."Beneath a thin veneer of poise and civility, all our hidden aggression, love, lust, hate, exaltation, and degradation are just waiting to be acted out via racket, on well-lined courts. As a metaphor for life, tennis in nonpareil." - Jay Jennings, Tennis and the Meaning of Life
I am delighted to be featured in The Fashion Fuse's Back to School for Moms/Recess Edition.
"I told her I don’t play tennis, but if I get to wear one of her dresses I’ll start tomorrow!" - Angie Wilson
I have been quite smitten with the polished style of actress Angie Wilson, founder of The Fashion Fuse, since we first met at Gramercy Park Hotel two years ago. Check out the super chic looks she pulls together day after day.
Forget the LBD, this season it's all about the LWD (little white dress!)
As the days of lawn tennis and strawberries arrive, no tennis wardrobe is complete without that little white tennis dress.
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Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in London since 1877 and has the strictest dress code of all the major Grand Slam tennis tournaments.The players must wear white. All white. It's tradition.
"The All-England Club, where the tournament is played, takes this rule very seriously. The dress code dates back to the 1800s, when tennis was played at social gatherings. The sight of sweat spots through colored clothing was thought unseemly, especially for women, and "tennis whites" became an institution.
Wimbledon has carried on this strong tradition, even after the US Open allowed colored clothing in 1972. And the dress code has only gotten more strict in recent years."
Classic, simple and yet sophisticated, this white tennis dress has a nice flattering cut to it and the bow detail in the back is just darling. This elegant white tennis dress comes with an interchangeable navy ribbon that gives it a vibrant pop of color.
My favorite piece of tennis clothing of all time is the white pleated tennis skirt.
Although it looks tight, the pleats in the skirt create volume and offer plenty of movement to the wearer. Mom tells me everyone had this skirt in the 70's. And I really wish she had kept hers!
The most flattering way to style a pleated tennis skirt these days, is to pair it with a square neckline or a halter top.
Basak and Hazal, my friends from high school, looking especially chic (before a match) in their Merve signature tennis skirts.
Ipek Soylu was one of Wimbledon's best dressed players this year. She is able to exude an aura of power and confidence while maintaining a ladylike appearance with her fashion choices.
Fun fact: Her name means "silk" and her surname means "noble" in Turkish. How fitting for such a pretty tennis princess on the rise!
Ipek Soylu cuts an elegant figure as she steps out wearing pure white for her Ladies' Singles second round match against Elena Gabriela Ruse on day nine at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.
Being dressed in an all white tennis outfit enhances the 19-year-old Turkish tennis player's sweet and pure look. The cross back top and thigh-skimming matching pleated white tennis skirt make for a very cute tennis outfit. The young star looks casual yet elegant in her tennis whites.
Ipek Soylu is starting to make a name for herself not only for her stellar game, but also her sweet and elegant demeanor. We are watching her achievements with joy and pride and wishing her success.
Tennis whites epitomize tradition and understatement. Yes, style is subjective, but wearing white also keeps you cooler as it's the most summer-friendly color.
The secret to keeping your tennis whites white is appropriately named "Astonish" soap. Cathy from the Field Club of Greenwich shared this secret with me when I went there to show her my tennis apparel collection. There were some dirt marks on the clothes from being on display at the Greenwich Sidewalk Sales and she took them out by simply rubbing the soap over the stains with a little water. Pure soap, pure magic!
There is no question that cute tennis outfits make a difference in your game. We girls like to wear things like tennis dresses or a cute tennis top with a matching tennis skirt and leggings. Some people squeal with glee when they first discover a tennis brand that is making cute tennis outfits. The styles from major tennis brands don't feel like they are really cut to flatter or make magic of our figure. Merve's tennis dresses carry the message that dressing up should not be reserved for special occasions, but should be an every day thing. Cute tennis clothes simply make you feel and play better!
