June 27, 2011

Ode to Women Who Wear Tennis Skirts Around Town


You know how much I love uniforms and feel deprived because I have never had a legitimate reason to ever wear one.

You can also imagine how excited I was to learn that there is an unofficial uniform for women in Orlando. It is called the tennis skirt.

Everywhere you go you will find women wearing them, including (but not limited to) the grocery store, the post office, the pediatrician's office, the school carpool line, and the public library. The best place to see large numbers of tennis skirts is at Panera at noon.

If you ask a woman in a tennis skirt if she is on her way to/from playing tennis, chances are she will look at you funny. I have learned that this is because a significant number of the women who wear tennis skirts around town do not actually have any plans to play tennis that day. Rather, they wear their tennis skirts at odd times and at odd places (ie. 10:30pm in Target) so that they can show off their legs and pretend to be cheerleaders.

Women who wear tennis skirts 24/7 will vehemently deny this accusation, but when pressed will agree that wearing a tennis skirt is a socially acceptable way for a woman over the age of thirty-five to wear a mini-skirt.

I do not play tennis and have no desire to learn how to play. Since moving to Florida, however, I have been seized with the desire to buy a tennis skirt and wear it to my sons' soccer tournaments, church, Vacation Bible School, swim lessons, Home Depot.

The possibilities are endless.

51 comments

Mum on the Run said...

Do it!
It's a sweet look.
You could pull it off with a gym bag ensemble.
:-)

Heather said...

Oh my goodness the same thing goes on here expect instead of tennis skirts it is work out clothes. You see here work out clothes are acceptable for people to wear anywhere and everywhere at any time. You would like a sports bra and biker shorts would not be acceptable attire for you child's award ceremony at school but you would be wrong. Of course the one place you shouldn't wear work out clothes to is the gym.
I have yet to get on board with the work out clothes phenomenon but the hotter it gets here the more appealing it seems. ;)

Outside the Pumpkin Shell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Outside the Pumpkin Shell said...

Reposting due to poor grammar and spelling...
I concur with Heather! I confess I wear workout clothes in public when I wear tennis shoes because I think tennis shoes with jeans is gak. I hope the concierge at the Disneyland Hotel forgave me when I looked at her strange as she very specifically told me where the gym was, in the hotel. I didn't realize why she thought I'd care. Ooops. The fashion guilt has worked, however, and now I work out daily...but then my cute workout clothes are too stinky sweaty to wear in public. It's a conundrum.

Mom of 12 said...

Ooo...you could get help really fast if you wore one of those at the Home Depot in Utah...probably wouldn't make much difference where you are.
Sandy
www.twelvemakesadozen.blogspot.com

Emily Heizer Photography said...

lol I don't think that would look so hot with your garments Jana! LOL Although, you certainly would get alot of attention! LOL

Jenny said...

Here it's workout clothes too, primarily yoga pants. If I had the legs for it, I might opt for the tennis skirt. Skirts are nice and cool. I say go for it!

Amy. said...

Better than pajamas! Tired of seeing people get out of their escalades wearing boxers, and a tank with spaghetti straps and NO bra! EVERYTHING is hanging out. One can only assume that they spent all their drug profit on the vehicle.

Lori @ Five of My Own said...

almost spit out my coffee with "the best place to see tennis skirts is Panera at noon". It's true in tropical Ohio too.

Although in the winter we tend to go for the matching jogging/slash leisure suit. We also still think its cute to have words on the seat of said jogging suit.

Laura Lowe said...

I've noticed this phenomenon in Georgia as well. I succumbed to peer pressure and bought myself one, but I've only worn it once. My 46-year-old thunder thighs look a little silly in a tennis skirt!

Tracy said...

Had to laugh at this, because recently one of our neighbors has taken to jogging in what looks like a tennis skirt. We have nicknames for all the joggers in our neighborhood (my husband included) and hers, unoriginally enough, is "skirt-lady." Why anybody would prefer to jog in a skirt than shorts is beyond me.

Jesus Chick said...

Thanks...now I want one. You probably have a hidden career in sales. You made me want to hit Panera for lunch.

Kimberly said...

I am currently wearing a french terry skort that I bought at Sam's Club. I don't think that's the same thing, especially since I RARELY go to Panera, and NEVER at noon...

Unknown said...

There is the added benefit of being able to store large objects in the bloomers as well--when not storing tennis balls there, of course.

Alexandra said...

You mean it's all a lie???

People, will continue to shock the heck out of me till the day I die.

Blythe said...

I say go for it. If you've always wanted a uniform, it looks like this is your opportunity!

The Galloping Gobets said...

my pet peeve uniform is Hospital Greens, that aren't really green. sloppy and generic.And I don't even want to think what body fluids you may have been around when you are shopping for milk & bread on your way home.

Mary said...

I agree with the comment from Heather -- I see women in Salt Lake wearing workout clothes all the time, yet they are pristine and cute and clean. I don't even think they are planning to go to the gym later.

Erin said...

I've witnessed this as well, and it is not a cute look, even for the size 00, "I'll just have a bowl of steam for lunch, thank you," women. Just because it can be worn, doesn't mean it should.

Anonymous said...

When I wear spandex I feel much more athletic... even though I have never participated in a group sport or attended a gym. So I wear it all too often. How else can you steal your kids' afternoon snack without guilt and still feel fit? This is all very embarrassing and as a result I will be posting this comment anonymously... at least I know I am ridiculous.

SM said...

oh my goodness, I will have to pay more attention next time i am in Orlando! So glad you posted this, i have been looking for a reason to break out my old hs tennis skirt (assuming i can zip it over my rear!)... now i have the perfect excuse!

Sheelah said...

Oh Lord. I had to come back and comment.

I read your post this morning. Then I went to Panera (for the 2nd time ever) at noon and you'll never guess what the lady in front of me was wearing.

The real kicker is that I live in Washington state. It's about 60 degrees today and the sky is a nice, dark November shade of gray.

Also, my 9-month-old daughter leaned over and yanked out a chunk of her daughter's hair :)

Anonymous said...

Guilty!!!
I live in TN, not FL, but...Guilty!
I love the fit, the feel, of tennis skorts. I will also admit I love the way they flatter my soon-to-be 43 year old legs. I look fine in shorts, but my husband says I "rock" the skirts, so....Guilty!
Ame in TN

Anonymous said...

I too live in Orlando and have had the same feeling. Too funny!

Gina said...

You have to remember the rest of the Orlando uniform: sleeveless polo shirt, ponytail and visor.

Gag.

I hate it.

Though, admittedly, it is better than the tourist uniform of tank tops, capri pants, ankle socks and cross trainers.

Anna said...

I've noticed it here in Houston too! Mostly at my kids sporting events, where it's so hot, so I figured the ladies didn't want to sweat in regular clothes, but maybe I'm missing the fashion statement?

Lynn W. said...

To be able to wear a tennis skirt, I'd have to actually shave my legs once in awhile! I have descent legs, I think, but I hide them most the time :)

Sant Family said...

I was just in Utah and noticed the same thing!

Here in LA, depending on the store they just wear the minis anyway, age and size not a consideration.

Heather B said...

sounds similar to the beach bunnies who wear booty shorts with ugg boots.........still trying to figure that one out.

Bridget said...

LMBO!! I just found your blog. :) Thank you for the morning giggles!! XOXOXO

Anonymous said...

I'm just here to tell you the if you REALLY want to wear a uniform go sign up to be a Boy Scout leader. Nothing as flattering as a khaki scout uniform. LOL

Angie said...

Swim lesson at 3;45 PM in Wichita , KS are also full of tennis skirts. Especially if it's raining.

Melinda said...

Lol the same thing happens in Tampa too! I remember when I first moved here...the shock of how little people wear at the mall or to talk to their child at school. People running through Walmart in bathingsuits and workout clothes. Bras are always optional apparently.

Anonymous said...

Here it's short shorts of about the same length of that tennis skirt, and yoga pants. Even though I live in WA and I still have a hard time believing it's summer sometimes.

:)

teamaldrich said...

Guilty! I love 'em.

Anonymous said...

Florida is not the only place. I agree with you and think that it the older woman's version of a mini skirt. However, there are some who should reconsider this look :)

Bluebird Kisses said...

I have the same secret desire. However I have yet to actually give in, since I have about 10 more post baby lbs to lose still.

www.bluebirdkisses.com

Bambi Yost said...

Wear the skirt and have fun in it. Life is too short to give a damn about what other people think is or is not appropriate. I'm just sayin'...

Anonymous said...

I think these little pleated skirts are the hottest damn thing ever! I'm soooo glad there is an excuse to wear them more than just on the tennis court or for cheerleading. Whenever I see a girl in one of these skirts I'm attracted immediately!

Anonymous said...

In this day and age it seems like everybody of all ages are wearing workout clothes in public everywhere. You got older women wearing bright colored tennis skirts with their cap or visors, soccer moms or moms wearing nike yoga pants/compression tights with a tank and nike shoes, teenage girls wearing their nike tempo shorts with a shirt, and their nike shoes, and teenage high school and middle school boys wearing their nike basketball shorts with their high nike socks and nike shoes. So yeah this is all known as athleisure.

Anonymous said...

In this day and age it seems like everybody of all ages are wearing workout clothes in public everywhere. You got older women wearing bright colored tennis skirts with their cap or visors, soccer moms or moms wearing nike yoga pants/compression tights with a tank and nike shoes, teenage girls wearing their nike tempo shorts with a shirt, and their nike shoes, and teenage high school and middle school boys wearing their nike basketball shorts with their high nike socks and nike shoes. So yeah this is all known as athleisure.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the great post on your blog, it really gives me an insight on this topic.
workout clothing

Teri-H said...

I just bought two tennis skirts and I'm pondering whether I should wear them to work, I work in a very casual office -- I might do it!

Teri-H said...

I just bought two tennis skirts and I'm pondering whether I should wear them to work, I work in a very casual office -- I might do it!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this wonderful post. You can buy workout clothes for women from the New Balance India website.

Lisa Dawes said...

I love wearing tennis skirts around. I feel cute and girly and yes I openly and freely admit that I do it in part because I feel good showing off my nice legs and toned butt. The only thing I miss are the old style skirts you know the ones with the attached tennis panties underneath. They were much freer to move in and not as restrictive as the ones today with the shorts. I mean what's the point right? Just wear the shorts and forget the skirt.

OMG I have a cute story to share. When I was a little girl and would watch women tennis matches I would say to myself "Are those their underwear panties showing when their skirts would fly up?" I was like "I am never going to play tennis if I have to wear skirts with my undies exposed bare. No way." I also wondered where they were putting the balls when the stuffed it up their skirts. I was like "Where could they be putting them?" I thought to myself that they must be putting it in between their butt cheeks to hold the ball! LOL!!!! You have to understand that I was like 6 years old. At least my mon thought it was funny when I asked her back then. Good times.

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Groomy said...

Woah! That’s a nice thought. I will have to agree with you. I have seen a lot of women like that. There also women who like wearing work out leggings all day long, I would say I am also one of them. But don’t you think it is the most comfortable thing that came into existence?

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