Apparel That’s Perfect for Pickleball (and for Pretty Much Everything Else, Too)
[This content includes paid support. We have tested the products first-hand.]
One of our contributors has been wearing Dona Jo apparel this week, and she won’t stop talking about it. So we told her to write an article about it instead. Enjoy!
You know how athleisure became the official uniform of 2020? Yeah, I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t just a 2020 thing. People now know what a comfy life feels like. And the ability to go from the court to running errands to lunch with friends, all in the same outfit, isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a must.
Which is why I love Dona Jo.
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST TOUCH.
As soon as I got my pieces out of the package, Dona Jo’s high standard of quality was apparent. Soft to the touch. But not delicate. Extremely light. But not thin. I know it sounds like I’m speaking in some weird oxymoronic code. It’s hard to describe exactly how lovely the fabric felt. Guess you just have to feel it to believe it.
“From the first sketch to the last stitch, the team at Dona Jo takes great pride ensuring quality and comfort in every garment. They believe these features are the key to great performance.”
THE ONLY TIME YOU WON’T NOTICE DONA JO IS WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL.
Once I tried the pieces on, I couldn’t stop myself from walking down to my local pickleball courts. It’s the kind of apparel that makes you want to move. The skirt has this lining on the inside that perfectly hugs your buns and thighs. It moves with you. Not against you. I didn’t find myself adjusting the liner ever. And when I started playing a pickleball game, I totally forgot about it all together. Which, to me, is the best kind of athletic gear you could ask for. I was able to focus totally on my game. Until someone asked me where I got my skirt from. Which then led me down a rabbit hole of showing off the Dona Jo Instagram account.
The long sleeve tee I was wearing was the rarest bird of them all. It’s extremely light. Like feather-weight (if I’m sticking with this bird metaphor). But here’s the thing. It wasn’t see-through at all. Full coverage. Yet super light. That’s a hard combo to find. And when you find it, you order it in every color.
COMFORT ISN’T JUST FOR THE COURT.
Obviously, the quality and performance of athletic wear are important. But Dona Jo is all about encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle. Which is why their designs are beautiful, too. This gear will take you off the court with ease. Go from pickleball to pickles and sandwiches with friends. Not going to lie, I even wear Dona Jo when I’m cleaning up the apartment or watching too much Netflix.
“Dona Jo was born after an adventurous trip to Raphael’s hometown of Brasilia, Brazil. The two wanted to blend the bright colors and bold patterns with the functionality and comfort everyone was looking for in activewear. Not only was it important to have an awesome product but also a community of empowered individuals that could express themselves creatively.”
SIZE MATTERS.
It’s worth noting - Dona Jo does sizing a little differently. For instance, the skirts will come in Size 1, Size 2, Size 3, etc. You’ll see on the product pages that a Size 1 is really just a 0-8, a Size 2 is 10-14, and so on. The other thing to note on skirt sizing is length. I wasn’t really paying attention to it at first, but it makes all the difference. The Ultimate Skirt is 17”, which is great if you prefer a little more coverage. I prefer the 14.5” skirts. And they even have shorter options available, too.
WHAT’S NEXT ON MY SHOPPING LIST?
Their swimwear. Obviously. I think a Florida pickleball / beach trip is in order.
