Tenniscore Is My Whole Summer Vibe—28 Chic Items to Get the Look

Is that a sigh I hear? Honestly, I wouldn’t blame you for being a little exhausted by yet another TikTok-viral aesthetic being written about. But, hear me out—this is different. The world of tennis has been inspiring fashion long before we ever added -core to the end of anything. And the proof lies in the thousands of ridiculously chic vintage Lacoste ads you can find on Pinterest, or in the shot below of none other than Princess Diana sporting what 2023 is referring to as ‘tenniscore’ way back in the eighties. Anna Wintour herself has been attending Wimbledon for many years, and her longtime pal and tennis legend Roger Federer even co-hosted the Met Gala this year.

Tennis, with all its elegant, refined and well-moneyed connotations, has unsurprisingly had a stronghold on those looking for a chic yet sporty summer vibe since at least I can remember. There’s no denying, however, that for 2023, the world seems particularly primed for a wave of tennis-mania. With conversations around quiet luxury and the “old money” trend peaking in spring, the concept of a ‘tennis club’ aesthetic actually makes a lot of sense as a natural progression from this elegant minimalism into the summer months. One thing’s for sure, Sofia Richie-Grange is most certainly a member (see below for proof).

Princess Diana was a tennis fan and was often spotted at Wimbledon. Here she indulged in the tennis fashion trend while attending the Vanderbilt Racquet Club in London in 1988.

This timing also comes into play alongside the fact that Chanel’s Cruise 2023 catwalk saw models walking the runway in white two-pieces with rackets slung over their shoulders. Cult brands Ganni and Sporty and Rich have both released collaborations with heritage tennis brand Prince this summer, and brands like Tory Burch and Reformation have all but sold out of their tennis-inspired activewear collections. Not to mention the fact that Zendaya just dropped the trailer for her new tennis-themed film Challengers to rapturous anticipation. Out on 15th September in the UK, I’m expecting (read:hoping) to see some serious tennis-inspired looks on that promo tour.

Of course, Wimbledon is in full swing right now, which always influences my desire to get out on court (or at least look like that’s where I’m heading), and in that I’m sure I’m not alone. The competition is a reminder of how chic and timeless one can look in all white, after all. But while the tennis fashion trend is clearly having a moment, there’s a depth of history and tradition to it that keeps it coming back every summer, and proves it’s more than just another passing fad.

So, what does tenniscore actually look like? Think polos and pleated skirts, little white dresses and knitted vests for that added vintage vibe. Model Iris Law nailed a ready-to-wear version of the trend at the Cannes film festival earlier this year, proving how keen Gen-Z are to jump on the hype. But it can also involve a more sporty and practical approach, perfect if you actually play tennis.