*Image above from Luisa Beccaria’s last-season summer collection. She has the most exquisite pieces, season after season — how incredible is this bow print midi and this broderie anglaise statement? She often works in the prettiest shade of periwinkle blue — and this Ganni channels her vibe perfectly for a fraction of the price. Heart eyes. Images directly below from Pam Munson, whose entire High Summer Collection is heavily-influenced by summer tennis, and the beautiful TyLynn Nguyen (wearing head-to-toe Tory Sport — especially love the striped tennis skirt, on sale now, plus extra 25% off with code EXTRA!)
I am horrific at tennis and haven’t played in years at this point, but I am drawn to the sport for several reasons:
- I took lessons as an adult and it was eye-opening to try my hand — publicly — at something in which I lacked skill.
- I love the way my body feels after tennis — tired, tight, sore all over. A good kind of all-body fatigue.
- I like the outfits.
- I used to go to the storied Legg-Mason Tennis Tournaments in D.C. in the summer — they took place not far from where I grew up, along Rock Creek Park. Mr. Magpie took me to the tournament a couple of summers when we were just starting to date, and I have a pocket full of golden memories sitting there with my handsome beau in the sweltering heat, listening to the pick-pock-pick-pock of the tennis ball volleying back and forth.
- At one Legg Mason match I did not attend, Mr. Magpie went with his friend Andrew (now a celebrated photojournalist whose pictures you probably know from the news and a dear friend of mine, too). They must have been cheering too loudly because an older woman in front of them turned around, shushed them, and said, sternly, “This, gentlemen, is not football.” Ha! I love the propriety of this sport.
Just because I’m not actively playing doesn’t mean I can’t jump in on the accoutrements, however…
THIS TENNIS-INSPIRED POPLIN PINTUCK WHITE DRESS IS EVERYTHING ($120 — ALSO LOVE THIS CHIC LWD FROM THE SAME COLLECTION)
THIS LOVE SWEATSHIRT! OBSESSED
THESE MONOGRAMMED TENNIS BAGS ARE PERFECTION
I LOVE A WHITE TENNIS DRESS I HAVE FROM BACK WHEN I WAS LEARNING TO PLAY — THIS IS SIMILAR (AND CHIC)
EVERYTHING FROM PAM MUNSON’S “HIGH SUMMER” COLLECTION
CUTEST PROPER TENNIS SKIRT — ALSO OWN AND LOVE THIS LULULEMON STYLE (COMFORTABLE AND FLATTERING)
THIS VINTAGE TENNIS ($28!)
MINI DOESN’T PLAY TENNIS (YET) BUT I THINK SHE NEEDS THIS SWEET DRESS AND THIS PRECIOUS $11 POLO DRESS, TOO
BARELY-THERE LIQUID LIPSTICK FOR THAT “IS-SHE-WEARING-MAKE-UP-OR-NOT” NATURAL BUT POLISHED VIBE (I HEAR AMAZING THINGS ABOUT THIS BRAND)
LACOSTE POLOS (MANY ON SALE!)
BASICALLY ANY LWD MAKES ME FEEL READY FOR LAWN GAMES
ETCHED HIGH BALL GLASSES FOR POST-SPORT GIN AND TONICS
INDIVIDUALLY PACKED FACIAL WIPES FOR POST-EXERTION REFRESH
FUN PEARL HAIR TIES (GET THE LELE LOOK FOR LESS)
ANOTHER ULTRA CHIC TENNIS DRESS — AND ONE FOR YOUR MINI ME TOO!
ANOTHER ADORABLE CHILDREN’S TENNIS OUTFIT
MORE GOOD-LOOKIN’ EXERCISE GEAR
P.S. Speaking of lipsticks, one of my FAVORITE brands/formula is Chantecaille’s Lip Chic, which glides on like a moisturizing/semi-glossy balm and comes in the prettiest shades, including several on sale here!
P.P.S. Reflections on two years in New York and nine years of marriage — both written last summer. Am already marinating on what to say about three years of New York and ten years of marriage later this summer…
P.P.P.S. A poem worth re-visiting.
Another tennis devotee here! I played growing up and loved it mostly for the reasons you highlighted. Then after I graduated college, I took it up again and joined an adult league. I had just moved across the country and was struggling to network and meet people in a new city. My mother *insisted* this was why she put me in tennis camp for 10 years– it’s the best sport for networking!! I was 15+ years younger than everyone in my league but made invaluable connections that led me to my current job, my volunteer work and alumni of the law school I’ll be attending this fall. Mom is always right… 🙂
Of course, the attire is still my favorite part. I’ve loved Tory Sport, Nike tops and Outdoor Voices skirts for playing. I’ve had fun with colors, but nothing beats an all-white look in summer. LOVE the Lake dresses you posted…they do everything well!
WOW – that is amazing, Katherine! I hadn’t thought about tennis for its networking potential. Another pro to any organized and social sport/hobby…
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I am here for all things tennis. Was an avid player when I lived on the East coast (it’s actually how I met almost all my friends) but regretfully have barely touched a racquet since moving to San Diego (which is ironic since the weather is so much more conducive to it here. But there isn’t the same infrastructure for public play here as there was where I previously lived). Looking forward to getting back into it when we move again. I too love all the outfits and, oddly enough, the rules around being a good spectator – the propriety of it all is just my cup of tea. In the meantime, I basically love all your picks and so need to stop shopping!
Yes, exactly: the rules around spectatorship are so interesting and in some ways counter-cultural! So wish I could call myself an “avid” anything. I need to really dig into a hobby besides reading…
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I need to stay far, far away from your blog! 😉 many items from this post just went in my shopping bags!!! Great stuff 🙂
Hehe! This was a fun post to put together 🙂
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Oh I miss tennis, too! I played in high school but only sporadically in the 20 years since. Maybe I will go hit on a backboard as a mental health break from the house. I used to hit against my parents’ garage door and now as an adult I feel like I owe their neighbors an apology!
Love that green T-shirt. I used to have one that said “love means nothing” that I got a kick out of. I also have a soft spot for little pom pom socks that peek over the back of my shoes! And now that I’ve seen those precious little tennis dresses, I think I need to get Claire into lessons ASAP. Actually, the more I think about it, the better tennis sounds as a sport for my children! I’ll never be sitting out in the rain watching a match…practices and games don’t tend to happen at ungodly hours (like swimming or skating)…equipment is not *that* expensive (unless you count club membership I guess!)…
Agree on the many virtues of tennis as a sport for children! I took many tennis camps when I was younger, and then when I was entering high school as well. Never developed any skill, but it was great exercise and I liked all the individualized attention.
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Tennis brings back such fond childhood memories for me! I played until college and miss it — I regret letting my skills atrophy over the past many years. It’s never too early to start again, though!
LOVE those Lake dresses! Nothing better than a crisp LWD.
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So true, never too late to start again!
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