Anyone for Tennis?

Celebrating the Roaring Twenties in a Special Series

As the Australian Open draws to a close, I thought I would celebrate the fortnight with a homage to this classic 1927 Vogue cover illustration by Harriet Meserole. It’s a picture I have long liked for its freshness and elegant simplicity – something Meserole was known for.

Meserole worked for Vogue from 1919 to 1933. In 1923, she said of herself: ‘I like simplicity in all things and people. I hate prettiness and ice cream.’ I suspect that by ‘prettiness’ she meant ‘girlishness’ – something I can appreciate. Too much sugary prettiness makes my teeth hurt.

In these pictures I am wearing a Zambesi linen dress, BCBG cardigan, and a vintage 1920s shirred headband. The tennis racket is vintage too, and has a wooden press, although I am not sure of its actual age.

Picture note: since time and the weather were against me, I was unable to photograph a tennis court myself. These tennis court pictures came from here and here.