WORKOUT WEDNESDAY: TENNIS DRESSES

Happy Wednesday! Long time, no workout post. I fell out of it for a while, but I’m slowly working my way back in. I’m finding that I’m enjoying just challenging myself to move my body every day – even if it’s just a walk. For the most part, I’ve removed the pressure of using any trackers, I just aim to close my rings. But because my workouts have gotten more flexible, so have my fits. Today, I want to talk about tennis dresses which are my favorite athleisure piece for being comfortable, closing rings, and then moving into day-to-day style.

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BANANA REPUBLIC SWEATER (SIMILAR) // ABERCROMBIE DRESS // LEATHER SNEAKERS (SIMILAR) // MARSHALL’S BAG (SIMILAR) // PANDORA NECKLACE & CHARM BRACELET // APPLE WATCH BAND // HOOP EARRINGS // SIMILAR POST EARRINGS // SIMILAR TENNIS BRACELET // MOUNTAIN RING // RAY-BAN SUNNIES (MINE ARE RX)

STYLING

I almost always opt for wearing a pullover sweater or sweatshirt when I’m wearing a tennis dress. It’s so easy to throw on top, tie at the waist, or toss over my shoulders. Typically, I don’t even commit to one styling, opting to use all of the above options depending on what we’re doing. Typically, I start the morning wearing the sweater, then toss it over my shoulders as it warms up, then tie it around my waist when we hit peak temps. And I reverse the process as it cools down in the evening.

It’s a silly peeve – but I hate when my outwear becomes an unaesthetic chore to lug around. SO, I love the versatility of styling a sweater three ways as needed.

I keep the rest of the look a little sportier, usually opting for my leather sneakers and minimal, but striking jewelry. Pieces like tennis bracelets, hoops, and pavé necklaces and rings. I can’t pass up an accessory, so I love to take the country club approach. It’s usually beautiful and comfortable and helps take a tennis dress from hike to hang out. If I were hiking, though, I’d swap to my athletic shoes bc I’m not that crazy.

When we were in Mexico, I exclusively brought tennis dresses because of their versatility. At dinner, I just opted for a cuter, but still simple, sandals to dress them up just a pinch. This one-shoulder dress was a serious winner for a dinner vibe and I ended up picking it up in a few colors.

WHERE & WHEN

Chris joined a local golf league so the number one place I’ve been wearing my tennis dresses is to the golf course. Listen, I cannot golf. I cannot participate in any sport with flying objects, or I get hit. Seriously – I was sitting in the clubhouse and almost got hit when someone hit a ball and it bounced backward somehow. So, I usually just attend with Chris and either read a book in the golf cart or bring my laptop to work up at the clubhouse. I love it. So much nature and it’s so inspiring.

Tennis dresses are also functional for activities. Obviously. It’s in the name. But I tend to grab one for a hike or walk I know will end in a brunch or running errands since I can get that practicality without feeling like I’m in gym clothes all day. None of these dresses are particularly fabulous for high-impact work like running, but you can find styles suited to that if you look! Typically these will have a more fitted, less invasive spandex short.

SIZING & SHOP MY COLLECTION OF TENNIS DRESSES

Similar to the advice I shared in my post about wearing jumpsuits when you have a long torso, I like to size up in dresses that have built-in shorts. Usually, I’m a medium in bottoms and a small on top for fitness gear. When it comes to tennis dresses, I almost always opt for a medium. I find that I may have a tiny bit more space in the bodice (I also usually skip a bra soooo), but the extra fabric helps with the length so I have a comfortable fit.

These are all the styles in my collection. I’m obsessed with every single one – and have each one in more than one color already. I also added a couple of skirts in there that I’m still nailing down the styling for, but love nonetheless for practicality.

Question for readers?