affirm that clothes have
a potent influence on the mental out-
look of the wearer. The sombre garb of
the Puritans is instanced as having been
chosen for its sobering effect. Leading
women tennis players, however, unite in
condemning the radical innovations in
dress that have appeared on overseas
courts.
That a tennis player would be inspired
to volley more accurately, or to estab-
lish a record in the matter of "aces"
by wearing shorts or slacks is one which
they do not feel is worthy of considera-
tion.
Mrs. C. S. Warburton, who is a mem-
ber of the N.S.W. Lawn Tennis As-
sociation Council, says: "The best
players, will always wear what has been
accepted as regulation dress for tennis.
It looks more businesslike. Possibly some
of the weaker players, seeking to cause
a sensation, will be seen on the court
in shorts or slacks, but I am positive
they will not appeal to the better
players."
Just whether spectacular raiment will
prove a feminine wile to offset weakness
of performance on the court, as Mrs.
Warburton would appear to indicate, is
a matter that those who favor the vogue
will hotly dispute.
Miss Nell Lloyd, who is also a coun-
cillor of the N.S.W.L.T.A., and captained
the women's team in New Zealand last
year, gives her opinion that neither
slacks nor shorts will be adopted in
Australia. She is doubtful, too, as to the
advisability of backless frocks. "Most
of the girls," she says, "turn their pre-
sent collars up at the back of the neck
so that I rather fancy backless will not
prove suitable in the Australian cli-
mate."
However, a backless frock made its
appearance in the City of Sydney Cham-
pionships during the week. It was
worn by Mrs. H. S. Utz in the mixed
doubles event.
"I think some of the backless frocks
are very unattractive, but worn with
restraint and firm shoulder straps, I
like them," said this player, affording in
her own attire a striking argument in
favor of the backless mode.
In complete accord with Mrs. Utz is
Miss Louie Bickerton, winner of the
women's singles title in the City of Syd-
ney event, though she conceded a cer-
tain laxity towards the wearing of
shorts for informal occasions.
In a discussion of the respective
merits of a simple frock, shorts or
slacks, the question of appearance is one
that must be disregarded for opinion
of the two latter is based largely on pre-
judice. There are two factors, then, to
|MRS. WHITTINGSTALL, nee
Eileen Bennett, looks very charm-
ing in her shorts, but there are very
few women who could wear them
with equal grace.
MISS QUEENIE ROYAL, well-
known solo dancer and sports girl,
shows the various modes from
which tennis players can choose
their costume for the coming season.
— Women's Weekly Photos. Models by
courtesy David Jones.|
be considered, freedom of movement and
coolness.
Of the three modes of dress, slacks af-
ford the least coolness. To counteract
the warmth of encasing the legs to the
ankles in flannel the slacks must be cut
with wide flares. This means that they
will flap round the ankles and, there-
fore, do not accord freedom of move-
ment for a participant in a sport that
calls for such active footwork as ten-
nis.
Shorts would appear to afford the
greatest freedom, but they do so in
theory rather than in practice. Ac-
tually a vigorous game will cause a dis-
arrangement of the shirt which is the
obvious complement of shorts. It will
tend to pull out at the waist unless a
firmly fitting belt is worn.
Miss Barbara Peden, who won the
women's singles championship during
a recent visit to Java, gives a convincing
illustration of the desirability of the
white frock. "In Java," she says, "the
women wore frocks because they con-
sidered they were the coolest form of at-
tire."
There are then very definite reasons
for the professed adherence to the cus-
tomary white frock worn short enough
to allow the requisite freedom.
