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How To Style a Tennis Skirt: 12 Outfit Ideas

October 18, 2024

Tennis skirts are a chic, versatile addition to any closet. While they have a distinct look of their own, the right inspiration can help you fit them into nearly any aesthetic.

Learning how to style a tennis skirt opens the door to countless styles, from preppy to sporty to business casual. Explore our top 12 tennis skirt outfits, try new styling tips, and get the most out of this adaptable piece.

What are tennis skirts?

Tennis skirts are an athletic wear staple designed for freedom of movement. They’re typically pleated or feature panels and stretch fabric, and they often contain built-in compression shorts for comfort and privacy.

Generally, tennis skirts are available in mini or midi styles, although some brands offer longer options for extra coverage.

While these skirts were initially designed for sports, people are increasingly incorporating them into a variety of looks due to their practical fit and adaptable style.

What to wear with tennis skirts: 12 stylish outfits

Explore our 12 tennis skirt fashion ideas to achieve nearly any vibe.

1. Sporty sweatshirt and cap 

A woman wearing a gray sweatshirt, a white tennis skirt, a black baseball cap, and white sneakers. She’s holding a black backpack.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

Pair a sweatshirt and cap with your tennis skirt for a classic, sporty look. Sneakers are the ideal footwear to round out an outfit for errands or a morning jog.

We specifically love this outfit with a white tennis skirt. To create a minimalist vibe, pair your skirt with simple black and gray tones.

2. Oversized hoodie

A woman wearing an oversized blue hoodie, a white tennis skirt, sunglasses, and chunky black and white sneakers. She’s holding a casual tote bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

This relaxed look is just as suited for going out and about as it is for lounging at home. An oversized hoodie with a tennis skirt is a laid-back style for around the house, but add a pair of chunky sneakers, and you have an effortless coffee date look.

We prefer this outfit with a pop of color—try a solid or multicolor hoodie with a white tennis skirt for a beautiful contrast, or flip it around with a patterned skirt and white top.

3. Long sleeve shirt

A woman wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, white tennis skirt, cat-eye sunglasses, and black high-heeled sandals. She’s holding a white purse.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

Tuck a long-sleeve shirt into a tennis skirt for an instantly chic vibe. We love a form-fitting top to accentuate the ensemble’s sleek appeal.

For this style, try an Alo tennis skirt. They’re smooth and sexy and add a tailored appearance to this classy outfit. 

4. Cardigan and loafers

A woman wearing a pale blue cardigan, a pink and white plaid tennis skirt, sunglasses, and white loafers. She’s holding a gray handbag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

If you’re looking for a casual but stylish look, we can’t recommend this combo enough. Combine a pastel cardigan, plaid tennis skirt, and loafers for a sophisticated outfit you can throw together in minutes. Wear this on classy dates, movie nights, or just a trip to the store.

As a bonus, you can swap out a dressier cardigan for a tennis sweater and add a pair of sneakers to create a sportier version.

5. Cable-knit sweater

A woman wearing a purple cable-knit sweater, an infinity scarf, a white tennis skirt, and flats. She’s also wearing a green crossbody bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

Cable-knit sweaters and tennis skirts embody a wholesome, cozy vibe, and you can play up the charm with an infinity scarf and flats. We love this style for warm autumn and spring days, but it’s great for colder days, too—just add a pair of tights under your tennis skirt for an extra layer of warmth.

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6. Tank top

A woman wearing a white tank top, a black tennis skirt, a colorful visor, and black slip-on shoes. She’s holding a tote bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

A tank top and tennis skirt is the perfect warm-weather pairing. This sporty outfit is excellent for hiking, running errands, or walking in the park. Any sleeveless top works, from muscle shirts to spaghetti-strap camisoles, but our favorite is a comfortable Lululemon tank top.

For this outfit, we recommend black-and-white minimalism with the occasional splash of color, like a vibrant handbag or visor. You can also choose a matching skirt and top set in a bold hue for a chic monochrome look.

7. Polo shirt

A woman wearing a pale green polo shirt and tennis skirt, sunglasses, chunky sneakers, and a bucket hat. She’s holding a purple shoulder bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

Polo shirts are just as versatile as tennis skirts, effortlessly blending into casual, sporty, and preppy aesthetics. Wear a muted tennis skirt and polo shirt with heels to the office, or amp up the color and toss in a bucket hat for a fun weekend look.

Opt for a breathable activewear polo and add a visor for a fashionable look you can take straight to the court. 

8. Graphic tee

A woman wearing a loose graphic tee, a black tennis skirt, a baseball cap, sunglasses, and black boots. She’s also holding a black crossbody bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

This outfit is an excellent example of how tennis skirts fit into any unique style. A loose graphic tee transforms a preppy tennis skirt into a striking rocker piece, especially with a pair of dark sunglasses. We recommend eye-catching statement footwear for this look—combat boots or high-top sneakers work well.

Try a tennis skort instead of a skirt for stronger tomboy vibes. We love the skorts from Outdoor Voices because many of them have a sleek shape and side slits, which adds to the sexy rockstar feeling.

9. Blazer and button-down shirt

A woman wearing a blazer, white button-down shirt, black tennis skirt, sunglasses, and high heels. She’s holding a black clutch bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

It’s not the most common pairing, but we can’t get enough of this business-casual combo of a blazer, button-down shirt, and tennis skirt. The outfit is sophisticated and just as suitable for work or dinner dates. It’s also easy to dress down—toss the blazer aside and wear just the button-down for a semi-dressy coffee outing.

10. Faux tennis dress

A woman wearing a matching sleeveless shirt and tennis skirt, a sun hat, sunglasses, and sneakers. She’s holding a shoulder bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

Match your top and tennis skirt colors for a convincing tennis dress dupe. We love the look of a sleek tennis dress, but they lack the versatility of separates. Instead, you can rock this outfit, return the pieces to your capsule wardrobe, and wear them differently next week.

If you aren’t sure how to get perfectly matching colors, thrift like a pro and use ThredUp’s Improved Search to find the exact shade you need. Our tool uses natural language, so you can enter specific terms like “mock neck tank top in pale peach” and “tennis skirt in pale peach” to find the right pairing.

11. Button-down shirt and sweater vest 

A woman wearing a pink button-down shirt, a gray sweater vest, a navy tennis skirt, and sunglasses. She’s holding a tan handbag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

We adore tennis skirts for a preppy, academic aesthetic, and a button-down shirt and sweater vest perfectly complete the look. This combination is smart and cute, ideal for laidback and classy occasions like dinner parties, family get-togethers, or a walk through the town.

Sweater vests are also a classic tennis style, so feel free to take this chic getup to the country club.

12. Varsity jacket

A woman wearing a red varsity jacket over a black graphic hoodie, a black tennis skirt, sunglasses, sneakers, and a black waist bag.
Source: Image generated by ThredUp’s AI-powered Style Chat

For a different type of academic-inspired fashion, a tennis skirt with a varsity jacket gives a tomboy vibe. Incorporate a pair of oversized sunglasses and running shoes to add to the sporty appeal.

Try layering the jacket with a hoodie to add some interesting dimension.

Thrift tennis skirts on ThredUp and build a flexible wardrobe

Tennis skirts are a classic, multipurpose addition to every closet—and you can find any size, color, and style you need on ThredUp.

Thrifting on ThredUp is the ideal way to discover affordable athleisure clothes. With our improved Search feature, you can sift through vast collections and zero in on the perfect items. Or try our Style Chat, where you can generate outfit ideas, see them on a person, and refine your description using prompts like “darker” or “more casual” until you land on the perfect ensemble. Once you’re satisfied, shop our suggested items and bring your idea to life.

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