It's definitely a pickleball girl summer because everyone I know is picking up a paddle and hitting the court as their new favorite activity. 

But if you want to be fashionable when you play, these are key trends you should incorporate into your apparel choices. 

Navy is the new Black

As much as I love a little black dress, navy is the rage this summer. Countless capsule wardrobes and collaborations are ditching the LBD and replacing it with a navy instead, and I think it’s a great switch. 

Navy is excellent because it has the same slimming effect that black does, but it’s visually softer because it’s a slightly lighter color.

Navy is also neutral, so you can pair this dark blue with your favorite color and look incredibly chic. 

Mary Brascia recently wore a navy mesh dress at the Veolia North Carolina Open from  Lucky in Love and looked so fabulous. Navy is definitely her color.

East Coast country club summer

Think summer in the Hamptons where the fabulous women are playing pickleball in the morning and having poolside picnics in the afternoon. It’s that Americana coastal vibe – pinstripes, clean lines, and polished with a color palette featuring red, white, and navy blue. Maybe a pop of green, too. 

Every summer, these trends circulate off the court, but they're also trending on the court as well. Hunter Johnson wearing Wilson is an excellent example of this aesthetic, as well as Genie Bouchard wearing New Balance - and she has that classic court elegance like no other. 

Florals, even in the summer

Springtime may be the floral season, but I’m seeing floral prints' popularity maintained well beyond the summer solstice. Florals are bright, vibrant, and playful, so they pop beautifully on the court. 

At the Veolia North Carolina Open, Helena Jansen rocked a floral dress and looked so adorable. 

I'm convinced that floral’s popularity is also thanks in part to brands like LoveShackFancy who embrace the ultra-feminine patterns and silhouettes, partnering with pop culture icons like the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by LoveShackFancy 🎀 (@loveshackfancy)

Brands like Astoria, Halara, and LoveShackFancy are churning out dozens of floral designs and patterns for the summer. Clearly, there’s a demand for floral fits in activewear. 

Lace and Court Crochet 

Summer is the season of crochet and lace thanks to all the summer’s favorite activities, including festival wear and beachside cover-ups. I love a little crochet fashion moment, though I’m skeptical about incorporating these trends into athletic fabrics when it comes to durability. I don’t see how a mix of polyester and spandex can make for a good crochet.

But Aerie is experimenting with lace athletic shorts and the result is visually appealing. When it comes to competitive court play, however, not so much. 

Lace is delicate, so it’s no surprise the fabric can’t handle rushing from the baseline to return a third shot drop. 

So, if you want to participate in the lace and crochet trend on the court, tread with caution. 

Bows, bows, and more bows

Could this also be because of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Maybe. They are trendsetters. 

Best Dressed List regulars like Jorja Johnson, Tyra Hurricane Black, and Parris Todd love to incorporate bows into their hair, but bows are making an appearance as embellishments like this bow pattern athletic dress from Altar’d State, or bow accents like this bow tie back dress from Halara.

Lululemon also added these wrap dresses with a bow tie on the side to their collection. And Beach Riot combined both floral and bows with this athletic dress that looks like something you’d wear on date night. 

I'm not a bow girl, so the bow printed patterns aren’t my favorite. But I do think the bow embellishments are really adorable. 

I can totally see Tyra Hurricane Black wearing this white Halara bow back dress at a Grand Slam and convincing me I need to participate more in the bow trend. 

Gingham is for the girls 

Another trend that’s popular both on and off the court. Gingham is making a comeback this summer, and I think it’s so adorable. Target released an active wrap dress that quickly sold out because it’s just so cute. 

Altar’d State combined two trends, pink gingham and bows with this dress. 

Gingham is a super charming pattern, but I fear it’s going to look outdated very quickly. I hope it’s not the kind of trend where we all look back at old photos and think “I can’t believe I wore that.”

Drop Waists for your drop shot

Drop waists are so incredibly trendy off the court, so it’s no surprise to see a drop waist incorporated into athleisure. I adore this example of a drop waist mini dress from  Anthropologie. Something about it looks so chic and sophisticated.  

However, I think a drop waist is a tough silhouette because it hits most women at what’s considered their “widest,” at their hips. It’s why I’ll forever hate low rise jeans and strictly wear mid-to-high rise because they hit at your natural waist and better accentuate your figure. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by ALEX WALKER (@alexrwalker)

Alex and Angie Walker have participated in the drop waist trend and their dresses had a unique spin. Instead of a traditional drop waist, their dresses were an A-line drop waist that are so incredibly flattering. They made me like this style a lot more. 

Trending accessories:

Visors

Put your baseball hat away until the fall because summer is visor season. Visors are great because they have extra ventilation and they still provide shade to your face. Pickleball Central has lots of options for hats and visors to keep yourself cool.

Ruffle socks 

Wear high socks, but make them girly. I adore this little detail because it adds so much personality and really ties the whole look together.

But my personal PSA is – if you’re going to wear ruffle socks, please color coordinate them with your shoes. There’s nothing more disappointing than when your socks don’t match your shoes. And ruffle socks are too cute to not match. 

Knits 

Knits are absolutely dominating the athleisure space this summer thanks to the East Coast summer vibe because it’s chilly in the early mornings when you’re walking to the court and you need a matching knit sweater with your Fila fit. 

Alo, Spiritual Gangster, and Wiskii are active participants in this trend. But I think if you’re going to play pickleball, maybe just stick to the classic brands and fabrics like Erne or JOOLA because playing in an actual knit dress sounds like you’d get really hot. 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Lara Giltinan (@laragiltinan.pb)

Lara Giltinan participated in the knit trend when she wore a knit set from Alo at the Veolia Atlanta Championships and looked so cute. 

That wraps up the summer 2025 pickleball fashion trends. What trends are your favorite? Let us know on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).