What to Wear Bowling for a Fun Day at the Lanes
Going bowling is so much fun!
But if you’ve never been bowling before, knowing what you should wear can be confusing. In this post, I’ve rounded up the best outfit tips, commonly asked questions, and lots of bowling outfit ideas, complete with links to each garment. Be sure to read the entire article, so you don’t miss a thing!
Here are the best tips to know for what to wear bowling, so you have a great time!
Dress for comfort. You will feel awkward if you are overdressed, so choose a casual outfit.
Jeans, leggings, or khakis are your best option for a day in the lanes.
Yes, you have to wear the clown shoes. You need to wear bowling shoes, so you don’t ruin the lanes. Everyone there must wear bowling shoes, so embrace them and have fun.
Wear socks. Shoes have been sprayed with an anti-fungal, so you don’t have to worry about picking up athlete’s foot.
Smile. Nothing will look better than enjoying yourself and having a good time, even if you have all gutter balls!
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Popular bowling OUTFIT questions
What socks do you wear bowling?
Bring a pair of thick athletic socks to wear while bowling - the kind you usually wear with sneakers. You can opt for ankle, knee, tube, or mid-calf length socks.
Bowling attire for ladies?
Casual clothes, including shorts, capris, leggings, or jeans, are acceptable. You may want to bring/wear a sweatshirt or cardigan if the air conditioning is too cold.
It’s best to choose clothes that are comfortable so you can move easily. You’ll be moving around a lot, so having clothes with stretch provides the most mobility.
Can I wear a dress for bowling?
While you can wear a dress while bowling, remember you’ll be bending and moving a lot, so you want to ensure your dress or skirt length isn’t too short. Everyone will be behind you, and you don’t want to show your whole butt.
Instead of wearing a skirt or dress, you might want to opt for an activewear skort or dress with built-in shorts underneath. A skort or dress like this will look cute while keeping you covered adequately and providing lots of mobility.
As you’ll see in this outfit below, the dress features a pair of built-in shorts. You can layer the dress over a tee, add a velour hoodie, and a pair of cute sneakers for a comfortable yet fun little dress outfit.
SHOP Bowling Dress Outfit
OFFLINE by Aerie Hugger Dress with built-in shorts
What do you wear on a bowling date?
Bowling dates are really entertaining, whether it’s you and your date or a night out with other couples. It’s a good way to get to know each other, cheer each other on, and interact in a fun way.
So what should you wear to look cute and pretty while bowling? There are lots of options!
Below, I’ve paired a classic button-down shirt with cropped jeans. I added a v-neck cardigan for warmth, then accessorized with a fun striped tote bag, pearl stud earrings, and coordinating sneakers.
Shop Jeans Bowling Outfit
Leggings are an excellent option for bowling when wearing them with a white tee and oversized sweatshirt. Update the look with a pair of color-block sneakers, a belly bag, gold stud earrings, and a leopard-print headband.
Shop Leggings Bowling Outfit
Do bowling alleys sell socks?
Bowling alleys do not typically sell socks. Even if you are wearing sandals, bring a pair of thick athletic socks you can wear while bowling.
Do you have to wear bowling shoes?
Bowling shoes feature a soft rubber sole that won’t hurt the high gloss finish of the lanes so they are a must-wear at any bowling alley. The shoes do look a bit odd but everyone else will be wearing them, too. Embrace the awkwardness, put them on, and have a good time!
Don’t forget to bring a pair of comfy socks to wear under the shoes.
Do bowling balls get cleaned?
Bowling balls are usually cleaned approximately once a year. However, most bowling alleys sanitize the balls regularly or offer wipes so that you can disinfect the ball and finger holes.
If you are concerned about the cleanliness of the balls, bring a handi-wipe to clean them before use. In addition, avoid touching your face or mouth while bowling, and wash your hands immediately after your game ends.
Before heading to the lanes, you’ll want to watch this video on how to bowl a strike so you can “wow” your friends.
