Chic Activewear for All Your Favorite Outdoor Sports

My pal Sally Mulroy, a lifelong tennis player, is planning a pickleball tournament for her 50th high school reunion this summer. I asked her if there’s any difference in how to dress for pickleball vs. tennis. Tennis, she said, tends to be more formal. “It really depends on where you play. Private tennis clubs typically have more rules about attire than public courts. Some private tennis clubs still adhere to an all-white apparel rule. Pickleball is played on public courts, and you can wear whatever you want.” Another friend, Toby Tucker Peters, who plays both sports, put it this way: “Pickleball is like tennis’s little sister with curly red pigtails and a scraped knee.” Say no more. I’m in.

Growing numbers of older adults participate in outdoor active sports such as paddleboarding, kayaking and hiking — in addition to golf, tennis and pickleball — and sportswear manufacturers have taken notice, offering styles with a bit more structure and coverage in a wider range of sizes and lengths that will suit every body. Try these picks on for size:

AARP Membership

Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. 

Join Now

Clockwise from bottom left: ASICS Gel-Game 9 Pickleball in Hot Pink/White ($85, zappos.com); Lucky in Love Aruba Pleated Skort — Long ($98, shopluckyinlove.com); Lilly Pulitzer 50+ Luxletic Justine Pullover in Pink Grenadine ($128, lillypulitzer.com); Spanx Sunshine Shorts, 10” Bermuda in Very Black ($78, spanx,com)

Zappos; Lucky in Love; Lilly Pulitzer; Spanx

Free-wheeling pickleball packs a wallop

​It’s all about color, comfort and fun. Prints and patterns are encouraged.

Left to right: Ame & Lulu Women’s Game On Tennis Backpack in Navy/White ($112, dickssportinggoods.com); Tnuck Sport White Tennis dress ($98, tnuck.com); GapFit Breathe T-Shirt in Optic White ($35, gap.com); Tory Burch Chevron Pleated Tennis Skirt in Snow White/Winetasting ($148, toryburch.com)

Dick’s Sporting Goods; Tuckernuck; Gap; Tory Burch

Traditional tennis takes style seriously​

Tennis “whites” are a timeless, elegant option. If your club or courts permit a touch of color, you can’t go wrong with blue, burgundy or green accents — or a sporty, awning-striped backpack featuring ample side pockets for balls and a water bottle.

Clockwise from left: Reef Women’s Breakwater Hat in Sulphur ($38, reef.com); Athleta Sun Shield One Piece Rashguard in Salvia Pink ($60, athleta.gap.com); Summersalt Sea to Shore Swim Shorts in Deep Sea ($65, summersalt.com); Sea Star Beachwear Women’s Beachcomber Espadrille in Navy Stripe ($125, seastarbeachwear.com)

Reef; Athleta; Summersalt; Sea Star Beachwear

Stand up to paddleboard — or sit down to kayak​

Both sports provide great workouts for people over 50 — strengthening your core and improving your balance. Opt for quick-dry fabrics with SPF, a broad-brimmed hat and waterproof, nonslip (and cute!) espadrilles.

Clockwise from left: Athleta Trekkie Parachute Pant in Vermillion ($100, athleta.gap.com); L.L.Bean Women’s No-Fly Zone Jacket in Olive Gray ($99, llbean.com); Patagonia Atom Sling 8L in Shine Yellow ($65, patagonia.com); Chaco Women’s Z/1 Classic Sandal in Dappled Ochre ($100, chacos.com/us)

Athleta; L.L.Bean; Patagonia; Chaco

Take a hike​

During the pandemic, so many of us came to appreciate the solace of nature and the benefits of a brisk walk or moderate hike. Sturdy footwear with a deep tread is essential, as is a backpack with a water bottle and snacks. If it gets buggy, grab an insect-repelling jacket.

Clockwise from bottom left: FootJoy MyJoys Traditions Spiked Women in White/Shinning Green/Forest Green Croc Print ($170, footjoy.com); RLX Golf Stretch Twill 5-Pocket Pant in Raft Green ($100, ralphlauren.com); Course & Court Match Play Polo in Navy ($110, myshopify.com); Adidas Women’s Textured Full-Zip Jacket in White ($65, adidas.com)

FootJoy; Ralph Lauren; Court & Course; Adidas

Have a ball golfing

​Yes, there are rules and regulations: Collared shirts, capris, not-too-short skirts or Bermudas, shoes that don’t tear up the green. But within those parameters, there’s plenty of room for personal style. Prepsters, prepare to pop your collars!

Group and team sports are a fantastic way to make new friends in retirement — so dress your best, get outside and show ’em that you still got it!