Tennis and Badminton

(Here's an increasingly elaborate and ridiculous sport-themed costume for women -- with a modern interpretation as well!)

The 1887 edition of Ardern Holt's fancy dress manual lists costume ideas under both "Tennis, lawn" and "Lawn tennis and badminton":

TENNIS, LAWN.  Short plain skirt of grass-green satin, slightly gathered at the back, and trimmed at the edge with grass fringe, headed by white satin bands; bats and balls introduced as trimming.

LAWN TENNIS AND BADMINTON.  Sometimes for these only an ordinary lawn tennis dress and pouch are worn, with a bat attached to the side. 

That not being nearly exciting enough, Holt continues the latter description with a rather witchy alternate version:

A better representation is a green satin skirt, a bat fastening a silver net, forming paniers, pouches and balls on the shoulders, which drape the skirt; scarf across bodice, with lawn tennis in silver letters; black bodice with white circles to resemble balls; high pointed black hat with a bat as an aigrette; brown stockings and shoes. 

And then tops it off by jazzing up the plain "Tennis, lawn" version even further:

Or, a short plain skirt of grass green satin, gathered at back, trimmed round the edge with two rows of grass fringe, headed by a flat band of white satin an inch and a half in width, to represent the boundary of court; six lines of the same round the skirt at intervals; a tennis net draped from waist, edged with scarlet and white worsted balls; miniature tennis bats hold up the drapery; bodice of green velvet, long sleeves to wrist, all bordered with gold braid and scarlet and white balls; epaulettes of scarlet and white satin ribbon; red and white satin peaked cap, with daisies and leaves beneath the flap; Suède gloves, and black shoes; scarlet stockings; ornaments, gold tennis bats; fan like a bat, in red.

 The 1896 description is similar to the first and last parts of the longer 1887 description (now the tennis net is gold!) and adds a sop to badminton:

LAWN TENNIS AND BADMINTON.  Sometimes for these only an ordinary lawn tennis dress and pouch are worn, with a bat attached to the side.  A better representation is a short plain skirt of grass green satin, gathered at back, trimmed round the edge with two rows of grass fringe, headed by a flat band of white satin an inch and a half in width, to represent the boundary of the court; six lines of the same round the skirt at intervals; a gold tennis net draped from waist, edged with scarlet and white worsted balls; miniature tennis bats hold up the drapery; bodice of green velvet, long sleeves to wrist, all bordered with gold braid and scarlet and white balls; epaulettes of scarlet and white satin ribbon; red and white satin peaked cap, with daisies and leaves beneath the flap; Suéde gloves, and black shoes; scarlet stockings; ornaments, gold tennis bats; fan like a bat, in red.  For Badminton Shuttle Cocks replace the balls.

Sources:
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, 5th Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1887.
Holt, Ardern.  Fancy Dresses Described, Sixth Edition.  London: Debenham & Freebody, 1896.

The 1896 edition of Holt may be found online at the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections.

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Frighteningly enough, the idea of dressing up as tennis (lawn) occurred to one of this year's Wimbledon competitors -- fashion-conscious tennis professional Bethanie Mattek-Sands made an appearance at the WTA's pre-Wimbledon party in fancy dress, having sacrificed quite a few tennis balls for her look:

Photos courtesy of Style Bistro (more photos there!)  Click the image to enlarge.

Though it shows a little more skin than a Victorian fancy dress outfit would, and the shoes are hardly danceable, the general idea is very much in keeping with nineteenth-century fancy dress.  And they would have loved the hat!

Comments

[Carol Witt]

I should have known the modern interpretation would involve Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She's quite a character.