*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.