This Lululemon tennis skirt is my new favorite thing to wear while working out
It's better than some of my running shorts.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
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Quarantine has had me dabbling in a few new outdoor activities. After all, there’s only so much reading and at-home workouts to keep you occupied indoors. At the beginning of stay-at-home orders, I chose to quarantine with my family in North Carolina. There, the warm early spring weather meant they were playing tennis, golf, and pickleball—all activities I hadn’t really touched since I was 12.
Naturally, I wanted in on the fun so I wasn’t stuck sitting at home alone. But I also needed to up my country club apparel game—my old Nike shorts and uncollared shirts were not going to cut it. Enter the Lululemon Play Off The Pleats Skirt that my mom gave me straight from her closet.
This is the first athletic skirt that I have ever worn and I’m planning on using it for a range of activities like running and power walking in the future. Here’s why it’s worth it.
The Lululemon workout skirt looks and feels amazing
Business in the front, party in the back.
This skirt is pretty much a mullet—in the best way possible. The front has a smooth, professional look to it, while the back is filled with fun ruffles that flip around as you rush to hit a ball. It’s business in the front, party in the back, and also super flattering. Plus, the 13-inch length didn’t feel too short on my 5-foot-9-inch stature, as most skirts do.
The built-in spandex shorts (which I guess makes it more of a skort) are incredibly comfortable and keep you from flashing anyone mid-stoke during a round of golf. The best part? This Lululemon skirt is incredibly breathable thanks to its nylon/elastane fabric (known as Swift Fabric) in the liner, which makes it sweat-wicking and quick-drying as well as stretchy. That’s exactly what you need during a tennis match in the hot sun or a long round of golf. Seriously, I was able to walk nine holes of golf with these and not experience any overheating or chafing.
It should be noted that the particular style skirt I own from Lululemon is not currently sold, but the Play Off The Pleats Skirt has a similar look and features that make it just as great. Just ask the 200-plus 5-star reviewers.
The Lululemon skirt has more useful pockets than shorts or leggings
This pocket perfectly fits a tennis ball.
Apart from fit and comfort, a key component to any good athletic skirt (or shorts, for that matter) is how usable the pockets are. Otherwise, you’ll have to wear a waist belt or carry a bag around just to bring along your ID and house keys.
Like most shorts, the Play Off The Pleats Skirt has a small zipper pocket on the back that’s can fit keys and maybe a credit card, if you wedge it in correctly. And like many tennis skirts, it has a handy pocket along the left leg of the spandex shorts that's designed to securely fit a spare tennis ball. This is essential for playing the racket sport without constantly running after balls that are on the other side of the court.
Shockingly, I also found this feature useful for my golf game. Oftentimes, when scouring the woods for my poorly hit shot, I’ll find other abandoned balls that I can use as spares. Instead of dropping these balls when I go to hit the ball again, I found that the side pocket was still tight enough to hold my newfound balls without them dropping from the bottom.
The Lululemon skirt is cute enough to wear as athleisure
I would wear this skirt to brunch.
The pleats on this skirt are absolutely adorable, and I would totally wear it to brunch or a casual walk through the neighborhood. I have it in the classic black color, but it’s also currently available in white and cherry red, and more colors may become available as Lululemon’s inventory changes.
Aside from the typical country club sports, I’ve worn the Play Off The Pleats Skirt on runs. Though I prefer running in shorts, I found the skirt comfortable for few-mile outings, and the built-in spandex lining helped with any chafing I might typically experience on my inner thighs. Plus, I loved the idea of the pleats flying up behind me as I sped down the street.
What I didn’t like about Lululemon’s Play Off The Pleats Skirt
While I’m newly obsessed with this skirt, it is not flawless. Many reviewers note that they felt it was a little constricting around their legs, so you might want to size up to be safe. Additionally, I experienced some chafing on my upper thigh on a particularly hot day while playing 18 holes of golf. While I’ll chalk it up to the heat, in the future, I will be applying my favorite anti-chafe gel on hotter days when I know I’ll be wearing the skirt for a while.
Additionally, like most of Lululemon’s inventory, the Play Off The Pleats Skirt is pricey at $68 a pop, but not more than I’d expect for high-quality workout clothes. However, my particular hand-me-down skirt has been in my family for years, so I’m happy to report that the quality holds up over time.
If you want a versatile athletic skirt that’s great for tennis and golf as well as more casual activities, I highly recommend investing in the Play Off The Pleats Skirt before summer is over.