I Got the Vuori Set Dress and It's Making Me Want to Take Up Tennis

I collect workout dresses and tennis skirts like some people collect stamps (seriously, I own way too many). When I saw the Vuori Set Dress ($118), it was love at first sight and I had to have it. From the cute, tennis-skirt pleats to the sleek opening in the lower back, it was a unique take on a workout dress that I somehow didn't already own.

During the scorching summer months, a cute workout dress is a sporty-chic way to look put together while still being able to handle the heat, because most styles use moisture-wicking or quick-drying fabric—the Vuori Set Dress included. It uses proprietary  BreatheInterlock fabric that, as the name suggests, is breathable, while maintaining a comfortable four-way stretch. As a result, the fabric is soft without compromising structure, and since it has a thicker weight to it, you'll feel that it's very snug and sculpting. While I do like how well the built-in shorts and the bodice holds me in, the tightness isn't ideal with the open-back design, since it can look like it's cutting into your skin in that area, which isn't the most flattering on my shape, especially when I sit down.

The built-in shorts are great for tennis or pickleball players, because the pockets have a bottom opening to slip a back-up ball or two in. Plus, the material has a little more slip than the bodice does to avoid any chafing or pilling.

One thing worth noting: The skirt is quite short, which I like for a workout dress, but if you prefer a longer silhouette, this may not be the dress for you. The pleats have held up nicely in the wash, too, and I haven't noticed any flattening of them, which is great since you typically wash workout clothing more frequently than regular clothes.

One of my issues with this dress is the zippers. There are two zippers: one on the side of the skirt and a quarter-zip one at the back of the neckline. The skirt zipper is similar to a dress one with a hook and eye and slimmer, stiffer zipper. makes it a little uncomfortable for sitting or bending, because the waistline isn't as flexible as, say, an elastic waistband (like many other workout dresses have).

The back zipper, on the other hand, is a thick, durable zipper and has a long tab to grab, but it's in one of those awkward spots that makes it very hard to reach to easily zip up. I usually just have my husband do it, but if i'm on my own, I'm struggling to get it up the full way.

I have a larger chest, so the built-in padding immediately was whipped out upon slipping into the dress. And while the thick, double-lined fabric keep my chest feeling pretty supported, if i'm wearing this dress for pickleball or something a little more vigorous than a walk, I will add a sports bra under with a similar neckline/straps. Overall, though, I feel very comfortable and, quite honestly, pretty hot, in this dress.

Not only is this dress cute, it's functional, which is key to a good workout dress. The fit, while sculpting, does feel a smidge tight in my usual size, likely because of the zippers squeezing a little too hard. I wish dresses were like shoes and you could go up a half size, because that would be the perfect fit in this dress, anyone else?

At the end of the day, the pros do outweigh the cons here. I love that this dress feels good to work out in or wear out and about and not like I'm forcing it to do one or the other; it truly was very well made for being active. It's the sort of go-anywhere dress I'd recommend to any of my athleisure-loving friends.