Meet The One Accessory That’ll Lift Your Game This Summer

There are several reasons for stopping play in a tennis match, but hunting for lost jewellery isn’t usually one of them. So when tennis champion Chris Evert interrupted a game in the 1978 US Open to search for the bracelet that had fallen from her wrist, it made headlines – and resulted in this simple gold and diamond chain becoming known as a “tennis bracelet”.

“The bracelet is a classic piece that has nevertheless cropped up a lot recently,” says stylist Lucy Wood, who selected this week’s shopping picks. Lucy ascribes this rise in popularity to the “tenniscore” phenomenon – following on from cottagecore, normcore, golfcore (yes, it’s a thing) and those other prefixed trends so beloved of Tiktok stars and journalists.

For this, we can thank designers such as Miuccia Prada, Thom Browne and Gucci, who’ve shown tennis-inspired pieces such as polo shirts, pleated minis and sporty vests in the last couple of seasons.

full-img — Chris Evert playing at Wimbledon, 1978. Charles Knight/Shutterstock

Miu Miu is leading the pack here, hosting its Miu Miu Tennis Club for selected influencers and celebrities in New York and St Tropez this northern summer. Think models in cropped white tees with cute racquet logos and micro minis worn with socks and loafers, plus lashings of Pimms and lobster rolls.

“Tennis bracelets are a great accompaniment to the look, but they’re also a piece you’ll wear once tenniscore has passed,” says Lucy. Lower-priced bracelets will have cubic zirconia, rather than diamonds, but the pieces below are still lovely quality, she adds.

Tennis Deluxe necklace by Swarovski, available here

“I would almost treat them like a gold chain or bracelet – they’re an easy style to throw on and leave on,” she continues. “They’re usually quite fine, adding subtle glimmer to whatever you’re wearing, and they look just as good with a white t-shirt as they do a cocktail slip dress and blazer.”

Layering with other fine jewellery is also a modern way to wear the bracelet.

“They look fantastic layered up, in the same way we’re styling slender necklaces for that ‘neck-party’ trend,” adds Lucy. “They’re also great next to a watch.”

Here’s Lucy’s pick of the best tennis bracelets to shop now.