If you have ever tried to buy tennis kit for a young girl, you will know the quiet frustration of it. So much of what is on offer is either a shrunken-down version of adult kit or an afterthought in a colour nobody chose. Very little seems designed around how girls actually play, or how they want to feel while they do it.
This is the gap Ace & Grace was made to fill. Here is a simple, no-nonsense guide to what your daughter really needs to step onto a court with confidence, what to look for, and what to buy first.
Start with the dress
For most girls, the dress does the heavy lifting. Our Charlotte Dress is where the brand began, designed for a girl who wanted to move, twirl between points and feel completely herself on court. A matching pair of ball shorts comes with every dress, so there is no riding up, no fidgeting and no separate pair to buy. A dress and its matching shorts, ready to play.
If you buy one thing, make it the dress. It works for a first lesson, a club session or a tournament, and it photographs beautifully for the inevitable proud-parent picture.
Tops and bottoms for everyday play
Not every session calls for a dress, and a small mix and match wardrobe goes a long way. A breathable tank top or t-shirt paired with ball shorts or leggings covers cooler mornings, longer practices and the days she simply prefers separates. Leggings are ideal for spring and autumn, shorts for high summer, and a tank for when the rallies heat up.
The trick is a tight, coordinated palette so everything works together. Ours lives in three shades, Courtside Cream, Blush Pink and Powder Blue, so any top goes with any bottom and getting dressed for tennis never becomes a negotiation.
The details that actually matter
Children's kit is easy to get wrong, so this is where to focus your attention.
- Fabric: look for breathable, four-way-stretch fabric that moves the way girls actually move. It should feel soft in the hand and let her forget she is wearing it.
- A true-to-size, forgiving fit: our pieces come up true to size, and the cut suits a range of builds, so her usual age fits well and keeps its shape wear after wear.
- Shorts to go underneath: a good tennis dress should come with a matching pair of ball shorts, so there is no riding up when she serves, reaches and cartwheels off court.
- Easy care: pieces should wash and wear well, because tennis kit lives a hard life. A cool wash and a quick air-dry keeps whites looking their best.
- Made well: Ace & Grace is designed and made in the UK, finished to a standard we would happily put on our own children. The visor is the one exception, not made in the UK.
Don't forget the finishing touches
The small things are what make her feel like she belongs out there. A good pair of socks keeps her comfortable through long afternoons on court. A visor shades her eyes and, let us be honest, makes her feel the part. A soft set of tennis balls is perfect for first rallies in the garden before she ever sets foot on a court.
Socks start at £12, the visor is £18, and our soft tennis balls are £18 for a pack of three.
How to choose her size
Our sizes run from 4-5 to 9-10 years and come up true to size, so order her usual age. The cut is forgiving too. At our shoot, a single size fitted several girls of the same age with quite different builds, and looked lovely on all of them. If you are ever unsure, the size guide has the measurements, and you are always welcome to email us before you order.
What to buy first
If you are just starting out, here is a simple order of priority.
- The Charlotte Dress, which comes with its own matching ball shorts. The single most versatile piece she owns.
- A tank top or t-shirt, for warmer days and for when she prefers separates.
- Leggings or ball shorts, depending on the season.
- Socks and a visor, the finishing touches that make it feel real.
Build from there as she plays more. There is no need to buy everything at once.
A few questions we hear a lot
What should a girl wear for her first tennis lesson? Something she can move freely in and does not have to think about. A dress that comes with matching shorts, or a tank with leggings or shorts, plus trainers and proper socks. Comfort beats everything else on day one.
Does she need a special tennis dress, or will any dress do? A tennis dress is cut for movement, comes with a matching pair of shorts, and uses breathable, stretchy fabric. An everyday dress will ride up and distract her, so it is worth having one made for the job.
How many outfits does she actually need? To begin with, one dress and one set of separates is plenty. Add more as she plays more often.
Made for the girl who belongs on court
The right kit will not make your daughter a champion overnight. What it will do is help her feel confident, comfortable and completely herself, which is so often the thing that keeps a girl coming back to the game. That is the whole point of what we make.
