It's All Love and Tenniscore This Summer

If comfy sweatsuits were must-haves during quarantine, then tennis skirts are the peak of post-lockdown fashion. The style set has officially flocked to the sporty-chic aesthetic—whether they are wearing Wimbledon whites to actually play or not. Fashion magazines, including this one, have long looked to the court as the ideal backdrop for everything from pleated minis to couture gowns, and now social media has picked up where the likes of Peter Lindbergh left off. According to the findings that Instagram’s data teamed shared with BAZAAR.com, in the last 45 days alone, search results for the hashtag tenniscore (yet another playful interpretation of the terms normcore and cottagecore) have doubled.

Historically, the worlds of fashion and tennis have happily commingled. A prime example? Championship-winning tennis player Chris Evert wore a diamond line bracelet in the late 1970s with her uniform, which eventually led to the creation of an entire category and term used to describe the singular-row look—the tennis bracelet and tennis necklace. The intersection between activewear and extravagance was such a novel idea that it shook up the industry in a way that still resonates today.

Thanks to the courtside vibe that's trending, brands have started putting their own spins on the classic uniform. Traditional tennis attire includes everything from sleek white sneakers and polo tops to visors and striped shorts. Fashion brands like Casablanca, Sporty & Rich, and soon-to-launch Nonmember Sport are leaning into the effortless court vibes and making it an integral part of their style DNA. Athletic diffusion labels like Tory Sport and Adidas Originals are finding the perfect balance between function and fashion with highly technical tennis capsules, while contemporary womenswear label Nili Lotan has teamed up with famed athletic brand Champion to create its own lineup of sport styles (available for purchase on June 19.)

If you’re ready to embrace the tennis-inspired trend in a way that aligns with your personal aesthetic, shop a winning selection ahead.