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Reginald Brace at Wimbledon: When he needs to be a follower of fashion, Federer has it in bag
Fashionistas who were looking forward to another glimpse of Roger Federer's new wardrobe were disappointed yesterday.
It was probably the heat, but there was no sign of the military style jacket with the standup collar, epaulets and gold trimmings he displayed on Monday, nor the posh trousers.
However, the warm-up waistcoat was still in evidence and the gold and white kit bag to remind us of what seriously smart tennis people should be buying this year. Not to mention the flash shoes and the tailored shorts.
So, if Federer's victory over Spain's Guillermo Garcia- Lopez was more cakewalk than cat walk it remains clear that Wimbledon's role as a harbinger of fashion is still secure. Even the ultra-conservative Andy Murray has joined in the parade with his retro-styled polo shirt and sleek shorts.
Fashion and tennis have always had a close relationship, of course. May Sutton earned a certain notoriety by becoming the first player to show a naked leg in 1905 and Suzanne Lenglen maintained the tradition by wearing daringly revealing dresses in her reign as queen of the game.
The list goes on. The frilly pants of ussie Moran drew crowds to the courtside, as did the golden underwear of Karol Fageros. And who can forget the sensation when it was decreed that Anne White's body suit was too revealing for the hallowed lawns of the All England Club.
The women's game even had its own couturier in the late Ted Tinling. In more recent times the tradition has been maintained by the likes of Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters who have brought fresh ideas to what women should wear on court.
As far as the men's game is concerned it is worth recalling that the British player Bunny Austin was the first man to wear shorts at Wimbledon. His legendary contemporary Fred Perry always wore long, beautifully tailored trousers. Yvon Petra was the last player to win the men's title wearing long trousers, in 1946.
Even the court officials at Wimbledon have joined in the fashion parade with their blue and white uniforms styled by Ralph Lauren. Federer and Murray are only pursuing a longstanding link between the worlds of fashion and tennis.
All of which raises the question of how many rank and file hackers want to be at the sharp end of tennis clobber. Does your average club player really want to wear a military style jacket redolent of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, or indeed one of the more daring creations by the likes of Serena Williams and Sharapova?
Probably not. They are arguably more comfortable wearing less adventurous styles which have stood the test of time. But the influence of Wimbledon's trend setters eventually percolates to club level. Meanwhile they amuse the dandy who lurks in most of us.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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