The logo for the Daily Beast's Obsessed website. It reads: 'Obsessed: What to Watch, Binge, See, & Skip'
DAILY BEAST
CrosswordNewsletters
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Obsessed
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDB's Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      CULTURE
      • Power Trip
      • Fashion
      • Books
      • Royalist
      TECH
      • Disinformation
      SCOUTED
      • Clothing
      • Technology
      • Beauty
      • Home
      • Pets
      • Kitchen
      • Fitness
      • I'm Looking For
      BEST PICKS
      • Best VPNs
      • Best Gaming PCs
      • Best Air Fryers
      COUPONS
      • Vistaprint Coupons
      • Ulta Coupons
      • Office Depot Coupons
      • Adidas Promo Codes
      • Walmart Promo Codes
      • H&M Coupons
      • Spanx Promo Codes
      • StubHub Promo Codes
      Products
      NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
      FOLLOW US
      GOT A TIP?

      SEARCH

      HOMEPAGE
      I'm Looking For

      The Updated Tennis Dress Is My New Spring Staple

      SERVE IT UP

      Trends are cyclical. The ’90s tennis dresses are back, but they’re getting a 2021 upgrade.

      Jillian Lucas

      Commerce Director, Scouted

      Updated Apr. 21, 2023 2:07PM ET / Published Apr. 30, 2021 10:00AM ET 

      Photo Illustration: Scouted/The Daily Beast/Vendors

      Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

      Athletic wear has become mainstream, driven by staying at home for a few years. But even though we’re back out in the world in 2023, the athleisure movement has stuck. From leggings to bike shorts to skorts (yes, skorts), these styles have become less about fitness and more about fashion in the last few years. For months and months, I’ve been seeing tennis dresses everywhere—from the gym to the pickleball courts. These aren’t your ’90s polo dresses, made from thick, pique fabric and paired with pearls. No, these are exercise and workout dresses made from athletic fabric, with a bodysuit underneath, and they’re everywhere. Not only are they cute AF, but they’re also functional if you do plan to work out in one.

      I wanted to see what the fuss was about and if these dresses would give me the comfort and breathability for the spring and summer weather, but with the coverage of workout clothes. So, I got the chance to test three of the most popular ones on the market from Outdoor Voices, Aerie, and Girlfriend Collective. Each dress has thin straps and a stretchy bodysuit with shorts underneath, but that’s about as far as the comparisons go. Each had a set of pros and cons, but what I’ve deduced is that you really can’t go wrong if you want to be comfortable and stylish. Tennis dresses are a go.

      The Exercise Dress

      This dress is my overall favorite. It’s sleek and comfortable, slightly swishy (in a good way), and comes in multiple neutral colors so it’s easy to wear on its own or layered under a shirt or sweater. The adjustable straps felt secure, the fabric was by far the lightest feeling of the bunch (though it wrinkled the easiest), and the shorts underneath were the perfect length. Each leg has its own pocket, as well.

      Best Feature: The updated version of the Exercise Dress has multiple pockets and a grip on the shorts to keep them from rolling up.

      Shop at Outdoor Voices$

      Aerie OFFLINE Printed Dress

      The fabric on this dress from Aerie is very lightweight and breathable, making it the perfect thing for throwing on when it’s scorching outside. The straps themselves have a bra-like feel, rather than matching the rest of the fabric, making this option a bit more athletic-looking than the others, but the unique back detail was a nice touch. Each pocket on the legs were deep enough to easily fit my phone.

      Best Feature: This was by far the softest of the three dresses I tried. It feels more like a pair of well-washed leggings than a dress. I also really like the way the straps cross in the back, with the slider to adjust in the middle rather than on each strap.

      Shop At Aerie$

      Girlfriend Collective Lola Dress

      Unlike the other dresses I tried, this has a unique v-neck. This may not be the best cut for people with larger chests, but it worked well for me. The fabric is stretchy and comfortable and I found this to be on the longer side for me, which is great if you’re tall. The only downside is it’s a bit difficult to get on and off because of the neckline. It has pockets on each hip, though they were the smallest of the bunch and made from mesh.

      Best Feature: The built-in bra. Other dresses don’t offer much in the way of support, but the band in this dress feels much more secure than the others.

      Shop At Girlfriend Collective$88

      Free Shipping | Free Returns

      Sign up for our newsletter for even more recommendations. Don’t forget to check out our coupon site to find activewear deals from Nike, adidas, and more.

      Jillian Lucas

      Commerce Director, Scouted

      @jilldotcomjillian.lucas@thedailybeast.com

      Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.

      READ THIS LIST

      DAILY BEAST
      • Cheat Sheet
      • Politics
      • Entertainment
      • Media
      • World
      • Innovation
      • U.S. News
      • Scouted
      • Travel
      • Subscription
      • Crossword
      • Newsletters
      • Podcasts
      • About
      • Contact
      • Tips
      • Jobs
      • Advertise
      • Help
      • Privacy
      • Code of Ethics & Standards
      • Diversity
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Copyright & Trademark
      • Sitemap
      • Best Picks
      • Coupons
      • Coupons:
      • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
      • HP Coupon Codes
      • Chewy Promo Codes
      • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
      • NordVPN Coupons
      • JCPenny Coupons
      • Nordstrom Coupons
      • Samsung Promo Coupons
      • Home Depot Coupons
      • Hotwire Promo Codes
      • eBay Coupons
      • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
      © 2023 The Daily Beast Company LLC