20 Below: DIY Tennis Dresses

I started tennis lessons last night. Oh, what fun! I’ve played tennis before but I’ve only ever taken lessons once as a child. I was happy to discover that my moves on the tennis court are decent but I’m definitely looking forward to improving my backhand as it’s beyond weak at the moment.

So it may come as no surprise that last night’s tennis lesson has provided the inspiration for today’s post. Aren’t these vintage tennis dress patterns awesome? I spent more time than I meant to browsing the pattern selection on Etsy this morning. It’s so interesting to see how the styles change over the years. The white fabric options remain pretty consistent (woohoo!).

tennis dress pattern_1968

tennis dress pattern (1968), $7

tennis dress pattern

tennis dress pattern (1960s), $12.55 

tennis dress pattern_2

vintage tennis dress pattern (1975), $4

tennis outfit pattern

retro tennis outfit pattern (1971), $4.50

tennis dress pattern

vintage tennis dress pattern (1973), $5

tennis dress pattern

tennis dress pattern (1970s), $6.25

tennis dress pattern 1978

tennis dress pattern (1978), $7

Let’s face it – half the fun of tennis is the outfits. Right?

Art: Mindy Shapero

Los Angeles-based artist Mindy Shapero creates unique forms that are both structured and organic. The first piece below is made from hand-cut dura-lar (polyester film), latex caulking and steel and the second sculpture is made of a fiberglass shell and hand cut dura-lar. It definitely takes real talent to combine such ingredients into such beautiful pieces of art.

mindy Shapiro_1

 look at the spectacular detail

Mindy Shapiro_2

 It’s always happening right now even after, 2012

Mindy Shapiro_3

Passed, Present passed, future passed, present, future passed, future, past passed, present, future passed, present passed, past passed, present passed (after passing through the portal and losing your insides), 2011

Mindy Shapero’s work is available via the Marianne Boesky Gallery.

Many thanks to Adrienne S. for sending this my way.