In theory I am supposed to play tennis with a gentleman friend tomorrow at his club.
I say in theory, because the last time I played tennis, Reagan was president and my pressing concern of the day was whether I would in fact ever grow breasts. This in and of itself is not a problem. I don’t mind the inevitable paddling I’ll get (and I don’t mind losing the tennis match either, HEY-O!) but I am an old-fashioned girl and to me, tennis means wearing tennis whites and although I don’t know of any clubs that actually still have a dress code that strict, a girl wants to make a good impression.
I managed to scrounge around and find an acceptable outfit –white skirt, white pique polo, but I simply did not have the right shoes. My one pair of tennis shoes don’t have white soles and although there’s a lot of fussbudgeting re: whether colored soles really do mark up a tennis court (I’m pretty sure they don’t) it’s better to err on the side of caution, particularly when you’re a guest at someone else’s club.
Et voila:
The Lacoste Tourelle LP at Zappo’s. You can’t get much more old school for tennis than Lacoste, and who doesn’t love the little zippy crocodile? Well I mean aside from the inevitable flood of comments from people who have some traumatic crocodile logo-related John Hughes-style class warfare baggage, possibly involving someone named Heather (which was probably just Izod anyway, and not “real” Lacoste).
These are available in men’s sizes, so shop accordingly.
I just watched The September Issue last night. Perhaps the best part was seeing Andre Leon Tally show up for his tennis “workout” complete with jeweled diamond watch and Louis Vuitton water bottle holder, racket case, and towel!
Comment by Astra — June 18, 2010 @ 9:55 am
Darling shoes; I am not sure that the toe/sole is quite sturdy enough for serious play, but you will look quite chic — which I believe is most important when playing a friendly game with a gentleman friend. And indeed, there are still some clubs that require tennis whites — you would fit right in!
Comment by Chiken — June 18, 2010 @ 10:47 am
I love old school athletic shoes! You will look fab off the court in those! Have fun!
Comment by dcsurfergirl — June 18, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
OMG I love me some Lacoste. So much that I was pronouncing it wrong all these years but the heck with it. Too bad I can only buy shoes and bags; they need plus size lacoste.
Comment by Sophia — June 18, 2010 @ 8:26 pm
I was always a Tretorn girl on the courts, myself, but these are cute!
Your post inspired me to have a look at the ladies’ offerings on Zappos (my feets are too small for men’s shoes), and was delighted to see that there are also Lacoste shoes in that category — as well as old-school adidas and yes, my beloved Tretorns! I may have to get my racquet out and head over to the municipal courts.
Comment by Rubiatonta — June 19, 2010 @ 4:41 am
Dunlop plimsoles, if you’re going old school. In fact, I can’t imagine what else you’d wear them for except for playing tennis in the summer. I expect to see lots of them over the next 6 weeks as I have tennis courts near my house AND outside my office window – and with Wimbledon starting v soon, everyone and his wife will be playing.
Comment by Ponytail — June 20, 2010 @ 10:21 am
Whoever recommended Andre Leon Talley’s autobiography, thank you. I am reading it now and it is delightful. What a gracious man (at least in the first third of the book). He loved his grandmother and had a warm, loving upbringing despite the poverty. I am eager to get to the part when he goes to New York and Paris.
Comment by The gold digger — June 20, 2010 @ 10:37 am
@Gold Digger, isn’t it wonderful? The word “gracious” is perfect. It’s so elegantly written, a true memoir. There is one sentence in there that cracks me up because it is the only hint of anything less than supremely gracious and refined and it made me love him for it all the more. It’s about chiggers.
Comment by Plumcake — June 20, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
Plumcake. Ah, yes. The chigger scene. I remember it. And so does Mr Talley!
It would have been nice to have the dirt on some of these people because let’s face it, sordid is far more interesting to read than niceness, but he seems to be a genuinely nice guy who believes that some things should be private and who would never air anyone else’s dirty laundry. I respect that. I don’t follow that myself, but I respect it. :)
Comment by The gold digger — June 21, 2010 @ 8:24 am