How to Style a Tennis Dress?

The short tennis dress is a piece of women's sportswear, but lately, it has become increasingly popular in everyday life. In this spring-summer season, the tennis skirt has become one of the main fashion microtrends. We've gathered many oufits ideas on how to create a stylish look using it in our article.

Can You Wear a Tennis Dress Casually?

A tennis dress is not just a sportswear item, but also a stylish piece of clothing that can be worn not only on the court but also in everyday life.

The trend for tennis-inspired attire, which became a major hit in the summer, was popular even before. For example, Princess Diana was one of the sport's enthusiasts. She often appeared in the stands at Wimbledon, played herself, and of course, loved combining elements of basic wardrobe pieces with sporty items. In 2024, the tennis skirt became relevant again thanks to the movie “The Pretenders”.

What is a tennis-style dress? Typically, the outfit consists of a pleated bottom, a polo-like collar, and a front zipper. There are several types of tennis dresses: retro dresses, classic white dresses, and polo dresses.

Retro Dress

The style that was actively worn by tennis players in the previous century is still popular today. Stripes, a pleated skirt, and a low waist are classic features of the retro-style dress. A “varsity”sweatshirt worn over the dress looks great. The color palette is not limited to just white and black shades. Some fashionistas choose bright colors like yellow, blue, and red.

Classic White Dress

Perhaps the most popular option for a tennis dress is the classic white. The look still resembles more of a sports uniform. However, if you add a cardigan, sweater, or a simple t-shirt or polo on top, the outfit becomes more casual. For accessories in hot weather, consider baseball caps.

Polo Tennis Dress

For casual looks, a polo-neck dress is the best choice. It can be styled not only with sneakers but also with sandals, ballet flats, and loafers. The main advantage of this model is the cut and straight silhouette, which suits every body type. The outfit can easily be complemented with a jumper or blazer.

What Is the Difference Between a Tennis Dress and a Golf Dress?

In the world of women's sports fashion, tennis, and golf attire each has its own unique appeal and differences.

In terms of design, tennis outfits are tailored to help women move freely and sweat it out on the court, with skirts being the dominant style. These skirts are typically made from lightweight, drapey fabrics that move fluidly with the rhythm of the game. Not only do they offer a dynamic look, but they also provide great comfort for running and jumping. Sleeveless or short-sleeve fitted tennis tops hug the body, highlighting the female form while allowing for full arm movement. Some tennis dress even feature cleverly placed hidden pockets at the hem or sides to hold spare tennis balls.

The golf dress exudes elegance. Women's golf outfits typically include a collared polo as the standard, paired with soft, flowing long pants or mid-length skirts. These pieces are loose yet neat, allowing women to look polished and graceful while walking the course or swinging the club. Golf skirts are often A-line, ensuring freedom of movement while also giving off a gentle, refined vibe.

When it comes to color choices, tennis wear has deep traditional roots, with white being the classic color that symbolizes purity and elegance. Even with the influence of modern trends, lighter shades remain highly popular. However, today's tennis apparel also embraces bold, vibrant colors and trendy prints, catering to women who want to express their individuality.

Golf attire offers a much broader and freer color palette. It's not confined by traditional hues, ranging from soft, fresh solid colors to carefully crafted gradient shades, from warm tones to calm, cool hues. Each color combination feels like a work of art thoughtfully designed by the creator, aimed at giving women a unique and distinguished look on the course.

Both tennis and golf apparel share the same goal: ensuring comfort for women during sports activities. The tennis dress is designed to handle the high-intensity, fast-paced action of the court, so the fabric must have excellent stretch, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. Advanced technical fabrics not only wick away sweat to keep the skin dry but also offer exceptional elasticity, allowing for unrestricted movement with every swing. Some premium tennis outfits even incorporate UV protection, offering extra care for women spending long hours outdoors on the court.

Golf dress also prioritizes fabric quality. Made from polyester blended with nylon, Lycra, and other materials, the fabric is both moisture-wicking and soft, ensuring comfort. Whether it's a scorching summer day or a slightly cooler spring or fall, these fabrics help women maintain the perfect balance of temperature and moisture.

What Tops Go Well With a Tennis Dress?

Tennis dress + polo

Putting on a tennis shirt and a shirt with a polo collar is a spectacular introduction to a sports uniform in everyday life. To maintain full authenticity, you can also put on sports shoes - sneakers with a predominance of white color (better completely white) with long socks. In such clothes, you can not only go to play tennis but also walk outside in the summer. It is appropriate to combine tennis shoes with a T-shirt - this is a minimal deviation from the sports canons, but a T-shirt with an enlarged neckline will be more comfortable clothing for summer than a polo with a collar.

Tennis dress + sweatshirt

Fall is no reason to put away your tennyska in the closet. On warm fall days, you can continue to wear it and show off your slim legs. For protection from the cold, you can use any sweatshirt as a top. Also, a fully closed oversized sweatshirt with long sleeves balances a short skirt.

Such a non-standard combination will give your image a zest. Pairing a tennis shirt with a loose sweatshirt, you will get a garment reminiscent of an American college women's uniform. This is a great solution for cooler days - a warm sweatshirt will protect you from the cold, and the combination looks extremely fashionable.

If the tennyska is white or light, a brightly colored sweatshirt will do. And if black, then a classic combination with a light-colored top. Or keep it completely gray. Try a cropped sweater paired with your favorite geometric patterned tennis skirt. Add bright black sunglasses and a dark red leather handbag to complete the look. Sneakers are still good for this look, but fall sneakers in non-marking colors.

Tennis dress + jacket

The tennis skirt emphasizes femininity and sexiness. A sporty top diminishes this a little. But sometimes the effect even needs to be enhanced, for example, for a romantic date. Here a sleeveless jacket with one or two buttons will help.

The jacket can be the same color as the skirt, or it can be contrasting. Especially popular is the fine plaid print. It combines elegance with sport, creating an original combination. Complement all this with shoes, depending on the occasion and your preferences: comfortable sneakers or high-heeled sandals.

The jacket can be not only sexy, but also strict, and balance this short skirt, as a long sweatshirt does. In this case, a black top from an office suit will do, it will harmonize with black or dark tennies.

Tennis dress + cardigan

Another example of what to wear is a tennis skirt during the cooler seasons. A cardigan is synonymous with the word “cozy” for many people. A tennis skirt is also an extremely comfortable garment, for example, for home or for a walk in the company of friends. Both of these items of clothing do not constrict movements at all. And therefore, perfectly combined into one outfit. You can quickly throw on an oversized cardigan if you suddenly feel chilly in a T-shirt, or wear this combination at home if the temperature in the apartment is not too high.

Tennis dress + Vest

Wearing a tennis shirt with a vest gives you another romantic look. If you wear a white shirt under the vest, and on your feet - sneakers, you will resemble schoolgirls or students from an American TV series. If you agree with friends to come for a walk or in a cafe, dressed in this style, get a spectacular photo. Those who saw it will wonder for a long time in which country it was taken - in the U.S. or Britain. A knitted vest without a shirt in combination with a tennis shirt is a cute image for the warm season. It is appropriate for short walks and informal meetings.

How To Style A Tennis Dress Look

Tennis is back in fashion, and it all started last summer. Back then, girls wore pleated mini skirts, wanting to look like Sailor Moon. This year, the preppy style and sporty retro vibe are trending again. Bike shorts, tennis mini dresses, bright leggings, and 80s-style printed sweatshirts are the must-haves of the season. And the star of the show, the tennis skirt, should be paired with green and blue pieces.

Tennis dresses and shorts

Tennis dresses and shorts are staple pieces in the tennis core style wardrobe. Opt for pleated or A-line silhouettes to create a dynamic and feminine look. Styles made from lightweight fabrics will provide comfort and freedom of movement during the summer heat.

Polo Shirts

The classic polo shirt is another tennis core style must-have. It goes perfectly with skirts, shorts, and even jeans. The polo can be plain or decorated with contrasting stripes or logos.

White sneakers

Shoes play an important role in completing the look. White sneakers are the perfect choice to add freshness and lightness to your look. Pay attention to models with minimalistic design and good cushioning.

Caps and visors

Hats and visors not only protect you from the sun but also add a finishing touch to your look. They are a great addition to both sporty and casual outfits.

Sporty socks

White socks with contrasting stripes or logos are a stylish accent to your look. Wear them with sneakers or sneakers for an authentic sporty look.

White sandals with buckle straps

Buckle sandals add a sporty charm to a look, especially if they are made of rubber. The spectacular combination of sporty chic and femininity in white strappy sandals with a low, wide heel will make you look spectacular and feel comfortable.