“Didn’t you used to have a blog?”
I get asked this question occasionally, usually in a semi-judgmental tone. Apparently, it’s a shameful thing to have neglected your blog, akin to abandoning your senescent parent in some state-run institution. If you’re not going to love and attend to your blog, these inquisitors seem to imply, just smother it with a pillow already.
But I’m taking a different tack, resuscitating LittleYellowBall with, ironically, the blandest, most moribund of all blog topics: men’s fashion at the whitey-white Slam.
Choosing the male nominees for the Wimbledon fashion face-offs has always been a daunting task, usually coming down to minutiae like coordinating socks. Until men start sporting unitards or strappy tops, there will never be much to say about their white-on-white getups.
So this year I’m switching it up. Instead of spending hours evaluating the button plackets of the entire 128-man roster, I’m simply going to nominate the three oldest men in the draw: Gael Monfils, Novak Djokovic, and Fabio Fognini. Coincidentally, all three men have featured in LYB’s best dressed contests in the past, which proves, well, something. Maybe better clothes prolong your tennis career – in which case, we should all go shopping!
Or maybe LYB has been kicking around so long that just about every player has had a shot at fashion face-off glory.
Old Man Nominee #1: Fabio Fognini
Fabio’s always been a bit of an odd duck (e.g., see his nomination in our comic book edition), coasting along on outrageous talent and never living up to his potential. Had he put in more honest effort, he probably would have won a Slam at some point over his 21-year career. Still, he managed to rack up impressive wins, including a whopping four against Nadal.
Here the Italian lounges in the shade in a chill number from EA7. The snap closures give the polo a hipper, metro edge (accentuated by Fognini popping the collar throughout the match).
Old Man Nominee #2: Gael Monfils
What was that about coasting along on outrageous talent? Another shoulda, woulda, coulda, but to his credit, the always entertaining Frenchman has gotten more serious since getting hitched to workhorse Elina Svitolina.
Monfils has earned multiple face-off nods in the past, such as this patriotic number. (Wife Elina, btw, scored a nomination of her own in LYB’s evening wear competition of…[checking the records]…2018. 2018?! Just how old is this friggin’ blog, anyway? Gimme that pillow…)
Monfils’s latest clothing sponsor, Artengo, produces this shirt in a cool mesh with seam blocking and a contrasting stripe around the collar. Nothing fancy, just the basics done right.
Old Man Nominee #3: Novak Djokovic
Thirty-eight years old and 24 Grand Slam titles. This is what outrageous talent combined with unremitting effort looks like. I’ve never been a big fan, but there’s no denying the Serb is the GOAT.
LYB awarded Djokovic best-dressed nominations multiple times in the past despite his annoying tendency to beat my man Nadal. This year he pairs a navy-accented Lacoste jacket with flirty strawberry sunglasses in a daring departure from his usual buttoned-up style. I, for one, think he’s never looked better.
Like this:
Loading…
Discover more from Little Yellow Ball
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
