Tomato

After a delicious lunch of tomato and mozzarella Lady Redd graciously offered to drop me at the Racquet and Tennis Club on her way to tea at the Plaza. I had a lesson scheduled with the great Pierre Etchebaster - the current real tennis world champion. We rolled the windows of our roadster all the way down, inviting in the crisp, autumn air of New York City as we drove up Park Avenue, I thanked God for the cool weather that surrounded my remarkably elegant lady that morning. Wearing a brilliant, tomato colored blouse, Lady Redd looked just as the day we met.

Naturally, tennis was not the only game on my mind. “Thank you darling,” I said, giving my lady a kiss goodbye. I opened the door and proceeded inside through the central arch. Etchebaster was already waiting for me on the fourth floor, lounging on a leather couch. “Allo Monsieur Rouge,” he said with a smile. “Good morning, Pierre,” I responded tactfully, but my mind quickly darted back to that hot tomato I just left on the mean streets of New York. I almost wanted to spin round and see if I could catch her. That, however, would be bad form, I decided, seeing as I had a lesson.

At five all in the third set, thanks to the handicap, I was to receive a game ball- with chase better than three yards. Etchebaster, master of many a brilliant serve, delivered a sharp spinning, but strategically bouncing ball. As it came sliding off the penthouse, with my racquet up, I was able to strike it perfectly, sending the ball slicing over the net towards the last gallery marker on the main wall for a perfect second bounce at one yard. Alas, I had won the chase. Pierre stared in approval and slyly pronounced that with my stroke, the ball “eez quit zee ‘ot tomato, non?” I appreciated his compliment, but to be perfectly honest, the only hot tomato I wanted was that stunning Lady Redd. Perhaps I will always remember the impeccable day I played up at the R&T, when I was winning chases, and where the combination of white and brilliant tomato red live on… 

White

Although he enjoyed a healthy, competitive spirit, Robert Redd was always a sportsman at heart. The strong sense of ethics that he built his company around also extended to his participation in a variety of gentlemanly, sporting pastimes. In particular, Redd enjoyed racquet sports, especially when given the chance to play outdoors and enjoy his natural settings. Of course, when Redd played competitively, gentlemen were only permitted to wear “whites.” Times have changed, with one exception, a gentleman still wears a white REDD shirt when he plays his sport, on and off the court.