Why, Women's tennis, why?!?

I love tennis. I played in high school and college and it was my favorite thing about each experience. I made a lot of good friends and still talk to three of them all the time- two of which are my best friends and one that is now my sister in law. I love the rules of tennis. I love the sound when you hit the ball. I love how beautiful top spin is as you see it across the court. I love everything about tennis- almost. There is one thing that has always bothered me and always will. Those freakin' skirts. Seriously? Athletes are supposed to compete in skirts? There are other activities in which one wears skirts that I am not entirely opposed to; dancers wear skirts- but it makes sense with the fluidity of their movements. Cheerleaders wear skirts to show their bodies- I can't think of any other reason. Librarians wear skirts so they can be the sexy librarians- okay now I am just trying to be funny. Back to tennis. In this day and age why in the world would an ATHLETE wear a skirt?!?!

When tennis first began, men still wore trousers and women wore dresses and long skirts exclusively, both off and on the court.

It makes sense that they would wear these inconvenient items while playing tennis at the time due to convention and decorum. Over time, the men began to wear longish shorts and the women's skirts rose scandalously to their knees. Again, this makes sense to me based on the times.

Then, in the 1930's one of my tennis idols, Alice Marble, became popular for winning titles and was noted to play "like a man" in that she had a lot of power. She also became notorious for wearing shorts while she played tennis. She was the first female player to do so in a professional match. It was very shocking at the time and she received a lot of press about it.

As a side note, Alice Marble was also responsible for the admission of African American women into the Grand Slam tournaments. In 1950, she wrote in defense of Althea Gibson, a very good African American female tennis player, and her right to participate in the tournaments. Alice said:

"Miss Gibson is over a very cunningly wrought barrel, and I can only hope to loosen a few of its staves with one lone opinion. If tennis is a game for ladies and gentlemen, it's also time we acted a little more like gentlepeople and less like sanctimonious hypocrites.... If Althea Gibson represents a challenge to the present crop of women players, it's only fair that they should meet that challenge on the courts." [Marble said that if Gibson were not given the opportunity to compete] "then there is an uneradicable mark against a game to which I have devoted most of my life, and I would be bitterly ashamed."

Following this event, Gibson, age 23, was given entry into the 1950 U.S. Championships, becoming the first African-American player, man or woman, to compete in a Grand Slam event. (Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, Alice's brazen behavior did not catch on with the other female players and they continued to wear skirts. As time passed, the men's shorts and women's skirts got shorter.

Then in the early 90's, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and other male players started wearing the longer shorts that are worn by the men now- to every one's relief I think.

The women continued to wear the short skirts and mini dresses and still do today. As I said, there are a few players that wear shorts upon occasion.

Now to present day. Serena Williams is an amazing tennis player. I have watched her play many times and admire her confidence and power. She does have one perceptible weakness and that is fashion. Here and there she wears normal outfits, but more often than not she comes up with some crazy stuff- her own designs, I think. That jean skirt outfit is the worst tennis outfit I have ever seen.

I think she is very beautiful with an amazing body for sports. She is like a tennis machine. In her more sedated outfits like this one, I think she looks great.

As you may have heard, last week at Wimbledon 2008, she wore this white trench coat to warm up in. About the trench she said:

"I have a wonderful white coat I can wear on the court and also in New York for those rainy days...it's ladylike and goes perfect with my personality... It's a very lightweight fabric... It's woven so it has a little give in it as well. On the inside, it's stitched with gold. It has a little give on both ways. It's very movable. It's very light. It's just delectable... You know, I absolutely love trench coats".

I like trench coats too. And boots. And purses. And skirts. But you don't see me wearing those to PLAY A SPORT!!! What the freak?!

Then, in the same tournament, Maria Sharapova chose some kind of faux tuxedo option that is supposed to be really innovative for some reason. The top picture with the tuxedo pleating I think it cool and not really that unusual looking. I also like the shorts. What puzzles me is the old man blazer. I get that Serena and Maria are trying to make a fashion statement for themselves, but both seem more than a little contrived- Serena's being FAR worse.

To add to the fun this year, Bethanie Mattek wore a leopard print onesie with a neck so open she could have kept a few extra tennis balls in there. A few years ago she wore shorts and high knee socks that I thought were pretty funny and kind of liked her for it because I thought she was stickin' it to the man a little at Wimbledon, but apparently that did not get her enough attention and is now going the Brittney Spears look-a-like route. Very disappointing.

So, why do women athletes do this stuff?!?! Take a look at these skirts. They are typical tennis skirts that you will see women wear on high school teams, on city leagues, and in the pros. Why?!?!? Picture yourself bending, stretching, and running in those things. The whole time people are just looking at your underwear- oh excuse me, your bloomers. Yes, they are called bloomers and they are the same underwears to go over your underwears that cheerleaders wear. So, we are basically in the cheerleader outfit playing tennis. I know, I was there. My freshman year of high school our coach required us to wear a skirt. I wore men's boxers under my skirt. That wasn't getting me anywhere with coach, so then I started wearing longish Adidas soccer shorts under the skirt that were sometimes longer than the actual skirt. It took me a couple of years to demand that I could wear shorts and pants at the competitive level, but in time I refused to ever wear a skirt. So, what is the possible explanation for wearing one? I have been around tennis girls for the last 15 years and I still don't get it.

So, for a lot of girls I think it is the Anna Kournikova thing- they want to look cute and sexy. That is great for the 22 or 23 other hours in the day when you are not on the court, but can't you throw on some shorts while you play a SPORT?!?!?! At this point it is not men telling women that they have to continue wearing the skirts. It is women deciding that they look cute in them! Some will think it is the money thing. You make more money, get more sponsors, and become more popular if you are attractive. That is true, but it does not account for the 70 year old club player that is going to show up in a skirt to play a match with no prize money or recognition. It does not account for the group of women who get together for fun to play- and they all show up in skirts!! Is it the coaches? Are they older people who are clinging to tradition? That does not account for the many, many young coaches out there. I guess there are probably many reasons, none of which I will ever understand. When will women get rid of the skirts all together, I ask?!?! When will women want to play sports without everyone looking at their underwear **shoot** bloomers the whole time?!?! When??! Why do women have to try and make some fashion statements or express their sexuality when playing a sport?! Just pick up the ball and serve it. Though to be fair, if I was a professional tennis player, I would try and make a statement as well. I'd wear SHORTS.

Seattle

My friend Laura and I went to Seattle last year. I think we went in October and I am only now posting these pictures- quite sad really. Though in my defense, Laura took the pictures and she sent them to me pretty recently. Thanks, Laura! We had a really good time! The weather was beautiful and amazing! It was raining and foggy and dark. I am from Arizona so, yes, that kind of weather is beautiful and amazing.

Now this is a first for me to post pictures of my actual life and it makes me a little uncomfortable. I guess I posted a picture of my husband, Matthew, once and that wasn't too bad. I suppose I am a little shy when it comes to blogging. I don't like to share much personal information, but I love to share pictures of things I like that are not associated with me.

As I begin to see things that are new and fresh to me (Philadelphia and the East Coast) I will start posting a lot of pictures, I think, and if I get more brave, even share some personal experiences. Look out!

The obligatory picture of the Space Needle. This is about as close as we ever got to it.

I love this picture that Laura took from the pier we ate lunch on.

Look how freaky flat my hair is (on the left). Laura was smart and wore a hat. The humidity, rain and wind was killing my hair (as you see in the picture below as well).

I love that you can find Kettle Korn wherever you go! I got this Kettle Korn at a harvest festival in a little town outside Seattle. It was a great festival with food, music, and a lot of people.

Laura with a big log with some significance that I cannot remember.

Laura had some friends just outside of Seattle that took us to Snoqualmie Falls. It was so beautiful!! The falls were really amazing. It is not far out of Seattle- a half an hour at most. We also drove into Olympia and then up into the Olympic Penninsula, but I don't have any pictures of it. Going to Seattle was such a fun trip and added a check mark for me to my list of US cities I want to go to!

Contrast

My husband and I have been watching Euro 2008 and it has been a lot of fun! We watched a lot of the coverage for the World Cup a few years ago, but it was my first time really watching soccer. When I was maybe 12 years old, I had one glorious summer in St. Johns, Arizona where my cousins Anna, Satya, Lucia and Jessyka lived. It was a very impromtu game that the kids in town all decided to play and I was invited- though I had never played before. It was so fun! I still remember standing there watching the other kids play around me and just being in awe at how much fun they were having. I still look back on that as one of my favorite memories as a kid. You would think I would go on to play soccer, but no, tennis is my one true sports love.

Most of the Euro 2008 games have been really interesting and exciting. One thing that stood out to me though was the Netherlands' team uniforms (above). I LOVE the color contrast with the orange and baby blue! That is so cool! It got me thinking about color contrast in clothing (my husband is so great because he will talk about it with me while we are watching. He doesn't think it is lame because it is a "girl thing" while we are watching sports). I am familiar and comfortable with contrasting colors when it come to throwing in unexpected shoes or jewelry (as in the picture below- which is not me), but not as comfortable throwing in contrasting colors in the actual pieces of clothing and choosing clothing with very contrasting colors.

Here are a few that I really like:

I hope someday I can look this insane and yet cool at the same time.

HEL LOOKS

Helsinki Looks has long been my favorite street fashion site. Between HEL LOOKS and my other favorite, The Sartorialist , one can meet most of their street fashion needs. Sartorialist seems to be more refined, classically pleasing fashion. There is a mix of funky stuff on the site too, but done with perfect tailoring or with a perfect choice of colors. HEL LOOKS is mainly the opposite. It can be gritty, ridiculous, cool, and even absurd. Here and there you find someone who could be on The Sartorialist's site, but for most part, they would be too chaotic and too "street".

I used to email a few friends my monthly selection of favorite crazy Finnish street fashion but I stopped doing it awhile ago. I am going to start up again and post it here. Please remember that half the fun of the look is the quote by the person wearing it. I don't know if these people are interviewed in English or if it is translated, but their replies crack me up, usually. Enjoy!

Anni (26)
"Dark blue is a protective and easy colour. I like green, too.I like to wear clothes that used to belong to someone I know. I often wear my aunt's old clothes. This bag used to belong to my grandmother.I like Noa Noa's nostalgic clothes. The 50's is my favourite decade. Women characters in Ingmar Bergman's movies are inspiring."


Netta (17)
"My grandmother gave me the shirt. I like its colours like crazy. She recently gave me loads of old clothes. The bag and the necklace are second hand, too. I like to wear dresses. My obsession is travelling."

Niilo (15)
"I like smart and sharp Stockholm style with trench coats and skinny jeans. Many of my classmates are interested in clothes and dress up the same way.I like Cheap Monday a lot and Benetton, too. My coat and shoes are from Stockholm, the jeans by Dr. Denim and the bag from H&M."

Kaisa (21)
"I overslept this morning so I chose my most comfortable and trustworthy clothes. The dress is from Barcelona, the shirt from H&M and the shoes by Nike. I like to wear black-and-white. I'm happy with my wardrobe and try not to buy new clothes."

Susanna (20)
"I mostly wear black. I like simple but extraordinary clothes. Now I'm wearing an age-old cardigan, my favourite sunglasses from a discount store and shoes from DinSko. Yesterday I bought three extremely ordinary and boring 90's sweaters from UFF. They inspire me. And The Teenagers."

Carlotta (26) and Eero (24) Carlotta:"I like 50's style, movies and picnic parties. I like to wear uncomfortable, tight clothes. Now I'm wearing a coat from Zara and shoes by Irregular Choice. I make clothes myself, too."Eero: "Rock'n roll inspires my style. Jack White and Iggy Pop are stylish, for example. The cornerstones of my style are beat boots and tight trousers."

Elli (22)
"I borrowed this dress from my sister. The scarf is second hand. I bought it about a year ago but today I wear it for the first time. The shoes I bought from Amsterdam years ago. I get biggest kicks out of little details. Almost all of my clothes are from flea markets.Róisín Murphy is my true fashion icon. Rich grannies from Turku, design blogs, films and photography inspire me."

Mia (20)
"I like to wear big shirts or dresses with leggings or stockings. I like high-waisted clothes. Red lips always look good. Lately I've been inspired by music, Maija Louekari, books by David Shrigley and street art. I collect buttons and old photographs. Second hand markets are my obsession. The Moomin character Mymble is my style role model!"

Jasmin (18)
"I like flea markets and second hand shops. My favourite decades are the 40's and the 50's. I like feminine, 50's styled cocktail dresses. Red lipstick is the cornerstone of my style. With red lips you look good no matter what you're wearing! Movies, art, people around me and street style inspire my style as well. You can see good styles in New York, but for example India is interesting style-wise, too."

Ninni (18)
"I just bought my jacket at UFF. The skirt used to belong to my grandmother. The shoes I've had for three years. I like details, second hand, red and orange clothes, skirts and Indiska. Hippie style inspires me. Björk has a great, individual style."

Riikka (21)
"I'm wearing my brand new dress, I bought it from eBay last week. The huge leather bag was thrifted a couple of years ago. I have a real soft spot for big bags.My style is quite feminine. I like to wear high heels and dresses with poufy hems. I would love to find a 1950's vintage floral dress for next summer. I'm inspired by the past decades and I'm seriously addicted to new wave French cinema."

Olavi(87)
"I wear a two-piece suit with a tie every day. That's a habit that I've learnt many decades ago. I shop at Stockmann and Dressmann. Clean-cut and tidy clothes make the style."

Oak

I LOVE this site called Oak. Of course, it is way too expensive to really shop here. I love to look at the clothes, though. The site has a lot of different brands; many are very architectual and look so fun layered. I also enjoy their shoes. Here are a few favorites:

They look like little cars, don't they? In a good way, right?

Penguin jacket. So cool!

I really want this dress! It looks so fun!

Little bit of Kanye- for $400

My absolute favorite. I want this vest hoodie so badly!! This was my favorite thing on the site. I am going to try and make something similar.

They have some cool guy stuff too. I feel that both male outfits would look great on a female as well. I wish it could be me!

Necklace

I haven't worn a necklace in so long that the last time I did, it was made of beads and hemp. And it was a choker! I have had my eye on a few necklaces over the last year or so and have become more and more comfortable with the idea of wearing them again. I am really into cuffs and really enjoy earrings, and still plan to, I just want to see about necklaces too. I sent my husband these two necklaces months ago saying how much I love them and he surprised me with both of them for my birthday. They are so fun! I have only worn the white one so far and I will admit, it made me a little nervous! It is weird to go from no necklace for years to the biggest necklaces one can find!