Safin had the consistently ugliest clothes
- Thread starter Vincent-C
- Start date
vsbabolat
Talk Tennis Guru
I thought the stuff from 2002 to 2005 was great!
https://imgur.com/a/ljTMaVd
https://imgur.com/a/wq07jHf
https://imgur.com/a/gd7KX2i
https://imgur.com/a/AzkKEUS
This was great looking stuff. Way better than what adidas is doing now. Now adidas dress their players in clown clothes.
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
These are trash too buddy, do not kid yourself
The stuff they did for Wimbledon with the old trefoil logo has been the best in a long time. Laying 3 stripes (usually black) all over stuff looks very low rent
vsbabolat
Talk Tennis Guru
Lol! Youre clueless. Putting the trefoil logo in green on a white shirt and white shorts was quite the design feat.
This is classic adidas.
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emkayenaim
Rookie
I think it was around 2004-05 Adidas made shirts with long vertical 3 stripes on the front and the back. Also worn by Henman, Coria, Massu, Gonzalez, Dent and later Agassi.
While it's not ugly, those shirts would've looked better without the long 3 stripes.
While it's not ugly, those shirts would've looked better without the long 3 stripes.
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Guttersnipe
Professional
Did anyone get finned for so much black? Crazy
PBODY99
Legend
@Guttersnipe
No fines as the rules at the Championships allowed more color during this period.
No fines as the rules at the Championships allowed more color during this period.
vsbabolat
Talk Tennis Guru
It’s not crazy. You used to have nicely designed shirts at Wimbledon. It’s a different time now.
Vincent-C
Legend
Yes, those were ok. Guess I'm not a fan of the stripes, though. No accounting for taste!
I like the all-white with the blue stripes; they work, in that case.
Vincent-C
Legend
Yes- this.
teachingprotx
Legend
It wasn’t a Safin adidas problem it was the trend to have the absolute worst fitting apparel during the late mid to late 90,s till fairly recently.
You see folks it started with spandex under shorts. Not the textile fabric . The line where it hit on the leg. Once that line was established then manufactures started making their shorts meet that line . From there it kept going down further , further , further and hit its zenith when Nike made their first capri pants for Nadal..
That was our lowest point , ironically around the same time sleeves lost their luster for men’s shirts.
So during those times Nike dressed their most exciting new player in women’s clothes.
Literally take his sleeveless shirts and his capri pants and remove the Nike logo off.
Your Mom or your Moms friends would have totally worn that outfit going to the store. and might I add worn it well.
You see folks it started with spandex under shorts. Not the textile fabric . The line where it hit on the leg. Once that line was established then manufactures started making their shorts meet that line . From there it kept going down further , further , further and hit its zenith when Nike made their first capri pants for Nadal..
That was our lowest point , ironically around the same time sleeves lost their luster for men’s shirts.
So during those times Nike dressed their most exciting new player in women’s clothes.
Literally take his sleeveless shirts and his capri pants and remove the Nike logo off.
Your Mom or your Moms friends would have totally worn that outfit going to the store. and might I add worn it well.
anarosevoli
Professional
Adidas had their design peak with Lendl. These long 3-stripes on Safin were like in 1970s and didn't match with the ugly oversized 2000s clothes. I like some of the newer stuff though. I agree with last Wimbledon collection being beautiful, bought the ivy polo and shorts.
kevin qmto
Legend
Frankly I think today’s adidas has too few long stripes! They hardly ever do that anymore and I love that look.
Vincent-C
Legend
Agreed- love the argyle stuff they made for Lendl. It spoke of seriousness (fitting its wearer), unlike the arbitrary and mostly
frivolous stuff that came later (starting with the stuff they had Eddy wear, I think; nonsensical!)
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Vincent-C
Legend
Marat was a big guy- but those giant clothes just hung on him like he was a scarecrow.
The reason you don't see the long stripes down the sides of Adidas tennis clothes anymore is because Nike brought a suit claiming the stripes were essentially a logo. Back in the day Adidas was marketed as the "Brand with the 3 Stripes". Adidas lost the suit and since the number and size of logos are limited on tennis clothes in pro tournaments, they had to scale way back on their use of the 3 stripes.
I was sponsored by Adidas around the cusp of this ruling and still have some clothes with the long stripes and some with the shorter ones. I too, always liked the long stripes.
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kevin qmto
Legend
Wow that’s some BS right there. Oh well I’ll keep wearing em lol
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
The clothes don't make the man.
Vincent-C
Legend
In this case they sure didn't
Back then the rules at Wimbledon stated clothes had to be 'predominately white'. Now they have to be 'almost completely white'.
The long stripes were cool but Nike was also right hahah
Klatu Verata Necktie
Hall of Fame
To me, the problem with Safin's clothes wasn't the design. Rather, it was the fit. The shirts were so large fitting that he would look like lost a fight after every demanding point.
kevin qmto
Legend
I’m so tired of their super strict rules. So many shirts that were worn there from the mid 2000’s would be “illegal” now. They need to relax and allow at least some graphic creativity. Color on sleeves and stripes as a bare minimum
vsbabolat
Talk Tennis Guru
Totally agree. A lot of guys look like they’re wearing undershirts from Walmart. Tennis designs are at an all time low right now in my opinion.
rafa_prestige89
Professional
Safin style was the best
Vincent-C
Legend
In the sense that his "style" transcended his clothing and such, I'd fully agree.
Apparently the ladies thought so, too.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
This 2-3 year stretch has been the worst since the early 00s.
J
J
Vincent-C
Legend
Almost- as with so many things- like it's intentional.
teachingprotx
Legend
Yeah I agree we are in a slump with clothes man . Even Lacoste has taken a nose dive . No offense boys !
brinkeguthrie
Hall of Fame
Textbook classic look. Adidas has never looked better that this one.
nah, early 00’s baggy adidas equipment stuff is the best
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
Not a fan of that extreme oversized look; can’t wait for it to trend out. I am close to his age so yeah I sported the baggy look too, but it’s annoying to play in and there’s no denying it hides muscles so outside of pure nostalgia I don’t think there’s much to love about it
different strokes, i guess. i’ve always dug it. i haven’t seen it much on the tour at all other than draper us open 24.
lacoster
Professional
I think it's all about the fit. Fernando Gonzales, Paradorn Schrichaphan, Guillermo Coria, and Jan-Michael Gambill wore the same adidas kits. They wore smaller sizes to really show off their physiques, and it actually looked great on them. Safin, even photographed in casual clothes, wears his jeans and button-up shirts almost 3 sizes bigger. It's kind of like how Tomas Machac wears the same Joma shorts as Ramos-Vinolas and Vukic, but Machac wears a smaller size, so it's noticeably tighter on him.
teachingprotx
Legend
The shirt Fit is absolutely important and in the eye of the beholder for sure .
The short shorts can also be a tricky thing. I don’t like the way they looked as much in the 70’s simply because I don’t like the look of pants or shorts up to high on the waist .
Matter of fact I like them at least an inch or two or more below the belly button.
So when you wear short shorts a little “ low slung there still mid quad on my short ass legs . So right now at work I’m rocking 3 inch inseam but I’m also 5’7 . So that’s a whole other issue .
The short shorts can also be a tricky thing. I don’t like the way they looked as much in the 70’s simply because I don’t like the look of pants or shorts up to high on the waist .
Matter of fact I like them at least an inch or two or more below the belly button.
So when you wear short shorts a little “ low slung there still mid quad on my short ass legs . So right now at work I’m rocking 3 inch inseam but I’m also 5’7 . So that’s a whole other issue .
Vincent-C
Legend
Fit is much of the issue, for sure.
PistolPete23
Hall of Fame
The only thing this thread confirmed is the subjectivity of tennis fashion. To the people who hated the late 90s baggy style, I have news for you - it’s back in full force and will be seen in tennis gear in the next 1-2 years.
I hope so. Draper had the best fit of the last two years at the US in 24.
Tranqville
Hall of Fame
I'm a soccer fan and some jerseys are much worse, honestly:
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