Heels, lace and lingerie: The tennis fashion that belongs at the Brownlow

In a sheer camisole top with a pale blue skirt featuring built-in lace underwear, fashion influencer Morgan Riddle nailed WAG style on Thursday in an outfit worthy of the Brownlow Medal.

The problem? It’s the off season for the AFL and, as the girlfriend of US tennis player Taylor Fritz, Riddle is a TWAG (tennis wife and girlfriend) rather than WAG, who was heading to centre court at the Australian Open and not a football knees-up.

Riddle’s lingerie look marks a shift away from the locker room, through the boudoir and into uncharted territories for tennis wear inspiration.

Content creator Morgan Riddle, watching boyfriend Taylor Fritz on day five of the 2025 Australian Open wearing Melbourne label Benni.Credit: Instagram, supplied

“Last year the outfits we were seeing at the tennis were a lot more practical,” says Lisa Bean, senior buyer for online retailer The Iconic. “This year, that’s gone out the window.”

Sightings of stilettos, midriffs and court-scraping skirts are becoming more common than face-painted fans attempting the Mexican wave. You wouldn’t see this much skin and imitation silk at Wimbledon, but fans in Melbourne are turning to the runway for tips.

“This is the new Fashion Week,” Bean says. “Fashion has evolved outside the traditional space of fashion weeks and festivals and is merging with sport. The same thing is happening with the Grand Prix.”

Riddle has already been sighted at Melbourne Park in a cherry red maxi-skirt and tank top from Australian label I Am Delilah, and a white halter midi-dress.

“There appears to be a greater opportunity for self-expression at these sporting events,” Bean says. “In the past it was more about quiet luxury, but we’ve moved on and that’s exciting.”

For stylist Caroline Tran, the liberal dress code at the Australian Open attracts a more adventurous fashion crowd than the conservative horse-racing crowd.

“The rules have changed,” Tran says. “The tennis and F1 are the modern sporting events where women want to make an impact in their dresses and kitten heels.

“I would wear a dress with a mesh flat from Alaia. While heels look great, there’s a lot of walking at the tennis.”

Heels were not a problem for Paige Lorenze, influencer and girlfriend of US player Tommy Paul, adding height to her mini-skirt and asymmetrical white crop top combination. An exposed belly button would have prevented Lorenze from entering The Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup, but was welcomed at a lunch event hosted by Emirates.

“The entertaining taking place around the tennis is having a big impact on what people wear,” Tran says. “It’s no longer just about what to wear when you’re watching a match. You have to dress for dinner as well.”

If your meal at the tennis is from a food truck instead of a fine-dining marquee, you can still feel at home in a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Although Bean suggests looking for a top with a collar to nod to tennis tradition.

“The majority of the crowd is still pretty casual,” Tran says. “But now there’s room for people who are interested in fashion to really step up.”

Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.