Fashion and athletics share a long-standing relationship. This trend continues today, with athletes like Angel Reese and Suni Lee showing their love for all things sartorial. Another great example of this is how many activewear brands there are in modern times, giving folks the idea to wear athleisure and the sporty prep trend. If you want to dabble in turning sportswear into everyday wear, consider adding tennis skirt outfits to your rotation.
Often short and pleated, tennis skirts are a welcome addition to almost any look. They bring a playful energy that’s balanced with proper structure, and they’re available in a multitude of colors. Not to mention, many tennis skirts come as skorts, making them as practical as they are stylish. Once strictly seen on the court, tennis skirts have proved that they deserve to move from your activewear drawer to your main closet.
Make the style all your own by scrolling through the 14 tennis skirt outfits below for inspo.
Add Coastal Cowgirl Energy
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Emma Schwartz at the Governors Ball Music Festival in NYC.
The coastal cowgirl aesthetic is a blend of classic Americana DNA, so it makes sense that a tennis skirt outfit would be right at home with this trend. For a full-on “yeehaw!” moment, go for cowboy boots and a button-down. To achieve a more subtle “giddyup,” choose sneakers and a cowboy hat.
Mix Prep and Animal Print
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A guest outside the Dries Van Noten show during Paris Fashion Week.
Subverting a prep school uniform is a surefire way to earn some major fashion points. Keep the outfit in a tonal palette with a dark tennis skirt to add contrast. Mix in an untucked button-down and cropped sweater vest for a deconstructed, off-duty look. Then, bring some edge with a pair of snakeskin or animal-print boots.
Add a Neon Heel
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A guest outside Saks Potts during Copenhagen Fashion Week.
For a more classic vibe, stick to tennis whites and add a pop of color with a pair of neon heels. You don’t need to color coordinate with this look. The whole point is to make an ace with your skirt-footwear pairing. Colors like orange, red, green, and purple are a great match for a white tennis skirt.
Dress It Up
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Patricia Gloria Contreras during a street style photoshoot in Paris in May 2025.
Despite the fact that tennis skirts originated on the court, they can still work as an upscale outfit. Try pairing it with a matching blazer and neutral heels to keep the outfit elevated.
Try Tweed
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Josephine Skriver at the 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival.
A sweet, elevated approach to the tennis skirt trend is keeping your palette to pastels and adding a tweed blazer. While a tweed blazer may be overpowering, it’s good to keep it as the focal piece in your outfit, going for a white pleated tennis skirt on the bottom.
Coordinate With a Corset Top
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Flora Coquerel outside Victoria/Tomas during Paris Fashion Week.
This corset top and tennis skirt combo is on the opposite side of the style spectrum from the usual prep aesthetic associated with the sport. While the outfit may be glamorous, the individual pieces that make up the look give it a mod sensibility, especially the white knee-high boots.
Pair With a Varsity Jacket
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A guest outside OperaSport during Copenhagen Fashion Week.
Varsity jackets add a layer of cool, not to mention youthful, energy to any outfit you wear them over, making them a great match for a tennis skirt. To maximize the schoolgirl look, go for knee-high socks and an oversized bag.
Go Full Glam
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Serena Williams at the Thom Browne show during Paris Fashion Week in June 2024.
A proper list of tennis skirt outfits wouldn’t be complete without featuring Serena Williams. This look, a lesson in color coordination and layering, proves she’s a style icon both on and off the court.
Add Athletic Touches
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A guest outside Chloé during Paris Fashion Week.
Another fresh approach to a tennis skirt outfit is to lean into the athleticism of it all. A sports bra and boxer combo might initially seem overtly casual, but that gym vibe gets a fashion week makeover when you add an oversized blazer and a pair of high-heeled boots.
Try a Pop of Color
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Bianca De Oliveira Da Costa at the French Open in Paris.
Don’t be afraid to dream a little bigger than a white or black tennis skirt. There are plenty of options spanning the color spectrum, and a vibrant tennis skirt can be the perfect jumping-off point for a subtly coordinated look.
Keep It Simple
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Heloise Agostinelli during Paris Fashion Week in March 2024.
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of a dressed-up tennis skirt outfit, consider going minimal. This ‘fit, complete with a forest-green jacket, white socks, and kitten heels, is neutral yet stylish.
Finish With Ballet Flats
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Xenia Adots outside Miu Miu during Paris Fashion Week.
Balletcore isn’t going anywhere, which is great news if you love soft pink. Folks who never had prima ballerina aspirations can still get in on the trend by pairing a tennis skirt with a coordinating top, knee-high socks, and ballet flats. Tossing an oversized bomber jacket on top keeps the look from being too sweet to stomach.
Incorporate Small Details
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A guest outside Casablanca during Paris Fashion Week in 2023.
For a prim-and-proper look, it’s a good idea to keep your color palette white with a few pops of color. Look for a blouse with feminine details like ruffles or bows and a tennis skirt with coordinating color details. Your accessories don’t have to match, so pull an unexpected twist by opting for a bold contrasting color on your purse or footwear.
Add a Punk Rock Edge
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A guest outside Palm Angels during Paris Fashion Week in March 2023.
A tennis skirt outfit doesn’t have to be preppy or even athletic. Wearing a navy, black, or grey tennis skirt with a leather jacket, some studded accessories, and combat boots gives this sporty wardrobe staple an edgy vibe.
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