Anne turns to fashion design
Anne has been helping design the GB team’s Fed Cup outfits
Anne Keothavong spent yesterday ingrained in the fashionable side of the game as she teamed up with world-renowned designer Paul Costelloe to help design the Great Britain Fed Cup team’s off-court outfits.
The British team will wear the specially tailored clothing on their trip to Portugal in February when they compete in Europe/Africa Zone Group I of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas.
But far from the safety of a tennis court, Keothavong confessed to initially feeling the pressure of adding her own input to the designs.
“I was really excited when I heard that we would be working with Paul Costelloe,” said Keothavong.
“But I felt a lot of pressure as well because it has to be something the other girls would like too! It¹s great to do something completely different, and it¹s good to share ideas with someone who has obviously had a great career.
“I¹m more of a high street shopper than a designer shopper! But I think most girls just love shopping and wearing nice dresses and nice tops. We all like to make an effort and get out of our sports clothes, and also show people our feminine side.”
Having kitted out the England Women’s Cricket Team and the Ryder Cup wives during his career, Costelloe will work closely with the girls to create stylish suits for the British team and it’s support staff, and Keothavong believes the outfits will provide an additional confidence-boosting benefit.
“Based on some of last year¹s outfits, I am quietly confident that we¹re all going to look the part! If you look good you feel good, and that boosts your confidence, on the tennis court too. Obviously the job has got to be done on the tennis court, but after coming so close to promotion last year, we¹re definitely up for it.”
Keothavong hopes to put the memory of last year’s defeat to Poland behind her and bounce back in the new Fed Cup campaign, starting in February.
And Keothavong hopes to return to competitive action as part of the team, following the knee injury that has left her sidelined since July.
“My recovery is going really well,” Keothavong said. “I recently got back from a training camp in South Africa where I was running around, drilling a lot, playing a lot of practice points.
“I¹m no longer reliant on my knee brace, and don¹t feel scared or that I have to hold back any more. It¹s just keeping on top of it and continuing to work on all the things that are going to keep me fit.”