Game, set, jewel: How tennis became luxury fashion's most enduring inspiration  

The world of tennis is built on precision, discipline, and an undeniable measure of elegance. It’s a stylish amalgamation that has long captivated designers, jewellers and enthusiasts alike. For generations, the sport has often been associated with luxury and leisure, at home within country clubs or languid, sunny afternoons in hotels by the sea. For those who aren’t avid players but are still looking to spruce up their look with a touch of escapism, amalgamating the aesthetics offers easily accessible grandeur. 

From Chris Evert's now-legendary diamond bracelet moment to Aryna Sabalenka's statement gemstones and the rise of the tenniscore aesthetic, the sport continues to shape our mood-boards with remarkable staying power.

Tennis sits atop a unique position at the intersection of sport, society, and style. Its visual language is instantly recognisable: crisp whites and pastels, pleated skirts, immaculate tailoring, country club sophistication, and, increasingly, fine, sparkling jewellery.

Today, tennis inspires everything from diamond necklaces and stacked bracelets to runway collections, celebrity wardrobes, and a clean aesthetic. More than a fleeting trend, it also epitomises a lifestyle rooted in understated affluence and polish. 

The bracelet that became as famous as the game 

 

In 1978, during the US Open, tennis legend Chris Evert lost a delicate diamond line bracelet whilst playing. She infamously paused the match, as she searched for the missing piece, refusing to resume till she found it. It was a moment that captured headlines and imaginations around the world. Almost overnight, what had previously been known simply as a diamond line bracelet acquired a new identity: the tennis bracelet.

The heart of the design is its simplicity. A continuous line of perfectly matched diamonds, set with enough flexibility to move effortlessly with the body, offered a rare piece that felt simultaneously glamorous and wearable. Before this viral sports moment, the continuous line of diamonds was traditionally called an "eternity bracelet" or "diamond line bracelet”.

Unlike elaborate statement jewels reserved for gala evenings, the tennis bracelet embodied a more contemporary approach to luxury. It accompanied its wearer from breakfast meetings and sports plans to black-tie events with equal ease.

The design's uninterrupted line of diamonds—or sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and even coloured precious gems—creates what jewellers often describe as a river of light. Decades later, it remains one of jewellery's most iconic silhouettes. 

Today's luxury houses continue to reinterpret the classic. Layered alongside watches, stacked with bangles, or worn alone against sun-kissed skin, the tennis bracelet has become a cornerstone of modern jewellery wardrobes. 

Its elegant accompaniment, the tennis necklace, often referred to as a rivière necklace, has enjoyed a similar resurgence. Frequently spotted on red carpets and fashion campaigns, its fluid line of diamonds feels perfectly aligned with the classic mood of the moment. 

The rise of high jewellery on the court

If Chris Evert introduced jewellery to the court, today's athletes have transformed it into a statement. Modern tennis stars are increasingly embracing fine jewellery as part of their personal style identities.

Few embody this better than Aryna Sabalenka, who has become known for wearing custom fine jewellery during major tournaments. At Roland-Garros, she wore bespoke creations featuring diamonds and deep red garnets inspired by the clay courts themselves, and has also been spotted sporting classic solitaires and layering dainty yet striking necklaces. 

Meanwhile, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka represent a younger generation that approaches on-court style with the same confidence that they bring to their games. Diamond studs, layered chains, and personalised jewellery have become integral parts of their visual identities.

And before them came Serena Williams and Venus Williams, whose influence on fashion extends far beyond the baseline. Through bold silhouettes, statement accessories, and entrepreneurial ventures, the sisters helped redefine what athletic elegance could look like. 

Enter the tenniscore era 

 

The tenniscore aesthetic is particularly compelling as it speaks to several of fashion's biggest cultural shifts at once. With precision and clean flair, it celebrates heritage without appearing dated.

At its core are the pieces that have defined tennis style for generations: pleated skirts, tailored shorts, V-neck knits, crisp polos, cable-knit sweaters, white sneakers, and structured outerwear. With a colour palette that favours pastels and neutrals, it’s easy to see why it’s an easy fashion statement both on the court and off it. 

Luxury brands have been quick to embrace the country-club-meets-fashion-insider aesthetic. From Miu Miu's micro-pleated skirts and Gucci's retro-inspired tennis collections to Ralph Lauren's longstanding association with the sport, tennis has become a rich source of inspiration for designers seeking timelessness over trend cycles. 

The appeal also lies in what tennis represents. It evokes manicured lawns, summer afternoons, old-world institutions, and inherited sophistication. Even for those who have never stepped onto a court, the aesthetic carries an aspirational quality. 

Take Wimbledon, which has also emerged as one of fashion's most elegant front rows. Part sporting championship, part social institution, and part fashion spectacle, Wimbledon has become one of the most coveted invitations of the summer season.

Wimbledon still feels rooted in tradition. The pristine grass courts, all-white player dress code, strawberries and cream, and English garden atmosphere create an environment that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. A tennis bracelet feels almost obligatory. Layered necklaces, personalised pendants, heirloom watches, diamond studs, and sculptural gold pieces add subtle glamour without disrupting the refined mood.

Why tennis feels aspirational 

Fashion's fascination with tennis extends far beyond aesthetics. The sport embodies values that luxury consumers increasingly gravitate towards, such as discipline, longevity, heritage, craftsmanship, and excellence.

Becoming synonymous with tennis, the bracelet itself mirrors these ideals. Its design has remained largely unchanged for decades because it never needed reinvention. Much like perfectly tailored fashion, it endures because it works. That sense of permanence feels particularly appealing in an era dominated by fast-moving trends and algorithm-driven aesthetics.

Tennis also offers a vision of luxury that is calm, confident, and timeless. Which is perhaps why, nearly four decades after Chris Evert paused a match to search for a missing bracelet, the relationship between tennis, jewellery and fashion remains impeccable.

Lead image: Getty Images 

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