Pickleball is indeed a craze: although it was invented in Seattle in 1965, and had a previous heyday in the 70s, in the past few years the popularity of the sport—known for its highly social component, as participants rotate through a circuit to face new opponents throughout the game—has exploded. The site Pickleheads.com—a catchy handle if ever there was one—cites US figures: 48.3 million players and a 223 percent growth rate over the past three years. It is officially the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., and from the likes of my Instagram feed, it has taken over here in Canada, in the 45-plus female demographic, especially.

Pickleball is indeed an opportunity to shine, Laura Beth. I spoke to Kim Mimran, the president and designer for Pink Tartan and the designer for the Tilley Sport collection, a new launch for the Canadian activewear label. The line caters to golfers, tennis players and pickleballers. “A great game starts in the closet,” is Mimran’s motto. The line follows Mimran’s lifelong design commitment to preppy chic, and she says she approached the challenge with a “lot of research into fabric technology and a deep dive into images both vintage and modern.” After all, the allure of sporty outfits is evoking a mashup of both classic and cutting edge looks. “Building each idea into a garment that is both functional fashionable and fabulous is the goal,” she says.  The collection—a mix of black and white with pops of French blue, powder blue and red, is meant for a mix and match approach: “Every pieces stands alone but has partners to build the perfect look for each activity.” Also, Tilley is a revived Canadian heritage hat line, so there are loads of options, including cute retro visors that remind me of Grade 9, which would be sometime in the early1980s.

So what is Mimran’s perfect outfit prescription for pickleball? “An atheletic pleated skirt with built-in short and a moisture wicking polo.” Also extremely compelling is the line’s Contrast skirt, a white fold-over skort with wide contrast piping. 

Cute skirts are a big part of the attraction to the game for Toronto fashion stylist Susie Sheffman, who has become an ardent pickleball player (and is also a lifetime devotee of preppy chic). She says, “It can be a cute dressing opportunity: Adorable, flipple little mini tennis skirts are forever favourite item in my wardrobe. Any day I can wear a cute little skirt is a good day. It can also be a really dorky opportunity.” 

The nice thing about pickleball, she adds, is that there is no official pickleball uniform, per se. It is a newer sport, and even the poshest clubs mostly don’t have dress codes, the way you would find on a golf course or a tennis court. “You can be schlumpy if you want,” says Sheffman. “I play in community centres and church basements: finding an indoor pickleball court in Toronto right now is like finding a vaccine in the early days of Covid!”

Her golden rule is layering: “Start off with light layers, a tank under longsleeves,” she says. “You warm up fast and need to shed layers as you go.” She says when she first started playing a few years ago, it was all “an older demographic, and the younger generation regarded it with disdain. The idea was it was easier than running around a tennis court. But now the tournaments I go to, there are more and young people. They are realizing how fun it is!” It is also less fussy, she adds, and not steeped with rules and history like golf and tennis.

That means you can have some fashion fun. Sheffman loves a soccer sock pulled up to the knee with a short skirt. Or a longer skirt with fun ruffled ankle socks. Her go-to labels for pickleball skirts include Lululemon and Joe Fresh, and she says Aritzia makes a tennis skirt now. You can find any length that suits you best, from mid-thigh to knee-length. (As Mimran says, “you can always shorten a skirt that is too long, but you can’t lengthen one that is too short!”)

These items are hybrids, meant to be worn both on court and on the streets. “A lot of women are no longer comfortable parading around in leggings or bike shorts,” says Sheffman. “The great thing about a tennis skirt is that it is still sassy and cute but can be covered up.” If they don’t have shorts underneath, adds Sheffman, she will wear a pair of gym shorts. 

Another important consideration is the shoe, says Sheffman, because “injury prevention is really key in this game.” She says pay attention to lateral support and traction (that is protection for side-to-side motion, something you do a lot of in raquet games). “Don’t go out there in Converse, or a random sneaker. Sheffman echoes podiatrists who always recommend New Balance and Asics for their sport-ready construction. “Look for a tennis or squash shoe,” she says. And keep them pristine. “You can go through the treads on a pair in a couple of months, so I only use my pickleball shoes on the court.”

A team, says Sheffman, is only two people. It can be fun to match, says Mimran. “Matching and co-ordinating with your partner is a great way to build confidence,” she says, and camaraderie.

So where does the dorky come in? Susie says if you want to be safe, it is really you wear protective goggles. She had her goggles made up with her prescription lenses (any optical shop will do this). “Pickleball is violent! I’ve been smacked in the eye too often not to wear the goggles!”

We wish you luck in your new career as a pickleballer, Laura-Beth. And applaud your February attitude to get out there and say yes to fun new activities. We can all learn from you on that front!

Always asking questions,

—Leanne Delap