Tennis is a sport that at least here in Toronto is approved to do during Covid times. I don’t play, but I sure do love the outfits! Cute Tennis skirts are even making their way off the court into modern day clothing as currently trending on Pinterest. Now I don’t post modern clothing here (unless it’s vintage reproduction), but I thought it would be fun to see what Tennis Outfits looked like from the 1920s-1950s.
Grab your racket and let the sportswear fashion show begin!
Source: Etsy
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Note: If you click on an item and it is no longer available, don’t fret! The websites I have provided are updated daily with 1000’s of new & vintage items. Just do a quick search and see what you find.
Vintage Tennis Outfits from the 1920’s-1950’s
Vintage Images & Sewing Patterns
Vintage Shopping: I have created an Etsy Collection called “VINTAGE TENNIS” that features more sewing patterns, fashions & inspiration not featured below (updated monthly-feb 2023)
1920’s Tennis Fashions
Vintage Flapper Sewing Pattern for a Ladies’ 1920’s Blazer Sport Jacket. So very Chic! You would be the most stylish on the court.
Source: Etsy
Cute alert! Love this 1920’s photo of a young woman holding a Tennis racket in her sportswear outfit posing for a picture with her mother (I’m assuming).
Source: Etsy
1920’s Women’s Sportswear. Suzanne Lenglen, Julie Vlasto 1926 in 1920s tennis outfits. Love the scarves in their hair.
Source: Fascination Street Vintage
1930’s Tennis Fashions
1930s Tennis outfit fashion spread as seen in a Harpers Bazaar Magazine.
Source: Etsy
1930’s sewing pattern illustration for tennis shorts, blouse and hairscarf. The blouse can also be worn with a long skirt. So pretty!
Source: Etsy
1939 knitting pattern for a ladies tennis sports set which includes: a dress (with belt), playsuit/all-in-one, cardigan and socks. Perfect outfit for when the weather starts to cool off.
Source: Etsy
I’m a big fan of multi functional outfits, just like the vintage 1930’s sewing pattern below. Head to the tennis court in style with blouse and shorts and an overskirt. Take the longer skirt off and BAM! time to play the game.
Source: Etsy
1932 Vintage Photo of 2 women smoking on the court. Both ladies are wearing what looks like 1930’s swimsuits.
Source: Pinterest
1940’s Tennis Fashions
Cute vintage 1940’s Simplicity sewing pattern to make a “Misses’ and Women’s blouse and jumper or tennis dress. The detail on this illustration is wonderful! Check out the bracelet on our model to the left? Just the fact that there is even that detail at all is awesome.
Source: Etsy
Rita Hayworth playing Tennis in 1940 in an adorable one piece tennis dress (playsuit).
Source: Pinterest
1940’s photo by Tennie Harris of a cute Woman, Vivian V. Clayton, wearing two-pieceTtennis outfit, standing on Tennis court holding the ball and racket.
Source: Carniege Museum of Art
1940’s sewing pattern for Women’s Tennis outfit-Blouse & Shorts.
Source: Etsy
Women’s Tennis Class 1940. Vintage photo of Students in their Tennis outfits and jackets. Great form!
Source: Flickr
1950’s Tennis Fashions
1950’s sewing pattern for a 2 Pc. Tennis uutfit. Full Skirt, Blouse and Shorts. Love the full skirt that is shorter Tennis skirt!
Source: Etsy
1950’s photo of a young Black woman sitting on a bench in her Tennis gear in Oakland, California. I love her casual but really cool look!
Source: Tumblr
1950’s Drawing of 2 women taking a break from Tennis to have some drama over a man. Drawing is from 1953. I love the romper on the left on the lovely Iris.
Source: Fine Art America
1956 photo of a young woman posing in front of her house in her shorts & blouse Tennis outfit.
Source: Etsy – DearMacyVintage
1950’s Weldons sewing pattern for a Tennis Dress and Briefs.
Source: Etsy
1950s Photo of “Tennis in the Bahamas, 1957.” Photo: Slim Aarons. What a cool hat on the lady on the right! Super example of the short & blouse and tennis dress that has been seen in the sewing patterns above.
Source: Pinterest
May 19th, 2022 update: I just saw ‘Downtown Abbey: A New Era’ last night in the movie theatres and the 1928 fashions were STUNNING! Especially the sportswear styles like the Tennis clothes pictured below. How fantastic does our Downtown family look?
Source: W Magazine
Question Time: What was your favorite Era for Tennis Outfits? Mine was the 1930s (those outfits are just darn cute!). Share your favs in the comment section below.
Follow up Reading from ‘Nylon Nostalgia“: The tennis player who dared to wear ruffled frilly panties at Wimbledon It’s a fascinating read! so don’t miss it!
And check out my blog post on Jinx Falkenburg-1930s and 1940s “Did It All” Girl, Tennis star and movie star!
Liz
I just love the 1950’s! It somehow manages to make everything cute, chic AND classy with a bit of sexiness too. No other era could do all that.
Good choice!
Liz
Hello – I just discovered your site & have a quick question; do you still have the Talk of the Town music Fox Trot Song? I’m interested in framing it for a dear family friend. Her husband just passed & he used to play this song for my mom..every time she asked, which coincided with every time she saw him. my email is traceejean@surlaw.com & I’m Traceethefirst on twitter. Thank you in advance…
Hi There,
I’m sorry about the passing of your friends husband 🙁 As for your question, are you looking for the sheet music? Or a photo cover of the song?
Not sure if I can help, but I will take a look once I know more.
Thanks!
Liz
Love the post and enjoyed the read! In the absence of Wimbledon this year we need our tennis fix and it might as well be vintage fashion-related. By coincidence I have just published an article on my vintage fashion blog about the maverick pair who started off the fashion for the shorter dresses and frilly knickers of the 1950’s and 60’s – American tennis player Gussie Moran, aided and abetted by her English dress designer friend Teddy Tinling way back in 1949. Teddy wanted Gussie to wear a colourful dress to play tennis in but the traditionalists at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club insisted that everyone wear white, so the pair had to think of some other way to make a fashion statement – and so it was that the short skirt and frilly knickers combination was born, albeit in white.
Ohhhh ths is great! I’m going to head over and check this out right now. Thanks for sharing this!
Liz
Fab! If you can’t find it just drop me a line and I’ll send you the link. Emma 🙂
Send me the link if you don’t mind. I got distracted by that thing called work lol!
Thanks!!
Hi Liz – oh, I know. Work gets in the way of everything lol. Here’s the link: https://nylonnostalgia.com/f/frilly-knickers
Emma 🙂
Thanks!
Oh, I forgot to say Liz – I own the copyright to the photo of Gussie and Teddy on my tennis article. If you feel it might fit neatly into your article then by all means feel free and use it 🙂
Oh Perfect! I added it to the bottom with Further Reading, but if I can add that fabulous photo to draw attention that would be super! Gosh what a scandal that all was. Great post, thanks for sharing with me 🙂
Liz
My pleasure, Liz. Anyone for tennis?!?!
Smoking and tennis LOL. So rebellious! The one girl sure made her mom look frumpy by comparison. A couple of these woman reminded me of actress Loretta Young.
Smoking and Tennis are the only way to go. So healthy! hahahaha!
Yes your right there is some resemblance to Loretta Young.
Liz
Oh; I love them all! So delightful, it’s impossible to pick an era. Amy
I so agree!
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Liz