Put away your hats and cowboy boots, it’s time for rackets and pleated skirts. After the return of cowboycore sparked by singer Beyoncé and her country album “Cowboy Carter,” another personality is contributing to the resurgence of a very specific trend: tenniscore.
American actress Zendaya, currently starring in Luca Guadagnino’s latest film Challengers, has accustomed us to stunning fashion moments on the red carpet. With the help of her stylist Law Roach, the 27-year-old frequently appears in spectacular outfits, chosen from the archives of major fashion houses such as Mugler and Givenchy, or specially made for her.
In recent weeks, the Euphoria star has not deviated from her usual sense of style, appearing in increasingly remarkable silhouettes for the promotion of Challengers. In this new film directed by the filmmaker of Call Me by Your Name, Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a former professional tennis player caught in a love triangle. As she did during the promotion of the science fiction film Dune, the actress has embraced the “method dressing” phenomenon. Like actress Margot Robbie and her colorful looks before the release of the film Barbie, celebrities today tend to adopt the fashion style of their characters on the red carpet.
Zendaya plays a professional tennis player in the movie Challengers
Zendaya and Law Roach have thus embraced tennis style codes and adapted them to glamorous outfits. In Rome, the star was dressed in a look consisting of a plunging V-neck sleeveless top and a pleated mini-skirt by Loewe. It’s worth noting that the brand’s artistic director, Jonathan Anderson, imagined the costumes worn by the characters in Challengers. An exercise that seems to have continued to inspire him to create the actress’s looks, even designing heels adorned with tennis balls.
Zendaya in Loewe outfit at the Challengers premiere in Rome
Tennis, a Stylistic Playground
If the actress currently positions herself as the face of this sporty trend, the interest in tenniscore is far from new.
In the 1920s, tennis player Suzanne Lenglen was one of the first to abandon long narrow skirts for pleated skirts, heralding the beginnings of a sports wardrobe that does not limit the body’s movements.
Fashion has thus made its way onto the court over the decades, until athletes like Serena Williams made their outfits a trademark. The Nike-sponsored champion has often stood out by wearing tight-fitting bodysuits and other original outfits during her matches, even breaking regulations and garnering criticism.
Serena Williams in denim mini-skirt at the 2004 US Open
But while the American player sought to break the codes of this very “proper” sport, the tenniscore trend highlights pieces traditionally worn in this sport.
From the Courts to the Catwalks
In their fashion shows, brands showcase polo shirts and pleated skirts, like Miu Miu did for its Fall-Winter 2022-2023 collection.
Of course, the crocodile-branded company founded by Rene Lacoste doesn’t need to make much effort to embrace this trend. For over 90 years, Lacoste has made tennis values its own and constantly offers a reinterpretation of its codes. The brand’s sporty aesthetic is now adapted to modern trends for attractive pieces.
Lacoste Fall-Winter 2024-2025 Fashion Show
The French brand also partnered with Sporty & Rich in June 2023. In collaboration with its creator Emily Oberg, Lacoste unveiled a collection of 22 pieces inspired by the style of the very chic French Riviera. Traditional tennis silhouettes were reimagined with a contemporary vision, drawing inspiration from Lacoste archives from the 1970s and 1980s.
A Digital Phenomenon
Today, the movement seems to attract many people in search of a new aesthetic. Second-hand platform Depop has stated that searches for tennis-focused brands like Slazenger and Adidas increased by over 90% in April, while searches for tennis clothing such as tennis skirts and polo shirts increased by over 50%. The trend has also invaded social media, with the #tenniscore hashtag garnering 2.8 million views on TikTok.
Now, it remains to be seen how quickly this micro-trend will fade to make way for the next.
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