This Skirt Won't Work!: How Women Athletes Changed Their Clothes and Changed the Game​

by Jennifer Cooper, Eva Byrne (illustrator)

Imagine trying to play tennis in a long dress, or swimming laps wearing heavy petticoats! That's how it used to be for girls and women in sports... until a few found a better way!

See how women like cyclist Kittie Knox, swimmer Annette Kellerman, and Albertine LePensee and her Canadian hockey teammates flouted convention and risked scandal to wear things they could move in. They sewed their own knickerbockers, donned sleek swimsuits, and shortened skirts, and in the process helped change society's ideas about what women and girls could wear—and do! Features back matter with cool facts about each woman and team, as well as a look at women athletes today who continue to take a stand for clothes that are more comfortable and inclusive.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 2, 2025

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know that women had, through much of history, clothes that just didn’t work for what they wanted to do.

Most of us know what bloomers are, and how they were an early way for women to be able to exercise, and ride bikes, without having their clothes get in the way. This book goes beyond this, showing how women, such as Katherine Knox invented the knickerbockers, much like bloomers, but better. They were a tighter fit, and much easier to move around in. She used to race bikes, against the men. She was alos one of the first Black members of the League of American Wheelmen.

This book covers this invention as well as the one piece swim suit that Annette Kellerman invented, and Albertine Lapensee, who invented the hockey outfit for women.

This is a great book to show how women overcame the clothes that were available at the time, and moved past them. We can look back and realize how silly it was that women were even made to wear clothes like that. But the back of the book points out recent trends such as women playing volleyball, in the Olympics, being forced to wear bikinis instead of shorts and a shirt.

I also like how the original clothes are shown before we see what was redesigned, so we get an idea of how much work went into the better clothes.

Great book to get kids thinking and talking. If anything, I wish there were more stories.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published the 2nd of December 2025.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads' First Read.

This is a non-fiction book about women athletes fighting to wear clothing which allow them to move better when they are playing sports.

It is a good look at a part of the history of women's fashion and women fighting for equality their clothing options and access to play sports.

it was a good read and the illustrations are delightful!

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Skirt Won’t Work  is a look at female athletes from the turn of the 20th century who were not only trailblazers in their sport for their physical skill, but for their innovative approach to their athletic costume.  Representing a variety of sports, each woman or team is depicted first in the cumbersome attire they were expected to wear for the sake of modesty and propriety, and then, after a rhyming exclamation such as the title phrase or “This dress is a mess,” shown in their new, more practical outfits.  From cyclist Kittie Knox in 1890s Boston who revamped her skirt into knickers, to Lily Parr and her English soccer teammates shocking their fans for donning shorts (even as the English Football Association banned women’s teams altogether), these women made simple changes that have had a lasting impact. 

This is an entertaining overview that will be of interest to young fans who enjoy learning about the history of competitive sports.  It will be obvious to readers why these changes were needed - surely it’s impossible to play tennis well in a puffy-sleeved dress with a ground-grazing full skirt! - but probably also a little surprising, from a modern perspective, that they were controversial.  The text is light and lyrical in tone, with invented dialog and minimal detail, and it is well-complemented by the cartoon-like pen and ink and digital illustrations.  Not much attention is paid in the book to how the outfits were conceived by the athletes, or received by bystanders, but that is covered by informative backmatter that includes brief biographies of the women included, as well as notes about the challenges of some present day female athletes. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Alexis Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a homeschool teacher and mother of girls, this book is an invaluable source for not only learning about history (even recent historical events), but for female empowerment. The book tells short stories about women in sports who have altered their uniforms to better perform like their male counterparts. Some sports include hockey, soccer, swimming, and bicycling. I appreciated that more information was provided about these particular women following the story. It served as a sort of glossary and makes it easy to spark interest and further research these women, their historical dress, and traditional gender roles. In addition, the author included more recent events that children can relate to such as the Norwegian volleyball team in 2021 challenging their uniforms and a British swimmer in the Tokyo Olympics representing African American women in 2020. My daughters (ages 6 and 8) were shocked at the dress requirements for sports and enjoyed this book especially since we studied colonial dress prior to this. Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this fun, educational title.

[B Pastore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway!!!

First - the book is beautifully put together, the illustrations are fabulous and such a wonderful invitation to the touch and the eyes to want to sit down and read through it - and learn about the changes in sports clothing over the years - a mini history lesson of sorts to be sure!!

While I have seen photos and realized that clothing of women athletes have certainly changed over the years - until this beautiful book I never realized the how and the who of this happening!

From 1805 to 2005 and beyond - boy has sporting wear changed - for the better -! This book is beautiful, it's entertaining, it's informative and a joy to read!

I recommend it for everyone!!!

I enjoyed this book so much and look forward to sharing it with our community in our Little Free Library that's located at the end of our driveway!!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Kids through NetGalley.
A look back at the courageous women who changed athletics for the better. Readers see women in a variety of sports change their uniforms to be more streamlined to meet their needs. They took on the naysayers and stood up to those who said they could not wear the new designs. The artwork shows readers the clothing they first played in and then the adjustments/changes they made. Reader can see the expressions on the women and the people who were scandalized in the background. A first look at history book for elementary level readers.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful addition to children's non-fiction. Girls will be intrigued by some of the old-fashioned clothing items and even more intrigued by the fact that women wore these while riding bicycles, playing hockey or soccer. The author includes modern-day women's sports - gymnastics, volleyball and swimming. There is a section in the back which gives more information about the athletes mentioned in the book. This would be a great jumping-off place for children to create more interest and do further research into these women, their historical dress and changing gender roles as well as empowerment.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Explore, in exchange for a review.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome look back at the bold and athletic women who challenged gender stereotypes! To be able to play their beloved sports better, women like Katherine 'Kittie' Knox and Lily Parr dared to dress in something other than a skirt, proving that how you look doesn't need to define all that you do. With rhyming lines and engaging illustrations, their stories of the past are celebrated alongside a back page that highlights more recent measures in sports that aim to make the playing field more inclusive and comfortable (like finally embracing hijabs and full-length leotards!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle Mccoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

This book is great! I love how it shows the different sports and the women who changed how they dressed to preform them better. It could have gone into some of the struggles they faced by doing this a little more but overall a fun, informative picture book that gives girls power to chose what they want to wear while doing the sports they love!

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc

What a lovely book. It traces the history of women's sports and sports clothes in a light-hearted and genuine way. I also really enjoyed the backmatter where Cooper includes recent history with athletic uniform changes as well.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from Edelweiss.

[Ossy Firstan · Rating 3 out of 5]

lucu sih

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

as a (retired) woman athlete, this book hit close to home and i loved it so much !

[T. Ayn Brockhaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect book for girls to read and want to play sports.