Naomi Osaka and Fashion Houses Revive Tennis Skirt as a Stylish Sportswear Icon
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has become a prominent figure at the intersection of sports and fashion, notably through her stylish tennis skirts showcased at major tournaments. At last month's Roland Garros in Paris, Osaka wore a sequined dress designed by Swiss designer Kevin Germanier, repurposing vintage Nike pieces, which she also sported at a recent tennis event in Germany.
Currently, Wimbledon and other sports events like the Maccabiah Games in Israel and the upcoming 2026 World Cup highlight the growing fusion between design and athletics. The upcoming International Design Week in Jerusalem will explore this connection under the theme "Victory Gate," focusing on the journey from the opening whistle to the final outcome.
Fashion houses are actively engaging with this trend. Recently, a collaboration launched between Italian brand Miu Miu, sports company New Balance, and American tennis player Coco Gauff, who, like Osaka and Serena Williams, has been embraced by the fashion industry and featured on Vogue America’s cover. Their limited-edition collection features minimalist styles and bright colors, with prices ranging from 590 to 950 euros for items like tennis dresses, caps, and skirts.
In Israel, various interpretations of the tennis skirt are available, from sporty models by Nike and Lululemon to more fashion-forward versions like Diesel’s denim skirt and Reserved’s checkered pattern. The tennis skirt’s evolution dates back to the early 20th century when designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli revolutionized women’s sportswear by introducing lighter fabrics and shorter lengths, enabling greater freedom of movement.
Pioneering tennis player Suzanne Lenglen caused a stir at Wimbledon in 1919 by wearing a white dress with short sleeves and exposed legs, deemed "immodest" by the London press. In 1921, French designer Jean Patou created a groundbreaking look for her featuring a pleated skirt ending mid-calf and a lightweight cardigan, allowing unprecedented mobility. Later, in the 1930s, Elsa Schiaparelli designed a skirt-pants hybrid for tennis legend Lili de Alvarez, marking the introduction of culottes into women’s fashion.
Nearly a century later, Naomi Osaka’s sparkling tennis skirt continues this legacy of blending athletic function with fashion flair. For those seeking contemporary tennis skirt styles, options range from affordable to high-end, including pieces priced between 80 and 780 shekels from brands like Reserved, Skechers, Nike, and Lacoste.
