Tennis Dress, worn by Billie Jean King during the "Battle of the Sexes"
Tennis Dress, worn by Billie Jean King during the "Battle of the Sexes"
Usage conditions apply
- Description (Brief)
- Tennis dress, worn by American professional tennis player Billie Jean King (b, 1943.) The dress, designed by Teddy Tinling, London, was worn by King in her famous exhibition match against male competitor Bobby Riggs known as "The Battle of the Sexes." King handily won the nationally televised event, held in Houston, Texas on September 20, 1973.
- King has won over 129 singles matches in her career, including 12 Grand Slam singles titles. She was the founder of the Women's Tennis Association and has been an influential advocate for the sport of tennis and women's rights.
- Object Name
- dress
- tennis outfit
- dress, tennis
- date made
- 1973
- user
- King, Billie Jean
- designer
- Tinling, Teddy
- maker
- Tinling, Teddy
- place made
- United Kingdom: England, London
- Physical Description
- fabric (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 26 in x 16 in; 66.04 cm x 40.64 cm
- overall, mounted: 30 1/2 in x 16 1/2 in x 12 in; 77.47 cm x 41.91 cm x 30.48 cm
- ID Number
- 1992.0122.01
- accession number
- 1992.0122
- catalog number
- 1992.0122.01
- Credit Line
- Gift of Billie Jean King
- subject
- Tennis
- Sports
- Professional
- Women
- See more items in
- Cultural and Community Life: Sport and Leisure
- Highlights from the Culture and the Arts Collection
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Comments
Tina, the embroidered design on the collar is the Virginia Slims Tennis logo. The company was the primary sponsor for the Women's Tennis Association, founded by King. I can't post a picture on this reply but here is a link to a story that features the image. http://68416521.weebly.com/virginia-slims-circuit.html
Eric Jentsch
Fri, 2018-10-12 08:23
Do you also have her blue tennis shoes created for the Battle of the Sexes? They come to mind because I owned 3 pairs in the 1970s for playing tennis and loved them.
Ellen Finch
Tue, 2017-10-10 11:24
Hi Ellen -- We do not have the tennis shoes Billie Jean King wore during that famed tennis match -- only the dress!
Jane Rogers
Tue, 2017-12-12 08:30
Tina holmquist
Tue, 2018-01-09 16:12