When Lorde invited us down to the tennis court back in 2013, she made the whole thing sound so easy. But nothing is ever as simple as arriving somewhere and talking it up like “yeah.” That’s mostly because the question of “what should I wear” is always hanging pre get-together.
There can be a simple answer to that question, though: the humble tennis shoe (and a tennis skirt, honestly—they’re so cute). Though there are plenty of sneakers out there, designed for plenty of sports, this one is so prolific that many people use “tennis shoe” as a catch-all name. Ever heard of “tennies?” I have, and I have a pair in my car at all times in case someone is in the mood to run around.
By definition, a tennis shoe is a lace-up sneaker with a fabric top (for breathability, I suppose) and rubber sole (for great traction on the court; there’s a lot of fancy footwork involved in the game). They’re lighter than other sneakers and also a bit more rigid for solid ankle support.
Ahead, discover our favorite tennis-inspired sneakers—no promises they’ll be orthopedically perfect for your game, but we took inspo from some of the most stylish players!—for your trips down to the court and beyond.
