#tennisstyle

Weekend Meanderings -Tennis Clothes, Entry Rugs, A Beautiful Home & More

March 11, 2022 By kimwheeler 11 Comments

Hello friends. It’s time for our weekend guide to cool things with Elizabeth and Juliet. So glad to have you all here and to those who have subscribed, thank you so much! It’s been a busy week for me with a link up post on Spring Refresh with five others. I shared our new peel and stick wallpaper in our guest room/office for it and if you missed it, the post is here.

Entry Rugs

Do you need a new entry rug? I’ve been struggling to find an entry rug that’s the right size, not too small or big and flat enough that my door can open over it. I finally found one that checked all those boxes and I liked the look. The Lauren Rug is at World Market, ( I still call it Cost Plus), and looks very nice for the cost. I bought the 3’6 x 5’6 size and it’s $79.

Tennis is Back in a Big Way

Are any of you tennis people? Have you been thinking about playing again? Have you never, but are curious? This article on a study over 25 years gave people who played tennis almost 10 extra years of life, so if you’re thinking of trying it, do!

I’ve been a tennis nut since I was a kid. My athletic mom thought tennis could be a good sport for the unsporty me to try and lured me with the promise of cute tennis dresses like Chris Evert and pom pom socks. That worked and I had lessons starting at age 7 and I played in high school too. I didn’t play again until a neighbor asked me to join lesson about 11 years ago.

I started back with a clinic at a local tennis club and they are also at most park and recreation centers. I’ve made many friends and I get out there at least 2-3 times a week. It’s the one time I don’t think about anything else at all, except playing and I think that is good for you. I also see so many older folks still at it and that gets me happy that this could help me age well. I know it’s great for balance and overall flexibility. When I didn’t play tennis for months during the pandemic I was the stiffest person in the world, so I know it helps.

According to USA TODAY Sports, tennis has boomed during the pandemic with an estimated 21.64 million Americans picking up a racquet in 2020! Apparently being outdoors and not within 6 feet of others made it the thing to do the last two years and people have kept at it.

I noticed that tennis themed clothes are cropping up everywhere! Right now so many cute styles even if you are just a fan. Kule has darling sweatshirts, socks, totes, a vintage looking Hingis jacket (named after the Swiss player),and even a silk scarf I love.. Some of the best I linked on just click on pictures below..

Also entering the tennis club, so to speak, is Athleta now with dresses and retro 70’s striped sweatshirts with matching shorts and skirts.

I really like this tennis dress that has a genius back pocket for the bal. It comes in three colors and a decent size range to 3X. I just ordered this!

Tuckernuck also has tennis clothes – I especially like the skirts with printed shorts that peek out from the skirt, like this skirt in hydrangeas with black, or white with floral..

I also adore this quilted sweatshirt, this tournament dress ( in white too) paired with these floral bike shorts.

I might brave the bike short look someday with a sweatshirt if I had these. This look was copied off of Princess Diana. Vogue did a spread riffing off the Diana look a while back with Hailey Bieber.

Want to start running?

Are any of you runners or wish you were? I’ve been trying to get out and move more now that it’s spring and there is a great article about tricking yourself into liking running on the NYTimes. Some super advice to begin with the walk alternating short run method and go SLOW. Great advice from so many in the comments too. If you can start slow and go for a very short distance, you will be more likely to keep at it. Other advice is don’t wash your clothes all the time, keep them in a pile during the week, throw them on and just go. The less work it is, the more people just get it done!

Weddings

Apparently 2022 will have 2.1 million weddings in the U.S. and is the biggest year for wedding since the 1984! So many people have held off celebrating with their loved ones due to the pandemic. There is a LOT of people looking for guest dresses I imagine.

Juliet has a the first of many weddings this weekend and on her post last week she did a great go-to look for a rehearsal lunch and shared some pretty formal too. This week is her part two with more helpful ideas, especially if you’re mother of the groom like her. Vogue just had this article for mother of the groom looks. Some are quite pricey, but it gives you an idea of what styles are in and what styles might work at you might find similar at other price points. Nordstrom has a special wedding guest link where you can choose Casual, Cocktail or Formal, with some great frocks, shoes and bags.

Neimans also has a wedding guest edit with some the most beautiful dresses, lovely bags and all the finishing touches you might need..

Bloomingdales has a curated online area with looks for mother of the bride, guests, and by beach or cocktail or formal options. I really wish I had a wedding to attend!

Vogue is a great resource as its wedding stories archive has something for everyone. I like the stories of small weddings on a dime as well as destination nuptials and big fancy bashes. So much inspiration here like this bride, below, who found her Balenciaga dress at Goodwill ten years before she married, and these two who transformed their backyard into a beautiful jazz age themed wedding.. Oh so many stories. I love wedding stuff.

A smart option for unique wedding looks is to check out local resale shops as dresses are one of the items they carry the most of and so many have been worn just once. As I have mentioned before, I love Crossroads Trading (the one in Almaden in San Jose) and Filmore & Fifth in Palo Alto for great resale items. (Next month’s Signature Style will also be about wedding guest dresses.)

Dara Caponigro

Dara has been someone whose home style I have always loved. I followed her since she was a style director at Domino and through her stint at Veranda. Her two books, The Authentics, and S is for Style, are hands down, my most favorite design books I own.

Charish interviewed Dara and showed more of her home which is totally my kind of eclectic style. It’s chic, unique and collected – and bright! I think you’ll enjoy seeing more of it and reading the Q & A here on their blog. Dara’s Instagram here.

Ukraine & Sting

Have you seen this video Sting released this week? It’s an acoustic version of his cold war song, The Russians, in this video . It’s very moving and I hope we share this all over the world. He is raising money for the Help Ukraine Center, which gives humanitarian aid. He said he never thought this song would be relevant again, and yet here we are.

Let’s keep sharing our love for Ukraine and its people and donate in all the places we can. How great is it that everyone is sharing all the stories of this war on social media channels? Imagine WWII if we had the internet? The atrocities that were happening were not on everyone’s phones as they are now for us all to see. That has greatly helped the world get behind Ukraine and see first hand the incredible strength of these people. We can see ourselves in their shoes.

I hope you had a good week. I’ll be back Tuesday with our monthly Signature Style and this time we’ll be talking glasses- sunglasses and readers, so come back if you’re in the market for new ones.

Please pop over and see what ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

You might also like this post on some of my Serena & Lily Favorites as they are having a 20% off sitewide sale now until 3/15. Use the code HOME on their site when checking out.

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Tennis Style -Your Guide to the BNP & Indian Wells

March 16, 2018 By kimwheeler 9 Comments

This is the guide you need to help you navigate the fun BNP Indian Wells tennis tournament. I’ll share my strategy what to pack, what to wear, the best places to stay, and what tickets you need.

This tournament has grown hugely in the past few years and is now called the ‘fifth slam’ by many. Indian Wells has the second largest tennis stadium in the world, plus another stadium that holds 8,000 and 29 other courts thanks to the patronage of Oracle and Larry Ellison.

It’s a magnificent spot comprising 88 acres of gardens, food spots and champagne bars as well as and swanky restaurants and pop-up tennis shops. It’s sort of a Disneyland for the tennis lover and it’s hard to leave once you get there.

They have created places to have a fun day and evening out- restaurants and bars like Nobu and others, to take in the desert sunset, and enjoy live music in the evenings. We enjoyed the excellent Bryan Brother’s band while dining alfresco at one of the restaurants and there was John McEnroe’s band too.

Years ago I looked all over the internet for ideas on what to wear, pack and to expect, but found very little. I thought I’d write a small guide for those who are heading there and what I learned that was helpful to me and hopefully anyone else who has never been..

Federer practicing serves with the beautiful mountain backdrop.

Buying Tickets

Day passes ( $40-$50), are a great thing to do and you get to wander the grounds and especially in the first week, catch so many of the top players practicing and many terrific doubles and singles matches. That can be a lot of fun and you can take breaks to eat in the gardens, sip champagne, or shop at some of the shops filled with everything you can want tennis related.

Serena in her first match back after having her baby.

I recommend getting a day pass and then seeing which highlight matches you could get tickets for in the evening. Usually the matches in Court 1 are all the top players. However, if you stick around you can grab seats in Court 2, with your day pass, which is sometimes as good or better.

Getting There and Where to Stay

We flew into Palm Spring airport from San Jose on Southwest which was a great experience. The flight is slightly over and hour and we Ubered.

We ended up staying at a hotel that was walking distance to the tennis gardens. You need to book very far in advance!

My pals Elaine and Bari strategizing our day at the gardens and what matches to see at our free breakfast..

Our hotel had a free expanded breakfast every morning They print out the order of play each morning and have the tennis going on a big tv in the main space while you have breakfast, and chat with other tennis fanatics.

Another year we flew from San Jose to Ontario and drove to Palm Springs. ( An hour plus drive.) We stopped at the Cabazon Outlets on the way back to Ontario. That alone could be a whole day as it’s huge and probably the best outlets from designer goods in the United States. We bought things from Burberry there. and Tory Burch. There is also a fantastic Gucci and Prada if that is your thing worth a stop.

UPDATE: Note parking is now free at the venue, but plan accordingly… People said it was a nightmare and one woman told me it took her two hours from parking to get to the stadium.. Get dropped off maybe or walk if you are able, or get there early.

Entering Tennis Paradise with Cindy and Elaine which was a pretty good description.

The practice court at the beautiful La Quinta resort.

A hotel that is particularly close and beautiful is the historic La Quinta, (above) where many of the players stay and practice. They also have a terrific spa which I highly recommend.

One fun thing is you get to meet a lot of fellow tennis fans like this sweet group of women also at our hotel from Houston who have been playing tennis and traveling the world together to see tournaments for over 40 years! Some of the ladies are in their 70s and 80s, but they look amazing and were so friendly.

Some people plan a year or more in advance and always book a particular condo or Airbnb for the whole tournament. We did this in 2020, and sadly did not get to go as the tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic. Getting our money back was not easy and took a year for what was a partial refund.

What to Pack and Wear

As I mentioned before, the days run long there is so much to do and see. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bring layers that can take you from very warm days – close to 100 sometimes, to chilly evenings when the desert sun goes down. Crushable puffer jackets are a smart option if you plan to stay through the night sessions and easy to carry.

I wore a dress the first day and so did one of my friends, and while we were cool enough, you get sweaty legs sitting in the stadiums. If you plan a day of sitting the best choice may be longer shorts or short light pants.

The longer shorts look stylish, but more importantly your legs don’t sweat and chafe in the heat. Comfortable shoes are a must because there is a LOT of distance from where you enter the park and between each venue. Sneakers worked for many, but if it’s near 90, like we had, you may be cooler in a comfortable sandal or a sneaker with mesh or ventilation.

Some other items that are musts:

A hat of some sort. Find something comfortable that you can wear all day and in most courts you WILL be in the direct sun. The clothing shop sells some nice choices if you forget. I still wear my hat from the Montecristi Panama hat shop in Yountville. Similar one here at J. Crew and also this , and more options here.

A lightweight scarf to drape over your shoulders, legs, etc when you are in the direct sun. So many women had these and what a great way to keep more sun off of you. I bought a SPF 50 large wrap/scarf at the clothing shop made by BloqUV used it during the day on my shoulders and at night for warmth with my jacket. It’s easy to throw a scarf in your bag and you will be so glad you have it. It feels cooling in the heat too! One of my best purchases ever.

Cindy with a sheer jacket and Bari with a scarf deflecting some of the sun off their shoulders.

Sunscreen. Obviously. Don’t forget to reapply and remember the physical block are the best and don’t break down in the sun as much. I like Goop’s Play SPF 50 for body which goes on easily, feels great and isn’t whiteish…..and for my face ELTA Spf 46 and also Goop Glow Screen SPF 40.
A see through tote for lugging sunscreen, a scarf, snacks, a water bottle and a lightweight jacket for evening. Since 2020 Indian Wells has required bags be see through plastic. Many affordable and cute choices here.
A jacket of some sort. I love this linen jacket that always bring for over tops or dresses. Those crushable lightweight down puffers seem to be a smart choice and a scarf. I loved this scarf from Tommy Bahama and brought it in a similar pattern.
A refillable water bottle. There are kiosks all over to fill your bottle as much as you like for free. You have to bring your bottle in the stadium empty as a security precaution, but can fill it throughout the day after you are in. I also brought these Nuun electrolyte tablets I like for hot days. They help me from feeling lightheaded and getting dehydrated in the extreme temps
A backup phone charger as the coverage can be sketchy out there and if you stay all day into the night and also use your phone as a camera you will need a battery backup!
Snacks like a granola bar, nuts or an apple or banana are great to have on hand. There are many choices of where to eat, but it’s nice to have something if lines are long and you’re in a stadium.
An umbrella -for both sun and rain. If it is sunny you can use an umbrella if you are in the last row and you are not blocking others. Some people actually prefer to set up camp towards the top of the stands on some of the smaller courts with their umbrellas and watch in the shade. I have this compact umbrella and it also blocks 98% of UV

Inspiring Spectator Style

Thanks to my friends we were having fun looking for a few folk who looked especially nice during our days at the tournament that we could share on the blog. There were so many stylish people!

A look at some of the best…

Darling Susan Charady is a model and an Ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. She is married to French tennis player Jeremy Chardy

What we wore a few years ago on a much hotter tournament..

Many opted for skirts like these from Athleta and especially this one.

More hats and dresses at the Moet champagne garden. This is a good way to spend the afternoon when it gets just too unbearable in the stands.

The first day were were there 2023 we wore light jackets and shorts and pants..

Another year below, we were much hotter we did shorts, tanks and scarves to keep off the sun.

Here we are waiting for the night match with Simona Halep to begin.

Add a Spa Day to Your Trip

On our third day we had a flight out that evening, (by the way Saturday flight out is cheaper and empty-so much room) so we decided to book treatments at the La Quinta Spa. It was a great choice as we all suffered from sore feet and dried out skin after two days of desert heat. The day of your treatment you can come early or stay after and partake of the lovely garden, outdoor fireplace and jacuzzi.

In 2023 I had a facial with Nicole who was amazing and the treatment room had French doors with pretty grapefruit trees in the view.. Was maybe one of the best facials I ever had. My skin looked amazing after too, which never happens to me.

We liked being there so much we ordered room service lunch in the garden and the four of us ate by the fire after relaxing on lounge chairs and enjoying the outdoor jacuzzi. It ended up being a cooler day so it was perfect. If you have the time this is a good way to end your trip. The spa facilities are first rate and the resort itself is beautiful surrounded by mountains and bougainvillea.

Many of you are veterans of this tournament. Can you add any tips below in the comments to help others plan a trip? Any great places to stay or strategies you use to get tickets or plan your days here?

Thanks so much!

Kim

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Photos NorthernCalifornia Style. Thank you to all those lovely people who allowed us to use photos them here.

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