This article is part of our series Battle of the Brands, in which we compare category-leading products to their counterparts to determine which are actually worth your money.
With the recent excitement around Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” tennis-inspired outfits are having a moment, and nothing captures the essence of the sport quite like an exercise dress or the aptly named tennis skirt. Whether you’ve been meaning to add one of these quintessential skirts to your closet or simply want in on the sports-inspired fashion trend, with all the options out there, you may be wondering where to begin your search. Enter popular athletic wear companies Alo Yoga and Lululemon. Both brands offer a version of the classic pleated tennis skirt, with the Grand Slam Tennis Skirt and Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt respectively, and are known for their soft fabric and high-quality materials.
Both skirts also cost $88, which had us wondering, is one skirt the better option here? To answer this question, we tested both skirts to determine which is the better pick.
Keep reading for our thoughts on the popular tennis staple.
Alo Yoga Grand Slam Tennis Skirt vs. Lululemon Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt at a glance
Made from a polyester and elastane blend, this lightweight pleated tennis skirt has built-in shorts and an Airlift waistband.
Perfect for on and off the court, this lightweight, pleated tennis skirt has built-in shorts and is sweat-wicking.
Quick comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | XXS (00-0) – L (12-14) | 0–14 |
| Fabric | 82% polyester, 18% elastane | Body: 86% polyester, 14% elastane Waistband: 87% nylon, 13% lycra elastane Back Lining: 69% nylon, 31% lycra elastane |
| Color options | 5 | 7 |
| Care | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low |
| Price | $88 | $88 |
Lululemon’s skirt stays in place
Both skirts have built-in shorts, but the Lululemon pair is the only one that has silicone grippers on the hem to prevent them from riding up. Though this doesn’t keep the shorts from moving entirely, I didn’t have to adjust the shorts nearly as much as the ones in the Alo Yoga skirt. I like for all my workout clothes to have pockets, and thankfully the built-in shorts in both skirts have them. They’re also big enough to comfortably carry my iPhone and Airpods, so I was able to go hands-free during my walks around the neighborhood.
Lululemon Varsity-High Rise Tennis Skirt
The pleating is another detail — albeit a smaller one — that differentiates the two skirts. Visually, both pleats look nice, but if you prefer the look of a more tightly pleated skirt, you’ll probably appreciate the Alo Yoga skirt more. The two waistbands are also different. The waistband on the Alo Yoga skirtis 4 inches wide, while the waistband on the Lululemon skirt is just under 2 inches. Because it’s wider, the Alo Yoga waistband also provides more stomach coverage, whichI personally appreciate. The waistband also happens to be made from Alo Yoga’s signature Airlift fabric, which is the same material the brand uses for itsbestselling 7/8 high-waist leggings.
Currently, the Grand Slam Tennis Skirt is available in two core colors — black and white —andthree limited colors (though one is currently sold out). On the other hand, the Varsity High-Rise Skirt is available inseven colors, ranging from white to pink.
Lululemon Varsity High-Rise Tennis Skirt
Alo Yoga Grand Slam Tennis Skirt
Both skirts are better for lower-intensity workouts
These exercise skirts may technically be made for moving in, butboth options are comfortable and cute enough that you’ll probably want to wear them beyond your workouts. I wore both skirts around my house, on walks around my neighborhood and during my at-home Peloton bikeworkouts.
The skirts fit true to size. I’m a US 8 in the Lululemon skirt and a size medium (US 6-8) in the Alo Yoga skirt. The waistbands of both skirts also did an excellent job at holding me in withoutbeen too restrictive. While I can’t see myself wearing either skirt to a yoga class or for any workout where I’m constantly having to bend or squat (I wouldn’t want to risk having the shorts ride up),they’re super comfortable to wear for activities that don’t involve a ton of different movements.
Alo Yoga Grand Slam Tennis Skirt
Lululemon’s skirt is sweat-wicking
Like the body of the Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt, the Grand Slam Tennis Skirt is constructed from a blend of polyester and elastane. Lightweight, quick-drying and flowy, the Alo Yoga skirt has built-in shorts and a compressive waistband that are soft to the touch and on the skin.
While the shorts in the Varsity High-Rise Pleated Skirt are just as soft to step into, the waistband isn’t as soft as Alo’s. Unlike the body of the skirt, the front and back linings of the Lululemon skirt are made with a nylon and lycra mix. The skirt is also designed to be sweat-wicking, unlike Alo’s, which makes it great for sweatier workouts. After doing a 30-minute ride on my Peloton bike, I was feeling tired and sweaty, but the skirt prevented me from feeling uncomfortably wet. Though nothing on Alo Yoga’s website indicates that the Grand Slam Tennis Skirt is sweat-wicking or quick-drying, I also did a 30-minute bike wearing that skirt and found it to be quick-drying, too.
Lululemon Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt
When it comes to washing the Lululemon and Alo Yoga skirts, the care for them is the same. Both skirts should be machine-washed on cold with like colors and then tumble-dried on low. I followed the instructions on the labels exactly, tossing the skirts in my washing machine with other dark colors before loading them into the dryer, and ran into no issues. While some reviewers of theskirts mentioned that after washing them the pleats lost their shape, I didn’t experience that with either skirt.
Bottom line
Left: Lululemon Varsity High Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt Right: Alo Yoga Grand Slam Tennis Skirt
Both skirts are flattering and comfortable to wear, but if you’re looking for a skirt that will comfortably take you from running errands to the treadmill, the Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt is your best bet. The leg grippers in the Lululemon shorts make this skirt the better choice for your workouts. (No one wants to be yanking up their shorts mid-workout.) It’s moisture-wicking as well, and it’s also available in more colors than the Alo Yoga skirt. So, if you’re looking for a skirt for on and off the court, Lululemon’s Varsity High-Rise Pleated Tennis Skirt is the way to go.
