Is it time to get rid of players short skirts at Wimbledon?

by Guest Tue Jul 05, 2016 3:42 pm

Part watching the match between Palyuchenkova and Williams and it seems to me these short to ultrashort skirts are non-functional (flapping around their bodies as they move) and hence cosmetic and should be replaced by shorts - like what the men wear. So I propose a change of players dress code at Wimbledon: out with the skirts and in with the shorts.

by **laverfan** Tue Jul 05, 2016 3:45 pm

Is it distracting you from the Tennis, NS? censored

by Henman Bill Tue Jul 05, 2016 4:00 pm

are the girls not allowed to wear shorts?

by **laverfan** Tue Jul 05, 2016 4:10 pm

Read about Gussie Moran here .

by summerblues Wed Jul 06, 2016 2:09 am

A casual observer might think that wearing skirts instead of shorts may constitute hindrance for the players. A look at the list of top earning female athletes suggests, however, otherwise.

Apparently persuaded by the strength of this argument, table tennis tried to move away from shorts towards skirts a few years ago. I do not follow table tennis closely enough to know whether or not it worked out, but here is how the thinking went at the time:

http://www.news18.com/news/india/table-tennis-champions-give-nod-to-sex-up-sport-295561.html

Along similar lines, badminton made an attempt to outlaw shorts in favor of skirts for 2012 Olympics but that was later shelved, so shorts are still allowed.

by Guest Wed Jul 06, 2016 5:01 am

summerblues wrote:... table tennis tried to move away from shorts towards skirts a few years ago ... here is how the thinking went at the time:

http://www.news18.com/news/india/table-tennis-champions-give-nod-to-sex-up-sport-295561.html

Along similar lines, badminton made an attempt to outlaw shorts in favor of skirts for 2012 Olympics but that was later shelved, so shorts are still allowed.

Reading the article one can see clearly their thinking:

table-tennis-champions-give-nod-to-sex-up-sport in News18 wrote: "We are trying to push the players to use skirts and also nicer shirts, not the shirts that are made for men, but ones with more curves," International Table Tennis Federation vice-president Claude Bergeret said.

With loose-fitting shorts and baggy shirts the usual attire, table tennis, mostly played in bland gymnasiums around the world, has never had the glamour of women's tennis nor the sex appeal of beach volleyball.

Wang ... of the United States said "... I think it's a good idea ... I think women should wear dresses like tennis players ... sexy." Wang said sexing up the uniforms would draw the crowds.

... Plans to sex-up the image of a sport ...

"Although the skirts are just a small part of the changes, they may spark a revolution ... " explained Steve Daiton, the Director of the ITTF Asia Office. "It might be a revolution if women paddlers wear skirts ... "

"... as a healthy red-blooded male I'm all in favor of table tennis women wearing more attractive clothes" wrote one blogger on a table tennis fan website. ...

Basically their thinking is women's sport doesn't sell but women as sexual objects does sell.

My own thinking, that led me to post the original post was a matter of functionality and how ridiculous they looked: powerful athletes engaged in a sporting battle with their tiny to micro skirts flying around revealing their knickers / shorts underneath. Women's tennis is a sporting arena not a sex display for attendant males. Other than for purposes of "sexing up" women's sport I cannot see what other purposes these skirts serve.

by dummy_half Wed Jul 06, 2016 7:23 am

Certainly think the new Nike dress pushed things way too far - surely the first thing to consider in design of clothes for sport is functionality. Otherwise, why don't we make the women all wear high heels as well (other than it would make a mess of the grass courts... Wink

).

How about a compromise - we'll let the women players wear shorts if they control the excessive grunting...

by **JuliusHMarx** Wed Jul 06, 2016 9:10 am

Is the new Nike dress that awful see-through maternity-wear number?

by Jeremy_Kyle Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:14 pm

I wouldn't mind longer skirts if there was proper underwear still in use. The way WTA players have been doing in recent years, to wear sport shorts under the skirts is absolutely eyesoring and should be abandoned.

by Haddie-nuff Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:19 pm

I think this thread is hilarious.
Im gonna show my age here (as LF already has)
Gussie Moran (then called Gorgeous Gussie) was the first one to
"sex up" ladies tennis clothes. Prior to that it was basically shorts and tee shirts
Gussie wore frilly knickers.. when she bet over there were frills all across her backside
The week before Wimbledon the ladies would parade the dresses they would wear. True maybe not as short as now but many were made by designers of the day ie. Hartnell.more frills and bows the better.
So this is not new .. but one has to remember it is not so "CONVENIENT"
for ladies to wear shorts as it is men for reasons I wont bother to explain
Leave the ladies alone. Some of the ladies these days are as big as men .. but let them have their dresses, or skirts.

by kingraf Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:21 pm

Are skirts really not functional? Its an honest question. I only ever wear loincloths at Tarzan and Jane parties, and I find them infinitely freer than shorts.

by Haddie-nuff Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:35 pm

http://active.sweatband.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/tennis-fashion4.jpg

This was the tennis fashion in the 60's
More time was spent by men watching Ladies Tennis in those days laughing

by alfie Fri Jul 08, 2016 1:28 am

kingraf wrote:Are skirts really not functional? Its an honest question. I only ever wear loincloths at Tarzan and Jane parties, and I find them infinitely freer than shorts.

An image I could have done without , raf Smile

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