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Tennis influenced fashion long before preppy stylings were dubbed “old money,” but there’s no denying that the affluential athleisure aesthetic has risen to be one of the most prominent trends of the season. For summer 2024, function blissfully intersects with fashion in the best tennis outfits for women, which comprise of luxurious performance pieces in vintage-inspired designs that are endlessly versatile on and off the court.
While athleisure trends of the 2010s leaned into hip-hop influences in luxe street style, the lasting impact of “quiet luxury’s” appeal over recent seasons is ushering in more aspirational stylings for the country club. Before today’s stealth wealth takeover, tennis-inspired style reigned for decades in the fashion lexicon — and has been documented by WWD since the early 1900s. From Lacoste’s original collared shirt that granted players game-changing mobility in 1923 to French tennis star Suzanne Lenglen’s cardigans and white tennis dresses that influenced Perry Ellis in 1984 (and continue to shape current dress), men’s and women’s tenniscore style evokes all things classic. As for today’s tenniscore trend, these retro-inspired, preppy stylings came to a crescendo through costuming in the blockbusting “Challengers” film ahead summer.
Zendaya’s viral press tour ensembles were no doubt a catalyst to the overarching trend, though tenniscore also arrives in the wake of a rise in popularity for racquet sports over recent years, which materialized in thousands of newly-added pickleball courts nationwide and spikes in tennis gear sales. “A balance of sporty and chic, tennis apparel has carved a place in consumers’ post-pandemic wardrobe evolution as they swap their sweats for something more stylish without sacrificing on comfort,” Kristen Classi-Zummo, apparel industry analyst at Circana, told WWD last summer. “The versatility of athletic dresses, skirts, and other tennis-inspired apparel is having just as much of an impact on sales as the sport itself.”
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“Quiet luxury” tennis outfits are more coveted and accessible than ever, as the term has racked up over 31 million views and searches on TikTok, while tennis style popularity has increased by 80 percent in just the month of May, following the release of “Challengers”, according to fashion analyst @databutmakeitfashion. It’s directly reflected in fashion for 2024, whether through Lacoste’s true-to-its-roots fall collection that encompasses green tailoring and crocodile graphics (an homage to tennis star René “the crocodile” Lacoste), Gucci’s 1970s-inspired tennis capsule collection, Alo Yoga’s chic tenniscore drop, or even Miu Miu’s recent runways that helped to launch low-slung pleated skirts and polos back into the sartorial stratosphere.
The best part? You don’t have to be a court star to lean into the trend. Our editors curated cute tennis outfits ideas for summer to lend you some inspiration, with on-trend and timeless capsule wardrobe pieces you’ll have in rotation for several seasons to come. Below, shop the best tennis dresses, tennis skirts, and tennis accessories from designer collections and leading performance brands like Lululemon, Adidas, and more.
Country Club Icon
This look will score you best-dressed at any country club. This Zendaya-worn two-piece set from Tory Burch ties in rich emerald and electric green tones that shine through tenniscore fashions, featuring breathable tech piqué performance fabric that wicks sweat. The preppy knit chevron polo comes in a classic fit with a side-slit hem, while the matching mini tennis skirt features built-in shorts for secure coverage, along with a functional ball pocket. To bring textural intrigue and tie in the design’s off white striping, we accessorized with a sun-blocking woven visor and matching platform sneakers.
Tory Burch Tech Piqué Chevron Polo
Tory Burch Side-Stripe Tennis Skirt
Lululemon Women’s Woven Visor
Chloé Nama Woven Platform Low Top Sneakers
Courtside Blues
Navy and white typically take on nautical themes for summer, but this year the colors are especially synonymous with vintage tennis appeal, whether painted across actual tennis courts or woven through varsity sweaters. Lululemon’s Pleated Tennis Dress in white is an ideal base for myriad outfit combinations, so we played with the deep blue hue with an authentic Wilson tennis cap, Theory’s Tennis Cotton-Cashmere Sweater, and a canvas tote bag with navy detailing — which can hold a racquet or serve as a casual everyday bag for sidewalk errands under the sun. Tie the sweater over your shoulders for that quintessential preppy feel during the day, then toss it on over the pleated skirt when the temps begin to drop at night.
Lululemon Scoop-Neck Pleated Linerless Tennis Dress
Theory Tennis Cotton-Cashmere Sweater
Wilson Active Hat
Lululemon Daily Multi-Pocket Canvas Tote Bag
Loewe Flow Runner Mix Leather Sneakers
No Racquet Required
A guest wears blue white zipper jacket, green pleated skirt, bag outside Lacoste at Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2024.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
The beauty of the tenniscore trend is that you don’t actually have to hit the court in order to pull off the sporty-chic aesthetic. Start with the core colors of white, blue, and green, then go with athleisure pieces that harmoniously tie the tones together in an eclectic, elevated ensemble. We took inspiration from Paris Fashion Week street style for this look, plucking a ’70s-inspired track jacket from Casablanca and Staud’s wrap court skirt. As for the accessories, you can opt for loafers or a crossbody bag, but we leaned into more resort-ready sensibilities with a beachy striped clutch from Jacquemus and bauble-heeled sandals from Kate Spade.
Casablanca Contrast Yoke Cotton & Nylon Track Jacket
Staud Rally Skirt Court Green Ivory
Jacquemus La Pochette Rond Carre Striped Clutch
Kate Spade Charmer Sandals
Casually “Old Money”
Zendaya wearing the Loewe “I Told Ya” Tee in ‘Challengers’
Niko Tavernise/MGM Pictures
Perhaps the most memorable fashion moment in the ‘Challengers’ film was the Loewe “I Told Ya” slogan tee, which not only made an appearance in the costuming of Zendaya and Josh O’Connor’s characters, but also served as a cheeky centerpiece in both actors’ press tour street style and red carpet styling. Taking inspiration from JFK Jr.’s “old money” nonchalance with sex appeal, Jonathan Anderson invoked a soft, simple gray cotton tee for the film, pairing it with likely pieces you’d find in a college athlete’s wardrobe: Athletic shorts, sneakers, and an Apple Watch band.
For this ensemble plucked straight from the movie still, we teamed it with similar Lululemon shorts for summer styling — opting for black, as Zendaya and Jennifer Lawrence paired the Loewe Relaxed Fit Cotton T-Shirt with black crisp slacks — along with a designer Apple Watch band for added polish, vintage-inspired crew socks, and On’s new green accented tennis shoes, which aptly have Zendaya’s stamp-of-approval as the new face of the brand.
Loewe Relaxed Fit Cotton T-Shirt
Lululemon Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Shorts
Lagos Smart Caviar Apple Watch Watchband
On Running On The Roger Pro Tennis Shoes
Alo Unisex Half-Crew Throwback Socks
Tennis Star Chic
Adidas is legendary when it comes to the sartorial history of tennis — in fact, the the enduring Stan Smith Shoe was considered one of the first ‘It’ sneakers ever, thanks to pro endorsements by its namesake and hip hop icons in the 1990s. Tashi Duncan, Zendaya’s tennis star character in ‘Challengers,’ also championed a high-profile Adidas sponsorship, resulting in head-to-toe Three Stripes costuming from slim-fitting tennis dresses to classic Superstars and Stan Smiths.
In line with the throwback vibe, our editors styled a new (and on sale!) court-inspired v-neck sweater vest in an ensemble that can carry you from work to play. Wear it as a breezy top, or layer it with a sweat-wicking tee that pulls in the vest’s contrast striping. Paired with a matching pleated skirt, this sexy tennis outfit reads more Miu Miu “office siren” than sweaty tennis player. Finish it off with none other than bright white Stan Smith Lux Sneakers as a modern twist on the classic, which feature smooth, premium leather uppers, an off-white pull tab for a more lived-in look, and plush cushioning for all day comfort.
Adidas Go-To Sweater Vest
Aritzia Butter Bound T-Shirt
Aritzia Sunday Best Olive Mini Skirt
Adidas Stan Smith Lux Shoes
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Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City. Cigliano regularly reports on seasonal fashion trends at WWD.
