Tenniscore is back in the game and there’s no escaping it. The enduring appeal of this fashion trend isn’t to be underestimated as it has been on the books for ages. As fashion enthusiasts, we are thrilled to dive deep into this trend and decode its practicality and elegance especially when Wimbledon ’24 is just around the corner. The competition itself is a reminder of how chic one can look in an all-white ensemble.
While tennis fashion keeps coming back every summer, there’s a depth and history to this style and how it evolved in all these years. Turning the pages of history, back in the 19th century women were mandated to wear not-so-revealing dresses during their recreational time. Then in 1919, tennis player Suzanne Lenglen made quite the headlines during her matches by wearing low-neck dresses, no corsets, and no heeled shoes. The hemlines started evolving over decades, from 20s-60s, for women’s tennis clothing.
Gussie Moran won her first Wimbledon match wearing lace shorts. In the 70s-80s, drip-dry fabrics were used in tennis clothing due to their practicality. Billie Jean King won her matches in these and pushed comfiness in tennis clothing. Later, nylon and polyester came into the picture as these fabrics were breathable and protected players from UV rays. The Williams sisters opted for this mostly on the ground. And lastly, in the 2000s, it’s all about versatility with women players adopting garments that are functional, comfortable, and bold, all in one.
The tenniscore trend was launched back into the mainstream this year by none other than fashion diva Zendaya. It was her iconic Challenger press tour looks that got people talking about the trend. Jonathan Anderson, Luca Guadagnino, and Zendaya make up a super trio for style. Anderson, creative director of Loewe, joined hands with Luca to style his recent venture with Zendaya as a tennis player in the movie. The aesthetic is unparalleled.
Anderson’s take on tennis style incorporates all things cable knits and pleated skirts. For the promotions, the OG stylist Law Roach has been dressing up Zendaya in the most stylish tenniscore looks. The one look that stood out during her promotions was the one with Loewe’s silver sparkling dress featuring a deep V-neck, sporty sleeves, and a mini pleated skirt. But it was her shoes that caught our attention — the Loewe pumps that featured a needle-thin heel piercing through a yellow tennis ball. How cool is it? This was a great example of method dressing with tennis style in the best way possible.
Back in the day, tennis style was more about chic vintage, for which you could find inspiration from Princess Diana. She was an avid lover of this sport and often her tennis style was the talk of the town as it incorporated chic and comfy styling. She was often spotted attending Wimbledon and Vanderbilt Racquet Club in the ’80s.
Model Iris Law too debuted one of her tennis-inspired looks last year at the Cannes Film Festival. Her look was sporty and practical with a Gen Z approach and it can be the perfect inspo if you play tennis. Influencers have also hopped onto this trend and are styling it in their way for this season. Pleated mini skirts, fresh white trainer, bright-coloured clothes, leggings, mix-and-match outfits, and sports bras are some of the pieces they are seen playing with.
Brands are pushing tennis style more than last year, making it the hottest trend of the season. Kim Kardashian’s brand SKIMS launched the latest tennis skirt for spring break 2024. It sold with lightning speed, proving that tenniscore is major. The new Fits Everybody Logo Skort is available in four colours and is buttery soft, stretchy, and naturally has shorts underneath so you can serve without any stress. The SKIMS shoot for this product was cute glam tennis-y inspiration.
Chanel also incorporated tennis-inspired looks on the runway for the spring collection. Ralph Lauren has always been the flag bearer of tenniscore in tournaments, with Miu Miu and Tory Burch championing the little tennis skirt are the ultimate glam slam of this trend.
For this season, we have handpicked some looks that are tenniscore and you can incorporate them into your wardrobe. It’s a blend of sophistication with sportiness that is perfect for transitioning from work to weekend wear. This is where athletic meets elegance. Game, set, match!
TENNIS DRESS OUTFIT
Pair up a sporty tennis dress with your go-to sneakers and a cap. A cool pair of sunglasses and you are good to go.
CROP TOP/ PLEATED SKIRT/ POLO T-SHIRT OUTFIT
A polo T-shirt along with a pleated skort will be the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Pair it up with a white hairband, sneakers, and a big duffle bag.
TENNIS BRACELET & ACCESSORIES
Noura Sakkijha, CEO of Mejuri, believes the tennis bracelet is something you’ll wear forever and it works just as well with a tennis skirt as it does with an evening gown. Along with it, some dainty accessories that can also be paired with tennis looks make it more chic.
