THE QUESTION: Do you approve of British Designer Teddy Tinling's new "cocoon look" for tennis, as shown here?
JINX FALKENBURG
New York
Former southern California tennis star
No. I think the design might be good for a pajama game, but not for tennis. Even the lace Tinling used for Gussie Moran's panties wouldn't make this style attractive to me. But inverted, the cocoon would make a good laundry bag.
ALTHEA GIBSON
New York
Women's singles champion
I certainly wouldn't wear this costume. It's not suitable for my type of play. I take long strides. The cocoon type skirt is too restrictive. I suppose it's O.K. for some players, but why change from the attractive conventional attire?
GUSSIE MORAN
New York
Women's Indoor champion, 1949
It looks provocative and, no doubt, feels provocative. The first girl who wears it will probably get more publicity than I did wearing lace panties, particularly if the cocoon turns into a butterfly. Do I approve? That depends on the wearer.
SARAH PALFREY DANZIG
New York
Former National Doubles and Singles champion
I have seen some very attractive tennis outfits designed by Teddy Tinling. This isn't it. It's not a question of approving or disapproving; but why look pregnant unnecessarily? I say, "Let the other girls wear them."
ALICE MARBLE
Tarzana, Calif.
Four-time Singles champion
Teddy is an old friend who has designed some excellent clothes, but the cocoon is not one of his best efforts. While it certainly has freedom of movement, it does not appeal to my eye. I feel that waistlines should be accentuated.
BEVERLY BAKER FLEITZ
Long Beach, Calif.
Singles Hard Court champion, 1954
No. This chemise style doesn't suit me. When worn with tennis shoes, it would make me look too boxy, even though I'm 5 feet 4 inches tall. But Teddy is far ahead in tennis design. The style might catch on and look well on a tall girl.
MIMI STRONG
Former society editor
New York
World-Telegram and Sun
The apparent design is not so much to create a tennis costume as it is to raise eyebrows and provoke the same kind of publicity that resulted at Wimbledon from the lace panties. And here I am, a newspaper woman, falling for it.
ANDREW GOODMAN
New York
President, Bergdorf Goodman
Yes. A woman being presented at court or playing on a court has the inherent right to be dressed in present-day high fashion. The chemise is good. A fashionable player would find herself out of bondage, with breathing space and freedom.
TEN PHOTOS