Tennis Togs Anyone?

The world of women’s tennis is without a fashion star, moans Ted Tinling, the sport’s legendary fashion designer and chief of protocol for the Virginia Slims circuit. The problem, Tinling told Listen at last weekend’s matches, is that most players endorse tennis-clothing manufacturers. That means they dress in “ready-to-wear bulk,” so fans can go out and buy exactly what their favorite tennis heroines wear. “I don’t doubt within the next 20 years we will have a star who will take a contract with the understanding that no one else wear what she wears. That person will appear.” In the meantime, said Tinling--himself dressed in pale pink top, trousers and shirt and with a large diamond stud protruding from one ear--the most chic woman on the courts just might be the willowy Hana Mandlikova. “She looks marvelous,” he said. Not to be left out, of course, is Chris Evert, who wears Tinling’s halter dresses when she’s playing to represent the United States.

Strong Lines’ in Miniseries

Shooting of the TV miniseries entitled “Billionaire Boys Club” continues this week around Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades and downtown Los Angeles, with its star, Judd Nelson, receiving the high-fashion treatment along the way. Brad Loman, the show’s costume designer, tells Listen that he wanted Nelson, as Joe Hunt, to have “a very high style. We tried to keep the look very Rodeo Drive, very Wilshire Boulevard. That means slick, sophisticated and more Italian styling than American or English traditional.” After sampling clothes by several designers, including Nino Cerutti, Giorgio Armani and Valentino, actor and costumer settled on a mostly Valentino wardrobe because of its “strong lines,” says Loman. The four-hour NBC miniseries will air Nov. 1 and 2.

Lacroix in L.A., Part I

Hot fashion flash: Christian Lacroix, brightest new star on the Paris horizon, is coming to Los Angeles with his amazing designs and his entourage. But nobody’s revealing where or when. Our impeachable source tells us Saks Fifth Avenue is the lucky store Lacroix will visit and Nov. 2 is the date to mark on your calendar. Saks spokeswoman Patty Fox, however, refuses to confirm at this time. We hear from this same source that at least one other tres fashionable L.A. specialty store has been hotly bidding for the privilege of hosting Lacroix. Stay tuned.

‘Back to the Store’

Tommy Hinkley, the teen-age surfer and young love interest in “Back to the Beach,” may not wear much besides swim trunks for the movie. But it turns out he’s a clothes horse in real life. Less than a month ago, Hinkley dropped $500 or so at the American Rags vintage clothes store, says his spokeswoman, Barbara Feldman. But he outdid himself the other day at Fred Segal. “He wanted to buy himself a present to celebrate a good audition he gave,” Feldman states. He ended up buying two belts, two shirts and a gray linen suit, she says. “He didn’t even try the suit on, he just knew it would fit.” Just when Hinkley was about to put away his charge card, a saleswoman showed him a pair of crocodile loafers in black and brown. “He took the brown pair,” Feldman tells Listen.