tennis whites

Anyone looking at the number of tennis skirts I’ve amassed would guess I play a lot more than I do. The process of shopping for my tennis wardrobe is a prime example of aspirational acquisition. I want to play more, and I want the way I look to reflect that. Want to look as if I do play.

[Which I do, though, while I am not bad, I am not what I would call good yet, either.]

I want to be inspired to be the kind of player I look as if I might be, and dress like the player I want to be (dress “up” – ready parallels here with dressing like the person you want to be). There is always power in looking the part.*

*Did you see this video of the homeless veteran who has a makeover that changes his life? Did I mention this already?

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And tennis has the best outfits.

I know that the tradition of white is all tied up in the sport’s aristocratic heritage and is fundamentally impractical…but I love white. And white just looks better and better as the summer wears on and I gradually bronze up and bleach out.

I mentioned planning to feature some tennis gear a while ago when I mentioned getting this watch, but somehow or another kept getting thwarted.

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I prefer skirts to dresses, tennis-wise, but the dresses have their charm, too. They are both so adorably unnecessary. Such a quaint holdover, dismissed long ago by every other sport I can bring to mind.* Such an instantly recognizable uniform (and any uniform may also be a costume: I was a tennis player for Halloween once, effortlessly). The option to wear them is too good to pass up.

*I could think up some feminist issues with this but I don’t feel like it. They are cute. I like them.

This particular dress is forgiving of how out of shape I am at the moment.  [Shall we blame winter? Even though it was a while ago now? Let’s blame winter.] You may not be able to tell…so much the better.

Pure Lime tennis dress, Fila visor (this is key), Adidas racquet bag (this one is enormous, I carry everything in it), Wilson BLX Pro Open racquet, Saucony sneakers. I like tenniswarehouse.com for this kind of gear, which has great sales now and then and a number of useful guides. I like to pick and choose across brands in this context as in any other.

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Yes, I really do wear the wristbands.

I’ll have to show you some of the classic pleated tennis skirts I have, which have to be my favorites. Or do I like the sleeker ones best? It matters not.

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the bohemian

I borrowed some lovely pearl pieces from the Etsy shop bluebirrrd dreams and, when Sarah, the shop owner, mentioned she loved wearing the lariat necklace as a bracelet, the look I envisioned took a most welcome turn for the bohemian. One of my favorite alter-egos.

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I like the mixing of texture and color that often accompanies a bohemian look. The aesthetic is that of a happy jumble, and the profusion of irregular peacock pearls makes for an appealing accent. The careless, rumpled elements just improve the look. Conveniently.

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I like long necklaces, which has come up already, and I particularly like a lariat; essentially one long string with no clasp that can be arranged as you please. This one has beautiful peacock coloring.

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The sun was not cooperating today. Dubious interior background.  [See that box? That box is full of wigs.]

Doc Martens, H&M leg warmers, Ralph Lauren Rugby cardigan, and…I can’t remember where the rest of this stuff is from. Variously thrifted. On the nails; Essie polish in Sew Psyched. On the lips; Lipstick Queen lipstick in Jean Queen*.

*I’ll talk more about this later, this formula is genius, more a luxe tinted balm, and this particular color is one of the most subtle and flattering pinks I’ve come across.

This eyeshadow is from MakeupGeek in the shade Goddess. Lovely sepia! Unfortunately it is almost perpetually out of stock.

Here I realize the cherry blossom pearl drop earrings I’ve borrowed would be fitting for this look, too.

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This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Featured pearls are on loan from Bluebirrrd Dreams.