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Associated Press

Forget the tennis – at the US Open, a subset of spectators and television viewers have watched the year’s final grand slam tournament as a source of fashion inspiration they can use to serve looks off the court.
It may have escaped people who do not pay attention to clothing trends, but cities all over the world are awash in short pleated skirts, tennis dresses, polo collars and other garments that can make everyone look like they possess a country club membership and a respectable backhand.
The styles have been on full display in the stands of Flushing Meadows, in New York, where the tournament is held.
Students are sporting skorts – a skirt-short mash-up often worn by tennis players – and crew socks as they return to school. Young professionals and middle-aged parents are also adopting the posh, preppy aesthetic.

“I’ve never played pickleball or tennis in my life, and I have like five tennis skirts,” Stacy Sierra, 19, says while walking on the University of Notre Dame campus in the US state of Indiana. Sierra said she likes the look of the skirts and preferred their flowy material to denim during the summer and early autumn.
The trend, dubbed “tenniscore”, owes its timing to multiple factors. It is an extension of athleisure, the comfort-minded concept that made leggings, spandex shorts and other recreational attire acceptable to wear in public – no workout required.
The popularity of pickleball – an easy-to-play mix of tennis, ping pong and badminton – as well as interest in timeless fashions that exude “polished comfort” help explain why clothing and shoe lines inspired by racquet sports are so ubiquitous this year, according to Kristen Classi-Zummo, an analyst with market research firm Circana.
The market research firm’s data showed sales of women’s tennis apparel spiked 22 per cent in the United States between the beginning of the year and early August, while men’s tennis apparel saw a 19 per cent increase.
Athletic brands such as Nike, Fila and Adidas have rolled out fashion-forward collections of tank tops, shorts and visors to capture the momentum.

Fila, for its part, said in July that it was an ideal time for the company to “refresh its brand and product offerings” because of the rising popularity of sports like pickleball and tennis.
One of its first cracks at the refreshed brand was a “Bellissimo” campaign, which the company described as a reimagination of the traditional country club as a “mix of sport and play”.
Adidas created a different collection in honour of each of the four grand slam tournaments; shoppers can buy the cobalt blue and black dress that American player Jessica Pegula wore during her US Open quarter final victory match over world No. 1 and Polish competitor Iga Swiatek for US$130.
Nike recruited fashion designer Yoon Ahn to create outfits for Japanese player Naomi Osaka to wear while competing at the US Open and a retail tennis collection in colours meant “to evoke a rebellious, anarchistic teen aesthetic”.
Last week, Vogue magazine and the racquet sports brand Head unveiled a tennis collection that the fashion magazine said took two years to create.
Women’s apparel brands like Free People and Abercrombie & Fitch also have got into the game along with luxury labels like Gucci, which has a partnership with No. 1-ranked men’s singles player and Italian, Jannik Sinner.

Circana first started seeing tennis and pickleball apparel – particularly athletic dresses – pop up in its data when consumers started venturing out more after the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Classi-Zummo said.
People wanted to retain the ease of the loungewear they lived in during lockdowns but to look more polished and put together, she said.
Some fashion watchers categorise the trend as an offshoot of social-media-fuelled niche fads such as “quiet luxury” – which emphasises high-quality materials and clean styles with no logos – and a close cousin known as an “old money aesthetic”. That is a term for styles viewed as displaying wealth – oftentimes generational – in a subdued way.
Others have credited Challengers, the movie starring Zendaya about a love triangle set in the world of competitive tennis, with reigniting interest in court clothes. A generation ago, it was Gwyneth Paltrow’s Izod dress in The Royal Tenenbaums.
Skorts have made a comeback with the help of celebrities like Taylor Swift, who was seen earlier this year wearing pleated beige and ruffled lavender ones, the latter while on a pickleball court.

Brands and retailers have taken notice as pickleball has soared from nearly nothing to 13.6 million US players in just a few years. Padel, another tennis spin-off with roots in Mexico, also has gained traction, particularly in Europe.
Brands like Recess Pickleball and Tangerine Paddle offer clothing or accessories such as tote bags, and customisable paddles.
“We’re very lucky to have capitalised on a growing market, but I’m even shocked with sort of how fast it’s grown,” Tangerine Paddle co-founder Carly Llewellyn, whose company sells striped, flowery and other styles of custom-made paddles.
Some product makers have pursued partnerships. The Italian aperitif brand Aperol, known for the Aperol Spritz cocktail, sold its own orange-themed tennis capsule collection during the US Open, for which it was an official partner.
Health club operator Life Time and Lululemon signed an agreement allowing the activewear company to sell its apparel directly to club members and to collaborate on key pickleball events.












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A post shared by Talmesha Jones (@talmeshak)



In April, Target rolled out a limited-time pickleball collection with the tennis brand Prince that included pleated skirts and other items that “delivered incredible sales momentum in all things pickleball”, Christina Hennington, the retailer’s chief strategy and growth officer, said during a May earnings call.
Social media content creators, some of whom get paid to market products for brands or earn commissions from retailers like Amazon, have played a part in making tenniscore mainstream.
TikTok videos of Talmesha Jones, 33, showing off her tennis outfits have received thousands of views. The content creator based in San Antonio, in the US state of Texas, first bought a tennis skirt a few months ago, when her now-boyfriend asked her on a tennis date.
These days, the couple regularly play tennis and pickleball. Jones, who earns a commission on some of the products she features in her videos, has about 15 pieces she mixes and matches for games or errands around the city. She plans to keep wearing tennis skirts in cold weather but to pair them with tights and boots.
“Once I dipped my toe in, I was like, ‘Oh, this is like fun, it’s cute,’” she said. “And you can do so many different things with it.”


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Fashion

What is the tenniscore fashion trend seen at recent US Open and how can you rock it?

Taylor Swift in tenniscore, and Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka during the US Open championships in New York. Tennis outfits like theirs have become popular with fashion fans the world over. Photos: YouTube, EPA

Jessica Pegula in action against Iga Swiatek at the US Open. Those inspired by on-court fashion can buy the cobalt blue and black Adidas dress the American wore for US$130. Photo: EPA

Fila’s Bellissimo campaign. The campaign is a reimagination of the traditional country club as a “mix of sport and play”. Photo: FILA

Jannik Sinner of Italy in action against Taylor Fritz of the United States during the men’s final at the US Open. Photo: EPA

The Italian aperitif brand Aperol sold its own orange-themed tennis capsule collection during the US Open. Photo: Aperol

Jackson Wang builds a fashion empire – and more – based on ‘easy, casual and fun’ mantra

Co-founders Jackson Wang and Henry Cheung at Forbes 30 under 30 event. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong-born pop star Jackson Wang builds his brand into a multi-million dollar clothing and accessories venture. Photo: Handout

“The impact of Jackson has been a very essential element in this empire,” said Henry Cheung, Wang’s childhood friend and now business partner. Photo: SCMP 

FamilyMart socks have redefined Japanese convenience stores, become souvenirs for tourists

A pair of FamilyMart socks in its signature colours. Japanese convenience stores are becoming must-visit tourist spots for their fashion lines. Photo: Instagram/@t.sugi23

Actor and singer Takuya Kimura has been spotted wearing Family Mart’s green-and-blue-striped socks. Photo: Instagram/@style_of_the_people

Sales of FamilyMart’s socks had surpassed 20 million pairs by the end of May 2024. Photo: Instagram/@yappiam

An influencer wearing socks from FamilyMart. The convenience store chain held the industry’s first fashion show in November 2023. Photo: Instagram/@ta_ma_ki_0808

People can now buy entire outfits from the Convenience Wear line at FamilyMart. Photo: FamilyMart

The coolest place in Shanghai? Check out Anfu Road, city’s laid-back fashion central

Anfu Road boasts independent stores, cafés and tea-houses, wine bars and more. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Anfu Road in Shanghai is at the centre of the former French Concession. Known as the headquarters of Chinese fashion lovers, it has everything a visitor could ask for. Photo: Xiaohongshu

The former French Concession has become the headquarters of Shanghai’s hipsters and creatives. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Coffee Tree is an indoor-outdoor restaurant in Shanghai. Photo: Cyril Ip

The century-old parasol trees in Shanghai are meticulously cared for by local authorities. Photo: Xiaohongshu

The flagship store of Chinese fragrance brand To Summer is housed in a century-old Spanish-style colonial villa on Hunan Road. Photo: Cyril Ip

Wukang Mansion, which opened in 1924, was designed by Hungarian-Slovak architect László Hudec. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Chinese traditional fashion and modern design merge in New York clothing brand Dawang

Models wear dresses from Dawang’s spring/summer 2024 collection. Photo: Dawang

Models wear dresses from Dawang’s spring/summer 2024 collection. The New York-based brand combines traditional Chinese fashion with modern design in items including qipaos and dudou tops. Photo: Dawang

Dawang founder Daisy Wang Jingwen. Photo: Henry Thong

A look from Dawang. Photo: Dawang

When designing her pieces, Wang prioritises versatility – several of her tops are either reversible or have detachable sleeves. Photo: Henry Thong

A look featuring pieces from Dawang’s spring/summer 2024 collection. Photo: Dawang

After friend Ab Li joined the business in 2022, Dawang launched a number of unisex and menswear pieces. Photo: Dawang

Dresses from Dawang’s spring/summer 2024 collection. Photo: Dawang

Wang at her studio in New York. Photo: Henry Thong

What’s new in Emily in Paris season 4? Actress Lily Collins on the fashion, her confidence

Lead actress Lily Collins says Netflix show Emily in Paris has made her a more “understanding human” and contributed to her growth as a producer. Photo: Netflix via AP

Lily Collins in a scene from Emily in Paris. Collins said some of her character’s self-assurance has rubbed off on her. Photo: Netflix via AP

Lily Collins (left) and Ashley Park in a scene from Emily in Paris. Photo: Netflix via AP

Lily Collins in a scene from Emily in Paris. Emily has 82 looks for the fourth season. Photo: Netflix via AP

(From left) Ashley Park, Lily Collins and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu at the premiere of Emily in Paris on August 14, 2024, in Los Angeles. Photo: AP

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After Covid-19, everyone wanted comfy clothes – but fashionable ones. Enter tenniscore, trend whose rise was helped by the pickleball craze


After Covid-19, everyone wanted comfy clothes – but fashionable ones. Enter tenniscore, trend whose rise was helped by the pickleball craze.


US Open (tennis)