These 22 Tennis Outfits Totally Ace the Sporty Trend
You'll *love* them.
Tennis, anyone? Whether you aspire to be as amazing as Coco Gauff or simply want to beat the ball machine on your home court, tennis outfits are continuing to trend hard this season. Fortunately, you don’t have to be an ace at the popular pastime in order to wear tennis-inspired outfits on the regular. Everything from tennis skirts and workout dresses to club-approved shoes and cute, kitschy bags are fair game.
Ahead, check out 22 street-style worthy tennis outfits to try. Think of it as a step above athleisure — its preppier cousin, perhaps — but without being too costumey. Unless you’re going as a tennis pro for Halloween. Then, by all means, layer on the Lacoste.
Related: What Do We Even Call "Athleisure" Now?
A Playful Purse
While we can’t condone wearing this outfit for an actual tennis match, it is a great example of how the tennis aesthetic has permeated fashion at almost every level. Yes, the coordinated cardigan and knit skirt are cute, but it’s the quilted Chanel tennis racquet-shaped bag that really puts this outfit over the top. Keep it sporty with legit athletic shoes and chunky socks, or go for a more country club spin on the aesthetic with ballet flats. The ball’s in your court.
Members Only Jacket
Tennis outfits might not be “club” attire, but they’re certainly country club-appropriate. Double down on the aesthetic with a member’s only or bomber-style jacket, a cute skirt or skort, and, of course, iconic tennis shoes. This is a look we’d wear almost anywhere.
Yellow Accents and Accessories
Even if you adhere to the rule of wearing head-to-toe white on the tennis court, your tennis outfit can become much more playful by adding a playful pop of color. We love how this yellow — a few shades sunnier than a regulation tennis ball — adds an unexpected element of fun to the look. Try coordinating your outerwear, sneakers, and accessories for a tennis outfit you can wear from the baseline to brunch.
A Matching Set
You’ll score major points each game, set, and match by wearing a tennis outfit consisting of a matching set. Stick to traditional athletic brands and create your own in the same hue, or opt for something a bit more versatile with a pleated skirt and cable knit sweater. Of course, you could wear it with a pair of your favorite kitten heels, but why bother when tried-and-true sneakers look just as good?
Straight Lines
The lines on a tennis court don’t waiver, so when channeling the tennis outfit aesthetic, look for pieces with a few bold stripes that convey the same design. Sweatsuits are a great choice, and can actually look quite chic when the proportions are correct. Finish off the look with a cool pair of shades and sporty sneakers in the same colorway, and you’re ready to advance.
As a Fashionable Fan
We love how this style star played with traditional tennis separates while in the stands at the French Open. A breathable, collared shirt with an authentic Lacoste skirt makes for an ideal tennis outfit, even if you’re just a spectator. And, with a simple change of footwear, you’ll be ready to sub in for the next doubles match.
With a Vest
While some vests skew more toward golf than tennis, we love how this knit Gucci v-neck toes the line between a courtside or a more casual tennis outfit. A white shirt and skirt are key to grounding this look in tennis territory, but that’s not to say it would look just as cute with a bit more color.
Like a Ball Girl
The tennis-inspired trend leaves a lot open to interpretation, so if your aesthetic is more neon than neutral, wearing the same colors as a tennis ball is totally fair game. While the above look is obviously better suited for wearing in the stands than on the turf, the thoughtful combination of colors is still a perfectly acceptable way to ace the assignment.
Like a Fashion Girl
Pretty much every piece from the Gucci x Adidas collaboration is on our tennis outfit mood board. Though most garments are more suited for the fashion person than the fitness pro, if you want to nail the aesthetic in an Alexa Chung-approved way, this is a great place to start.
With a Suit
As a prep-adjacent trend, it makes sense that suiting separates could be inspired by tennis attire. While this Thom Browne outfit is all business on top, it’s the styling with knee-high socks and Adidas sneakers that make this a feasible tennis outfit. Especially if your goal is to be a chair umpire.
In Denim
If you have no intention of setting foot on the court, but still love the look of a tennis outfit, opt for something from a traditionally sporty brand in an unusual fabric. Hailey Bieber’s denim jacket and skirt with iconic Adidas stripes is eye-catching on its own, but it’s the bright red accessories that make this a fire fashion girl fit.
Put on a Polo
Second only to a pleated white tennis skirt is the pique polo. Pairing this iconic piece of prep school attire with pretty much anything gives off a sporty vibe. But, true tennis fans know that Lacoste’s iconic crocodile logo can’t be beat.
Lots of Lacoste
Speaking of the famous crocodile, Lacoste has maintained its advantage in tennis outfits since it was founded in the 1930s (by none other than a professional tennis player). Recently, the beloved label has greatly expanded its fashion offerings, doubling down on the popularity of the sporty aesthetic. If you’re looking for another fashion girl-approved way to wear the trend, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
With a Varsity Sweater
We love the classic collegiate look of a varsity sweater or cardigan. But, it takes more than a fuzzy letter patch to create a tennis outfit worthy of accolades. Try pairing a varsity sweater with a green skirt or pants and accessories to give the look the right spin. After all, vintage tennis attire — including longer hemlines — can out-style new pieces.
With a Strategically Tied Sweatshirt
Acing the perfect tennis outfit all comes down to the styling. While traditional courtside separates will always suffice, draping a sweater or sweatshirt over one's shoulders is an easy way to incorporate more of your personal style into an otherwise traditional take on the look.
Add a V-Neck
Whether you think the “V” in v-neck is a descriptor for the shape, or an abbreviation for “varsity,” adding this piece to any outfit with a sporty skirt or athletic shorts just screams “tennis time!” We love how this style star strayed from the traditional white-on-white wardrobe for a more colorful take on the trend, including her smart jacket. No rain delays here.
With Plaid
Busy patterns and performance attire don’t traditionally go together, but we’ll make an exception for this perfectly coordinated plaid jacket. Staying within the same simple color palette is key if you choose to go this route. Notice how the navy blue in the plaid also appears in her sporty socks? Now that’s coordination.
With So Many Stripes
As mentioned above, bold patterns aren’t typically a thing found in tennis outfits. Unless, of course, you’re talking about stripes. We love how this style star punched up her outfit with colorful stripes from head to toe. Somehow, against a white background, the layers of contrasting colors just work.
In Oversized Separates
Since you may or may not be setting foot on the court in these tennis outfits, there’s no reason they all need to be suitable for acing a serve. Here, an oversized white polo and pleated maxiskirt get the point across just fine; the Converse sneakers just keep everyone on their toes.
Totally Prepared
If you love tennis and the outfits as much as we do, then you’ll want to play it safe and always be prepared. This includes wearing head-to-toe club whites, including socks and flat-soled sneakers. Feel free to sport a crewneck sweater while off the court, but once it’s game time, you’ll want to swap it for sweatbands. The sunglasses are fair game for either scenario.
With Plenty of Pockets
No tennis outfit is complete without pockets. Pay tribute to this technical aspect of the attire by wearing a white outfit with pockets placed on the exterior. Even if you’re not carrying extra game essentials, it’s just practical, right?
Sporting Stan Smiths
If you’ve scrolled this far and are shocked not to have seen multiple pairs of the iconic Adidas Stan Smith sneaker, then you might just be a legit tennis outfit expert. This shoe appeared on the court in 1978 under the name of the popular American player. And, while professionals no longer wear this low-cut, flat-soled style, it has become one of the go-to sneakers in the fashion set. We’d call that a win-win.
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