While most workout attire revolves around leggings, shorts and t-shirts, certain sports—like tennis—are really best practiced in a dress. The fluid design allows for greater movement and airflow as you run, jump, bend and swing. After comparing several options, we landed on the 10 best tennis dresses: Our top pick overall is the Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress, which features adjustable straps and a built-in shorts liner. If you’re on a budget, the Old Navy PowerSoft Athletic Dress is our best affordable pick at under $50.
Stretchy and moisture-wicking, the best tennis dresses move with your body as you glide across the … [+] court.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
Like an outstanding pair of tennis shoes, our favorite tennis dresses are designed with specific details that help elevate your game, such as moisture-wicking fabrics, four-way stretch and handy pockets. They’re also stylish enough to be worn pre- or post-match, keeping you cool at the pool or while running errands. To guarantee our picks are of exceptional quality, all styles were reviewed by Forbes Vetted deputy editor Kari Molvar, our in-house style expert with over two decades of fashion industry experience. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tennis dresses to wear on and off the court.
Sizes: XXS to 3XL | Colors: 9 total, including Black and Evergreen | Materials: 85% nylon, 15% spandex | Built-in short liner: Yes
For a modern spin on the traditional tennis dress, Outdoor Voices’s highly rated workout dress has adjustable straps, which provides flexibility with the fit and comfort for all-day wear. You can pick from a range of fashion-forward colors and prints. It also includes a built-in shorts liner with two pockets.
Sizes: XS to 4XL | Colors: 2 total, including Black Jack and Magnolia | Materials: 77% polyester, 23% spandex | Built-in short liner: No
With a half-zip front, seamed waist and pleated sides, this athletic dress from Old Navy offers a tailored fit that’s universally flattering. Even better, attaining this polished, classic look won’t break the bank—it comes with an incredibly reasonable price tag. Keep in mind that this dress doesn’t have built-in shorts or a shelf bra, so you’ll have to layer your own underneath. It also only comes in shades of black and white, which may be limiting to those who prefer more vibrant hues.
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 2 total, including Snow White and Evergreen | Materials: Polyester, spandex | Built-in short liner: No
Like much of Tory Burch’s sport line, the V-Neck Tennis Dress is a fresh interpretation of ’70s sportswear. Even though it’s chic, don’t think that it’s not made for actual workouts. It’s cut from performance jersey—which is breathable, moisture wicking and stretchy—and features a pleated skirt, drop waist and rib knit trim.
Sizes: XXS to 3XL | Colors: 7 total, including White and Tropical Mint Green | Materials: 84% polyester, 16% elastane | Built-in short liner: Yes
CRZ Yoga’s activewear is made of ultra-smooth, UPF 50+ fabric that feels great against your skin. This particular tennis dress features adjustable spaghetti straps, shorts with built-in pockets and a flattering X-shaped back. It also comes in bold shades, like Tropical Mint Green and Neon Orange, for those who like to stand out on the court.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 8 total, including Lime Zest and Rose Mist | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Built-in short liner: Yes
While Rhone’s Course To Court Dress isn’t the only style on this list to have built-in shorts, it offers an additional unique feature that makes it stand out from the rest: The shorts are designed with a subtle back opening that allows you to easily slip them off without removing your dress. This dress is made of Rhone’s CosmicKnit fabric, which offers UPF50+ sun protection and four-way stretch; it also comes in several unique shades, like Blue Lavender and Olive Shadow.
Sizes: XS to XXL | Colors: 3 total, including Black and White | Materials: 80% polyester, 20% spandex | Built-in short liner: No
When it comes to athletic wear, you can’t go wrong with Nike. The brand’s Dri-Fit Advantage Tennis Dress combines a classic, slim fit with smart, modern touches, including a back cutout and a flat, V-neck collar. While there are no built-in shorts, you’ll find convenient side pockets for stashing a tennis ball or two.
Sizes: XXS to L | Colors: 2 total, including Black/White and Navy/Ivory | Materials: 87% nylon, 13% elastane | Built-in short liner: Yes
With contrast piping running under the bust and down the sides, this tennis dress from Alo Yoga is a fresh take on traditional activewear. A shelf bra with adjustable straps provides ample support up top, while built-in shorts offer coverage underneath the A-line skirt. This dress is versatile enough to wear beyond the court, too—toss on a cardigan, and you’re ready for brunch or post-match drinks.
Sizes: XXS to 6XL | Colors: 9 total, including Moss and Earth | Materials: 79% recycled plastic bottles, 21% spandex | Built-in short liner: Yes
This dress is a spin on Girlfriend Collective’s best-selling Paloma Bra, which earned the title of best racerback style on our list of the best sports bras for large breasts. Everything we love about the bra version applies to this dress—it has the same compressive fabric and comes in nine vibrant hues. A built-in unitard offers full-body support, and hidden mesh pockets along the inner shorts add an extra touch of functionality.
Sizes: 0 to 14 | Colors: 3 total, including White and True Navy | Materials: 78% nylon, 22% elastane | Built-in short liner: No
For those who prefer to skip the built-in shorts, we recommend this lightweight dress from Lululemon. And while this style is liner-free, it still offers upper body support in the form of a racerback shelf bra. It’s made with Lululemon’s signature four-way stretch fabric, which offers smooth comfort all day long.
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Colors: 2 total, including Black and White | Materials: 72% polyester, 28% elastane | Built-in short liner: Yes
A pleated skirt is a tennis fashion staple. Here, it’s combined with a tank-style top to create a classic, stylish silhouette. Made of Vuori’s ultra-lightweight BreatheInterlock fabric, the dress wicks away moisture like a champ. It has built-in shorts, an interior phone pocket and a discreet back cutout for extra ventilation.
Sizes: 32 to 44 | Colors: 8 total, including Light Pink and Navy Blue | Materials: 94% cotton, 6% elastane | Built-in short liner: No
For a sporty casual option, consider the dress version of Lacoste’s classic piqué polo shirt. It has a slim but stretchy fit and features a ribbed collar and finished sleeve caps. The dress is accented with mother-of-pearl buttons and a monotone logo. Pair with sneakers for athletic activities or comfortable flats for running errands or staying cool at the beach.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted editorial team has written and published dozens of expertly researched fashion stories.
Deputy editor Kari Molvar leads Forbes Vetted’s entire fashion section, and oversaw the publishing of this article. Molvar has over 20 years’ experience covering women’s apparel, accessories and footwear.
Our content library includes a robust catalog of fitness apparel roundups that cover a wide range of athletic activities, from tennis to pickleball to golf.
This article is regularly updated to ensure all product information is correct and all styles are in-stock. In August 2024, fashion writer Claire Epting refreshed our list with new selections, including the Rhone Course To Court Dress and the Vuori Set Dress.
How We Chose The Best Tennis Dresses
When making our selections, we considered the factors that apply to all quality activewear—comfort, fit and performance.
Since court style is subjective, we made sure to feature a variety of tennis dresses to suit multiple tastes. This includes simple, streamlined designs, as well as retro-inspired silhouettes.
We prioritized brands with decades-long reputations for crafting stellar athletic apparel, like Nike and Lacoste; we also highlighted some newer brands that our editors have tried and loved, like Girlfriend Collective and Outdoor Voices.
Price, too, was taken into account. We included options for every budget, whether you’re looking to splurge on a designer name or go with a wallet-conscious piece.
