Fred Perry - The Wimbledon Playboy

One of the many reasons I love summer is for the fantastic tennis.  I love watching Wimbledon, in particular, because of its rich history and prestige.  After watching the matches this past week, I began thinking about how amazing it is that tennis champs have been competing at the All England Club since 1877.


Inspired by such tradition, I thought I would pay hommage to the reigning tennis champ of the 1930s and last British player to win the Wimbledon Championships in 1936, Fred Perry.  Although his name lives on through the popular British clothing brand, he was a true celebrity and notorious playboy of his time, noted for his string of marriages to some of  Hollywood's leading ladies.   

Fred Perry and Marlene Dietrich in 1934. Image via Imagno/Getty

After proving himself on the court, he moved into the fashion world by developing one of the first sweatbands and later his iconic white tennis polo, modeled after those by Réné Lacoste.  Through the years the shirt has become a staple, both on the court and in the street, appealing to British youth culture throughout the years.  Today the Fred Perry clothing brand continues to make their shirts using the same cut and fabric as the original back in 1954.  Check out the Fred Perry website for a 50th anniversary Icon Book.

Image via Fred Perry