Wimbledon has maintained its status as a bastion of “classy” style despite rapidly evolving fashion trends. Players and spectators wear their finest whites to the London tennis event, which some claim is evocative of traditional British high society.
For the event, Finnish tennis coach Jari Hedman purchased a white linen suit made in Italy, accessorizing it with a navy blue jacket and an orange tie.
He had picked the “classy” attire “in honour of the tournament”, Hedman told AFP. “This is Wimbledon! You’ve got to dress up,” Hedman, 65, said with a smile.
The Wimbledon Championships, the oldest of tennis’ four Grand Slams, is being held from June 29 to July 12 this year and will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027. The royals are regular attendees, especially Princess Kate, who is typically lauded for her beautiful wardrobe choices.
The BBC wrote about “etiquette” or unwritten norms for competitors prior to the event, and other newspapers offered style advice.
“With its mix of royalty, A-listers and diehard fans, Wimbledon always has a sense of occasion, so why not make an effort?” advised The Times.
Wimbledon features the tightest dress rule in the circuit for players, who are expected to wear “appropriate tennis apparel that is almost all white” from “the point at which the player enters the court surround”. “According to the dress code, “white does not include off-white or cream.”
White was the preferred color to conceal sweat stains, which were deemed inappropriate, according to the rules, which have their roots in the sport’s aristocratic past. Within the clothing code, players have discovered subtle and nontraditional methods to showcase their unique flair.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka, known for her extravagant ensembles, came on Monday in a kimono-inspired white dress with embroidered images of cranes and cherry blossoms, by Japanese designer Hana Yagi. She teamed the clothing with a traditional kanzashi hair decoration featuring white flowers before removing both to reveal a white Nike dress.
Osaka disclosed that viewing the Quentin Tarantino movie “Kill Bill” gave her the inspiration for the ensemble.
“I think about my cultures, my heritage, which is Japanese and Haitian. Then if I dive deeper into like Japanese culture, I think about the most iconic silhouette, which for me is a kimono,” she said.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia donned a white Lacoste jacket with green trim. The brand claims that the jacket was inspired by those worn by “great champions” in the 1920s, like as Rene Lacoste.
